Synonyms
Dichaina Weise, 1923: 145. TS: Dichaina inornata Weise, 1923.
Diagnosis
Very similar to Diomus but it is easily recognized by a sharp carina separating setose anterior corner from the pronotal disc.
Description
Length 1.8-2.5 mm. Body elongate-oval and weakly convex; winged; dorsum uniformly hairy; head dorsally not covered by pronotum. Elytral colour blackish with whitish pattern forming pubescence. Head transverse; eyes large, finely facetted, weakly emarginate and narrowly separate on vertex. Antenna 11-segmented; slightly shorter than head capsule with pedicel slightly narrower than scape; antennomere 3 elongate; antennal club weak, 4-segmented. Terminal maxillary palpomere expanded apically. Pronotal disc evenly convex with sharp carina around anterior angle. Prosternum moderately long in front of coxae, arcuate; prosternal process broad with complete carinae. Anterior margin of mesoventrite arcuate medially. Mesoventrite slightly broader than coxal diameter; Metaventral postcoxal lines strongly recurved. Elytral epipleuron very narrow, incomplete apically, not foveate. Tibial spurs absent. Abdominal postcoxal line merging with hind margin of ventrite. Male terminalia. Parameres and phallobase symmetrical; penis guide symmetrical. Parameres articulated with phallobase. Penis stout, consisting of single sclerite; basal capsule distinct and T-shaped. Apodeme of male sternum 9 very narrow and rod-like. Female terminalia. Coxities broad plates; styli strongly reduced and hardly visible; infundibulum absent; sperm duct simple, uniform in diameter. Spermatheca worm-like, without clear ramus or nodulus; spermathecal accessory gland distinctly separated from sperm duct.
Distribution and Biology
Endemic to Northern Queensland (Belenden Ker, Atherton Tableland and Cape Tribulation). Specimens have been collected mostly in summer in flight intercept and Malaise traps.
Genus References
Slipinski, A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
Weise, J. 1923. Results of Dr. E. Mjöberg's Swedish Scientific Expedition to Australia 1910-1913. 31. Chrysomeliden und Coccinelliden aus Queensland. Arkiv för Zoologi, 15(12): 1-150.
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