Nephus quadrimaculatus (Herbst, 1783)

Figs 5a–j

Sphaeridium quadrimaculatus Herbst, 1783: 30 .

Coccinella bisbipustulatus Panzer, 1793: 5 .

Nephus quadrimaculatus quadrimaculatus: Kugelann 1794: 564. Canepari & Tedehi 1977: 101. Fürsch 1980: 109.

Coccinella quadrilunulatus Illiger, 1798: 416 .

Scymnus obliquus Comoli, 1837: 52 . Weise 1879: 154.

Nephus (Nephus) quadrimaculatus: Ren & Pang 1994: 6. Kovář 2007: 580.

Material examined. Pakistan, Gilgit–Baltistan, Ghizer, Punyial, Gahkuch–Bala, 36°09’36” N, 73°44’49” E, 2129 m, 3♂♂, 3♀♀, 3.vii.2017, leg. Z. Iqbal (PMAS – AAUR) .

Diagnosis. Nephus quadrimaculatus is similar to N. cf. similincludens in general appearance, but it can be easily separated by having 10 antennomeres in antennae, apex of penis with a large hook-shaped appendage at 1/5 of its length (Fig. 5f). However, in N. cf. s imilincludens antennae are composed of 11 antennomeres, while apex of penis is slightly curved and pointed, with appendage (Fig. 8g).

Description. TL: 1.75–1.77 mm; TW: 1.26–1.28 mm; TH: 0.74–0.75 mm; EL/TW: 1.02; TL/TW: 1.38–1.39; HW/PW: 0.65–0.66; PL/PW: 0.46–0.48.

Body (Figs 5a–b) elongate oval, moderately convex, dorsum covered with dense white pubescence; head, mouthparts and antennae yellow-brown; pronotum reddish brown to black; elytra reddish brown to black, elytra with four yellow-brown spots, first two basal spots sub-rectangular, the remaining two apical spots small commashaped, apex of elytra brown (Figs 5a–b); antennae composed of 11 antennomeres; prosternal process without carinae; abdominal ventrite 1 with postcoxal line incomplete laterally, parallel to posterior line, not curved at lateral margin (Fig. 5d).

Male genitalia (Figs 5e–h). Penis long; penis capsule with inner arm distinctly longer than outer one (Fig. 5e); apex of penis with a large hook-shaped appendage on inner side at 1/5 of apical length, and flattened blunt apex (Fig. 5f); tegmen stout, penis guide in lateral view, with 2/5 of basal length projected, and 3/5 of its apical length abruptly curved into arc, then gradually narrower toward pointed tip (Fig. 5g), asymmetrical in inner view, widest at base and tapered toward apex (Fig. 5h); parameres of the same length as penis guide in outer view (Fig. 5g), apices of parameres covered with long setae.

Female genitalia (Figs 5i–j). Ovipositor with coxites elongate triangular, with styli; spermatheca with tubular cornu, without clearly defined nodulus or ramus; infundibulum absent.

Prey. This species has been reported as a predator of Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green ( Hemiptera:Margarodidiae) (First record for this prey).

Associated plants. Nephus quadrimaculatus was collected from the Malpighiales: Salicaceae: Salix alba Linnaeus; Rosales: Elaeagnaceae: Elaeagnus angustifolia Linnaeus.

Distribution. Pakistan: Gilgit–Baltistan: Ghizer (current study); Europe; Kazakhstan; Iran; China (Kovář 2007). A new species record for Pakistan.

Remarks. Nephus quadrimaculatus is broadly distributed in the Palaearctic region (Kovář 2007), however, it is rarely collected in Pakistan. Fürsch & Uygun (1980) provided illustrations of the habitus and male genitalia of this species.