Synonyms
Chaetolotis Slipinski, 2004: 398. TS: Chaetolotis amy Slipinski, 2004.
Diagnosis
Chaetolotis is superficially similar to small species of Rhyzobius when seen from the dorsal surface. However Chaetolotis can easily be distinguished by its short and indistinctly clubbed antenna, the presence of deep cavities on elytral epipleura for reception of legs and strongly aciculate terminal maxillary palpomere.
Description
Body hemispherical, convex and covered with stiff, erect black and white hairs, winged. Clypeus not emarginate around antennal insertions. Antennal insertions exposed dorsally; antenna short, 11-segmented with weak club composed of 4 segments. Mandible bidentate apically, mola with a distinct tooth. Apical segment of maxillary palp elongate and conical; the terminal labial palpomere narrowed and acuminate apically; ligula short, not expanded laterally. Eyes very large, elongate, coarsely facetted with distinct interfacetal setae. Venter of head with narrow antennal grooves along inner margin of eyes. Pronotum transverse with lateral margins narrowly explanate but not bordered by a distinct marginal line. Median part of prosternum between coxae arcuate but not raised or prominent anteriorly with deep arcuate grooves along anterior notosternal angles. Scutellum triangular. Elytral epipleuron broad, complete to apex, concave with deep and clearly delimited cavities to accommodate mid- and hind femora in repose. Elytron coarsely punctured, the punctures setiferous, irregular except for somewhat regular row or two along the suture. Abdominal ventrite 1 as long as following three combined, with incomplete postcoxal lines and additional line above, along the cavity. Tarsi 4-segmented; claw with distinct tooth at the base. Male genitalia: tegmen with short asymmetrical basal strut, median piece narrow and elongate, parameres long and symmetrical, setose apically; penis simple, base enlarged. Female genitalia: coxities moderately broad and weakly sclerotised; styli terminal, very short; spermatheca very lightly sclerotised and simple.
Distribution and Biology
Known only from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. The adults have been collected at lights and at night on lichen-alga-moss covered rocks.
Slipinski, A, 2004. Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Part 2. Tribe Sticholotidini. Annales Zoologici, 54: 389-402.
Slipinski, S.A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
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