Epilachna max Pang

Pang, Hong, Ślipiński, Adam, U, Yap Ing W & Zuo, Yongsheng, 2012, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Epilachna Chevrolat with descriptions of new species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachnini), Zootaxa 3420 (1), pp. 1-37 : 26-27

Epilachna max Pang et Ś lipi ń ski sp. nov. ( Figs. 21 a–l)

Etymology. This species is named after Mr. Max Ng, a young collector of ladybirds from Canberra and a nephew of the senior author. The name is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Epilachna max has a very similar color pattern to E. anhweiana (Dieke) ( Figs. 2 a–k), but can be easily distinguished from that species by a distinctly different shape of penis and tegmen of the male genitalia.

Description. Length 6.8–7.8 mm. TL/EW = 1.48–1.50; PL/PW = 0.49–0.52; EL/EW = 1.15–1.19; EL/PL = 3.53–3.64. Body oval. Dorsum brown. Pronotum with black median spot. Elytra with 5 pair of black spots, arranged as 2-2-1 on each elytron; all spots separated from lateral margin or suture ( Figs. 21 a–f), sometimes pairs of spots joined, forming irregular transverse bands ( Fig. 21 e). Abdominal postcoxal line incomplete, extending posteriorly to 0.8 of ventrite length ( Fig. 21 h).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 21 i–l). Penis bent near base, with apical piece horn-like, clubbed apically. Penis guide longer than parameres, slightly flattened before narrowing up to a point, with split apex. Female genitalia: ovipositor very narrow, coxites strongly elongate, as in Fig. 21 g.

Types. Holotype (male), Sichuan: Mt. Emei, 1990.vii.18, Lad. Bocák ( NHMB) (No. En-382938). Paratypes: same data as the holotype (3, NHMB); Moxi , 1998.vii.2, D. Král (1, NHMB). Hubei: Shennongjia 1998.vi.1–5, Bolm (3, NHMB; 2, SYSM). Taiwan: Musha , 1947.viii.24, Gressitt (1, SYSM) (No.Ce-011015).

Distribution. Hubei, Sichuan, Taiwan.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Epilachna anhweiana. (a, b) Dorsal view; (c, d) anterior view; (e) lateral view; (f) penis; (g) apical sclerite of penis; (h) tegmen inner; (i) tegmen lateral; (j) abdomen; (k) female genitalia

FIGURE 21. Epilachna max. (a, d) Dorsal view; (b, c) anterior view; (e, f) lateral view; (g) female genitalia; (h) postcoxal line; (i) tegmen inner; (j) tegmen lateral; (k) apical sclerite of penis; (l) penis