Sticholotis petila Yu & Pang

Xingmin Wang, Hermes E. Escalona, Shunxiang Ren & Chen Xiaosheng, 2017, Taxonomic review of the ladybird genus Sticholotis from China (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Zootaxa 4326 (1), pp. 1-72 : 18-19

Sticholotis petila Yu & Pang

( Figures 41–43 , 169–173 , 297 )

Sticholotis petila Yu & Pang in Yu et al., 1993: 467 .

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to S. ruficeps in dorsal color pattern, but can be distinguished by its elytra with arcuate row of large punctures at mid length near suture ( Fig. 41 ) and distinctly different shape of the penis capsule ( Fig. 170 ).

Description. TL: 2.32–2.44 mm, TW: 1.98–2.11 mm, TH: 1.05–1.19 mm, TL/TW: 1.16–1.18; PL/PW: 0.43– 0.44; EL/EW: 0.94–0.97; HW/TW: 0.38; PW/TW: 0.63.

Head reddish brown, mouthparts yellow. Pronotum reddish brown and scutellum black. Elytra dark brown, with narrow yellowish brown band along lateral margins, each elytron with two large yellowish spots, anterior very large, irregular, at middle of basal margin (touching margin), posterior small, 1/2 size of anterior spot, at apical third ( Figs 41–43 ). Underside reddish brown, middle of meso- and metaventrite black. Legs reddish brown.

Body almost circular in outline, hemispherical, shiny and glabrous. Head frontal punctures medium and densely distributed, 0.5–1.5 diameters apart, with scattered short setae, interocular distance of eyes 0.58x head width ( Fig. 43 ).

Pronotal punctures fine and conspicuous, 1.0–2.0 diameters apart, slightly smaller than those on head. Elytral punctures medium, similar to those on pronotum, 1.0–1.5 diameters apart; each elytron with arcuate row of large punctures near suture at mid length. Elytral margins wide, visible from above.

Prosternal punctures inconspicuous, with long sparse setae. Mesoventral surface shagreened, punctures coarse, with scattered short setae. Metaventrite broad and slightly shagreened, flat medially, covered by coarse and dense punctures distributed at center. Elytral epipleuron broad, complete to apex, feebly foveate to accommodate femoral tips of hind legs. Wings well-developed.

Male genitalia: Penis short and slender, strongly curved at base, capsule broadening basally and with a small inner process ( Figs 170–171 ); tegmen with penis guide slightly shorter than paramere, in lateral view thin and straight; parameres very thin ( Fig. 172 ).

Female genitalia: Ovipositor elongate and narrowly triangular, styli inconspicuous ( Fig. 173 ).

Specimens examined. Holotype: 1male, China, Guangdong: Chebaling , [24°45.18′N, 114°19.67′E], ca 760m, 24.iv.1991, Yu GY leg ( SCAU) . China, Guangdong: 4males, 1female, Shimentai, Yingde , [24°24.36′N, 113°17.68′E], ca 460m, 7.x.2004, Wang XM leg. ( SCAU) ; 1male, Qinshuigu, Nanling National Natural Reserve , [24°53.82′N, 113°1.35′E], ca 1400m, 29.ix.2004, Wang XM leg. ( SCAU) .

Distribution. China: Guangdong.

Figures

FIGURE 297. Distribution map. S. taiwanensis Miyatake, 1982 (▲); S. wenchangia sp. nov. (■); S. petila Yu et Pang, 1993 (●); S. ruficeps Weise, 1902 ().

FIGURES 38 – 46. 38 – 40: S. wenchangia sp. nov. (38) dorsal habitus; (39) lateral habitus; (40) frontal habitus. 41 – 43: S. petila Yu et Pang, 1993. (41) dorsal habitus; (42) lateral habitus; (43) frontal habitus. 44 – 46: S. ruficeps Weise, 1902. (44) dorsal habitus; (45) lateral habitus; (46) frontal habitus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 169 – 177. 169 – 173: S. petila Yu et Pang, 1993 (Holotype). (169) abdomen; (170 – 172) male genitalia: (170) apex of penis; (171) penis; (172) tegmen, lateral view; (173) ovipositor. 174 – 177: S. ruficeps Weise, 1902. (174) abdomen; (175 – 177) male genitalia: (175) penis; (176) tegmen, lateral view; (177) tegmen, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.