Neoplatynaspis nataliae, Poorani, 2023

Poorani, J., 2023, - A-review-of-Platynaspini- (Coleoptera: - Coccinellidae) - of-the-Indian-subcontinent including-description-of-a-new-genus-from-north-eastern-India-and-Bangladesh, Zootaxa 5256 (4), pp. 301-328 : 320-324

Neoplatynaspis nataliae sp.­nov.

( Figs 13–16 )

Diagnosis. It can be separated from other Platynaspis spp. of the Indian subcontinent by the dorsal colour pattern and the 9-segmented antenna with a single-segmented club.

It has a superficial similarity to at least two species of Indian Aspidimerini commonly collected in the northeastern region, Cryptogonus quadriguttatus Weise and C. nitidus Kapur , both of which have four yellowish elytral spots on a dark brown to black background. It can be easily differentiated from these two species by the distinctly more elongate body outline and the densely setose body having a mixture of dark and pale hairs and the generic characters.

Description. Length: 2.13–2.67 mm; width: 1.59 mm; TL/TW: 1.3–1.60: EL/EW: 1.06; PL/PW: 0.37; PW/EW: 0.81. Form ( Figs 13a–c , 14a, b ) elongate, subquadrate with broadly rounded corners. Dorsum weakly convex, densely pubescent with a mixture of stout and slender dark brown setae, head ( Fig. 13d ) with a mixture of stout dark brown, erect to suberect setae and thinner whitish hairs, paler areas of pronotum and elytral maculae with pale yellowish, regular setae interspersed with a longer, dark brown setae; lateral margins of pronotum and elytra with a mixture of erect and recumbent dark brown setae. Head dark brown in female, yellowish in male; pronotum dark brown except lateral sides creamy yellow; scutellar shield dark brown; elytra dark brown with four creamy yellow maculae arranged in a 2-2 pattern, first pair in anterior half a little before middle, somewhat circular, second pair of oblique oval, larger spots positioned above elytral apex in posterior half. Antenna with antennomeres 1–4 yellowish, rest darker, testaceous. Mouthparts dark brown. Ventral side dark brown in female; lighter testaceous brown in holotype male; legs lighter reddish brown, abdomen dark brown, lateral areas and apical ventrites paler. Head strongly transverse, interocular distance about 3.5× as wide as an eye. Head, pronotum and elytra with dense dual punctures.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 16d–g ) with tegmen having broad, paddle-like parameres ( Fig. 16d ), apical and inner margins of parameres with dense, elongate hairs ( Fig. 16d, e ); penis guide elongate, arrowhead-shaped with a rounded apex in ventral view ( Fig. 16d ); subparallel up to two-fourth of its length, gradually narrowed thereafter to a pointed apex in lateral view, shorter than parameres ( Fig. 16d ); penis ( Fig. 16f ) with a well-developed capsule having a lamellate expansion, penis apex modified as illustrated ( Fig. 16g ).

Female. Externally similar to male with darker head and ventral side. Female genitalia ( Fig. 16c ) as illustrated, coxites transverse with an elongate handle, spermatheca with distinctly differentiated nodulus and ramus, ramus short and semicircular, nodulus elongate transverse, stout and tubular, cornu with a distal tail-like projection.

Distribution. India: Meghalaya; Bangladesh.

Etymology.­ This species is named for Dr Natalia Vandenberg in appreciation of her significant contributions to Coccinellidae systematics. The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case.

Material­ examined. Holotype, male: “ BANGLADESH: Badarganj , Rangpur, 19.i.1994 / J. Rahman Code H94, on bamboo IIE 23066/ male genitalia in glass vial/ Genus nr. Platynaspis , det. R. G. Booth, 1994/ Pres. by Int. Inst. Ent. BMNH (E) 1994-198” ( BMNH) ; Paratype, female: INDIA: Meghalaya: Jorabat , N26°04’59.52” E091°52’36.59”, xi.2021, resting on banana, R. Thanigairaj (fully dissected, in microvial) ( NBAIR) .

Prey­/­associated­habitat. The holotype from Bangladesh was collected on bamboo (label data). The Indian specimen was collected on banana (label data).

Remarks. Both Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov. and Platynaspis have 9-segmented antennae, but the scape, pedicel and the single-segmented club in Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov. are unique in this tribe. The presence of strong lateral bristles on parts of the ventral side including inner sides of hypomeron and the lateral margins of abdominal ventrites is also characteristic. The subcordate mentum with a deeply triangular anterior emargination and the trimerous tarsi with slender, apically bifid claws are also distinctive from other Asian Platynaspis . Platycrus , the only other genus of Platynaspini with trimerous tarsi, is distinctive by its unusually broad legs with a peculiar pocket-like structure to accommodate the tarsi in repose.

Among the Asian tribes of Coccinellidae , members of the tribe Serangiini (subfamily Microweiseinae ) only have the last antennomere forming a large, knife-shaped club as in Neoplatynaspis . With the addition of Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov., the tribe Platynaspini has three genera at present.

Revised­key­to­the­genera­of­Platynaspini

1. Antenna 9-segmented, scape and pedicel unmodified, antennomeres progressively wider, last 3-4 antennomeres forming a compact club. Tarsal formula 4-4-4. Distributed in the Oriental, Palaearctic and Ethiopian regions..................................................................................................... Platynaspis Redtenbacher

- Antenna 9-11 segmented. Tarsal formula 3-3-3. Distributed in the Oriental region.................................. 2

2. Antenna 11-segmented, antennomeres 3–11 forming a fusiform club. Body covered with uniform short setae. Legs with unusually broadened tibiae with rows of short thorns at apical tibial margin and peculiar pocket-like structure for reception of whole tarsi in repose. Distributed in Laos......................................... Platycrus Szawaryn & Ślipiński

- Antenna 9-segmented, scape with a triangular outer expansion, pedicel strongly transverse and outwardly projecting, terminal antennomere forming a large, knife-shaped club. Body densely setose with bristle-like setae on dorsal and lateral margins, abdominal ventrites with distinct, stout marginal setae. Middle and hind legs with broad, triangular, strongly angulate tibiae. Distributed in India (Meghalaya) and Bangladesh......................................... Neoplatynaspis gen.­nov.

Figures

FIGURE­13. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­nov.: holotype male (BMNH): a. adult, dorsal view; b. adult, lateral view; c. adult, frontal view; d. head, frontal view; e. abdomen.

FIGURE­14. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­nov.: a. adult female, dorsal view; b. adult female, ventral view; c. head; d. mandibles; e. labrum; f. maxilla; g. labium; h. antenna; i. abdomen, female.

FIGURE­15. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­nov.: a. head and thorax, ventral view; b. prosternal intercoxal process; c. proleg; d. middle leg; e. hind leg; f. tarsi.

FIGURE­16. Neoplatynaspis nataliae gen.­et­sp.­n.: a–d. male genitalia, holotype male (BMNH): a. tegmen, lateral view; b.tegmen, ventral view; c. penis; d. penis apex; e. female genitalia.