Indomias frater ( Marshall )

Y, R A M A M U Rt H & Ayri, Shaloo, 2010, Revision of the genus Indomias Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Tanymecini) from India, Zootaxa 2357, pp. 1-49 : 32-33

9. Indomias frater ( Marshall)

(figs. 8, 29, 55, 89, 90, 91, 139, 151, 167, 195, 196 and 197)

Sympiezomias frater Marshall, 1916: 164 ; 1941: 350 [BMNH]

Description: Colour black, covered with dense, uniform, metallic green or bluish green vestiture, inflexed margins of prothorax and elytra with yellow powdery patches; elytra with an elongate yellow patch at base of intervals four and five, another similar smaller patch at apex of these intervals. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface moderately convex, with fine, scattered punctations and without any median stria. Rostrum plain dorsally, tranverse, 1.2x as broad as long, breadth at anterior margin only 0.64x as of posterior margin; median furrow very short, broad and pushed towards anterior margin; lateral carinae distinct; sides straight, narrowing gradually towards anterior margin; scrobes uniformly broad, narrow, much longer, almost 0.9x as long as rostrum, extending from anterior margin of rostrum to the anterior margin of prothorax, rounded anteriorly and pointed posteriorly towards eyes, space between scrobes 0.78x as much as the space between eyes. Eyes entirely lateral, broadly oval, moderately convex and prominent, 0.5x as long as rostrum; space between eyes equals to breadth of rostrum at its posterior margin (figs. 8 and 29). Antennae dark brown; scape abruptly clavate; funicle with first and second segments equal, third and fourth equal, fifth and sixth subequal; club conical, with only last two segments hairy (fig. 55). Prothorax as long as broad, breadth at middle 1.1x as broad as the posterior margin; sides rounded throughout, broadest at about middle, then gradually narrowing towards anterior margin; lateral margins inflexed; anterior margin only 0.67x as the breadth at middle and 0.72x as broad as the posterior margin, truncate dorsally, acute laterally, posterior margin truncate, basal lobe emarginate; upper surface with shallow, confluent punctations, interspaces coriaceous, without any median stria. Legs with hind tibial apex without any dense, golden yellow hairs. Elytra with basal margin strongly raised, its external angle perpendicular or acute, humeral fold prominent and projecting; longitudinal curvature moderately convex; apices almost rounded in male and slightly mucronate in female; stria finely punctatostriate; intervals even and plain, interval three not higher than two on declivity, bears no impression, elongate scales small but distinct; elytral vestiture with predominant scales circular to oval, flat, reddish orange to reddish blue, their inner areas granulated, and base with a pedicel (figs. 89–90), less predominant elongate, club shaped, with a rounded pedicel at base, with 3–4 ridges (fig. 91).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe slender, broadest at middle, length: breadth ratio 8:1, in profile median lobe scarcely arcuate, its apex narrow, bluntly pointed; transfer apparatus less sclerotized, ejaculatory duct quite long (figs. 195–196). Tegmen with dorsal piece 7x as broad as basal piece, dorsal piece very long, 0.44x as long as the manubrium; parameres long, slender, their apices rounded; manubrium 0.5x as long as the median lobe, and as long as tegmen its apex broadened and spatulate (fig. 197). Spiculum gastrale elongate, as long as median lobe, uniformly thick, its apex blunt; basal prongs subequal, triangular and pointed (fig. 167).

Female genitalia: Spermatheca with proximal arm triangular, relatively much swollen, 4x as broad as the distal arm, as long as cornu; angle between two arms steeply acute, distal arm almost parallel to the proximal, without any distinction between nodulus and ramus; cornu long, bent, close towards proximal arm (fig. 139). Spiculum ventrale with shaft slender, uniformly thick, its apex blunt; basal plate spatulate, 1.19x as long as broad, 0.25x as long as the shaft, apical half triangular, with a rounded apex and with 4–5 short stout hairs (fig. 151).

Length: male, 5.00–8.00 mm; female, 6.80–7.40 mm. Breadth: male, 2.00– 2.66 mm; female, 2.45–2.80 mm.

Specimens examined: 2 male, 3 female, INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Yercaud: Shevaroys: 4500 ft, 23. IV- 4.V.1913, Coll. Fletcher, on coffee; Karnataka: Coorg: Pollibetta, IX. 1903, without collector's name; 2 specimens, 1 paratype, Tamil Nadu: Shevaroys: 4000 ft, 24.VIII.1907, Coll. C.W.M., on coffee; Paiyur: Coll. G. Lund, without date; 5 specimens, Tamil Nadu: Yercaud, Shevaroys, 4500 ft, 21.IV to 4.V.1913, Coll. Fletcher.

Associated habitat: Coffee.

Distribution: India: Karnataka: Coorg; Tamil Nadu: Nilgirii Hills; Salem; Yercaud.