Platynaspis (Korschefsky, 1932)

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 : 302-304

Genus­ Platynaspis ­Redtenbacher

Platynaspis Redtenbacher, 1843: 6 . Type species: Coccinella bisbipustulata Fabricius, 1792 (= Coccinella luteorubra Goeze, 1777 ), by monotypy.

Microrhymbus Gerstaecker, 1871: 348 . Type species: Coccinella mesomela Klug, 1833 , by original designation. Synonymized by Weise 1892: 413.

Platynaspidius Miyatake, 1961: 161 . Type species: Platynaspis maculosa Weise, 1910 , by original designation. Synonymized by Ślipiński & Tomaszewska 2002: 496.

Phymatosternus Miyatake, 1961: 167 . Type species: Platynaspis lewisii Crotch, 1874 , by original designation. Synonymized by Ślipiński & Tomaszewska 2002: 496.

Paraplatynaspis Hoàng, 1983: 8 . Type species: Paraplatynaspis bimaculatus Hoàng, 1983 , by original designation. Synonymized by Ślipiński & Tomaszewska 2002: 496.

Diagnosis. Form broadly rounded or oblong to broad oval, dorsum convex and densely pubescent, often with a mixture of light and dark hairs, occasionally distinctly setose with dark brown to black, suberect to erect discal and marginal setae. Head ( Fig. 1a ) short and strongly transverse, compound eyes with short, erect hairs; clypeal margin laterally expanded over eyes. Antenna ( Fig. 1b ) short, with 9-11 antennomeres, insertions hidden under the expanded clypeal margin. Mentum ( Fig. 1c ) usually cordate with a moderately deep median emargination, labial palpi three-segmented, second broadly triangular, terminal palpomere elongate cylindrical, apically narrowed. Maxilla ( Fig. 1d ) with terminal maxillary palpomere securiform, apically divergent, obliquely truncate; cardo well developed, often laterally greatly expanded. Prosternal process T-shaped, with a pair of carinae. Legs with femora broad and flattened, retracted into foveae on underside at rest ( Fig. 1h, i ); middle and hind tibiae also often broad and externally angulate ( Fig. 1i ). Tarsal formula 4-4-4 ( Fig. 1h, i ). Abdomen ( Fig. 1e ) having six visible ventrites, abdominal postcoxal line variable, apically merged with the posterior margin of ventrite 1 ( Fig. 1e ) or recurved and incomplete ( Fig. 1f ), or incomplete with an oblique associate lateral line ( Fig. 1g ). Elytral epipleura narrow, deeply foveolate on level with mid and hind legs to receive femoral apices. Coxites elongate or transverse with a long handle ( Fig. 1j ). Spermatheca often with small flap-like appendages ( Fig. 1k, l ) or regular.

­ Distribution. In South Asia, Platynaspis is distributed mainly in the northern and north-eastern regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan ( Poorani, 2002; Kovář, 2007). In India, about a dozen species have been recorded mainly from the north-western and north-eastern regions, and only one species, P. flavoguttata ( Gorham 1894) , is known from southern India.

Immature­stages.­ The larvae of Platynaspini are broadly ovate and dorsoventrally flattened and very similar in external appearance to the members of Aspidimerini , a tribe with almost entirely aphidophagous habits. Pupation in small groups is often seen in Indian Platynaspis spp. , which is also common in Aspidimerini (unpublished observation). The morphology of the larvae and pupae in Platynaspini is probably an adaptation for myrmecophilous or myrmecophagous habits, well documented in species like Platynaspis luteoruba (Goeze) and P. lewisii Crotch ( Ceryngier et al. 2012; Kaneko 2007).

­ Biology­/­hosts. Indian species for which host data is available appear to be principally aphidophagous (label data; personal observations) except P. flavoguttata which is associated with ants ( Gorham, 1894; label data).

Figures

FIGURE­1. Diagnostic characters of Platynaspis spp.: a. head; b. antenna; c. labium; d. maxilla; e. abdomen; f, g. abdominal postcoxal line, variations; h. fore leg; i. hind leg; j. female genitalia; k, l. spermatheca.