Mahellus distanti Nielson

Figs. 28 A–F.

Mahellus distanti Nielson 1982: 86, Figs. 264−269; 2015: 35; Viraktamath & Meshram 2017: 273, 279, Figs. 3−7, 11−16, 18−31, 48−49, 51.

Material examined. INDIA: Maharashtra: 1♂, 4♀, Matheran, 915 M, 23.xi.1977, C. A. Viraktamath . Karnataka: 1♂, 22 Km, S. Bangalore, 22.v.1977, C. A. Viraktamath ; 2♂, Hunsur, 18.i.1978, C. A. Viraktamath ; 2♂, Banerghat- ta, 22.v.1977,C. A. Viraktamath; 1♂, 1♀, Chickballapur, 01.x.2015, M. Shobharani ; 1♀, 24 Km, W. Mudigree, 21.ix.1978, C. A. Viraktamath . Tamil Nadu: 1♀, 64 Km, E Kollegal, 9.viii.1977, C. A. Viraktamath ; 1♀, Shevroy Hills, 21.ix.1978, C. A. Viraktamath . Kerala: 1♂, 1♀, Maraiyur, 24.iii.1977, C. A. Viraktamath (USAB) .

Remarks. Nielson (1982) adequately described and illustrated the species based on males from Nilgiri Hills. Viraktamath and Meshram (2017) provided digital photos of the habitus and male and female genitalia of the species in addition to giving new locality records. M. distanti differs from the remaining three species of the genus in having a more robust aedeagal shaft and the processes adpressed to the shaft (Figs. 28 D–F) compared to the more slender aedeagal shaft and the processes oriented away from the shaft in the other species (Figs. 28 K–M).