Synonyms
Orcus evelynensis Weise, 1923: 133.
Diagnosis
The distinctly recurved postcoxal line combined with an elongated and weakly convex body, and the shape of the anterior angle of pronotum distinguish this species from the other Halmus.
Description
Length 3.4 mm. Dorsal surface bluish to purple, somewhat metallic, venter dark brownish. Body elongate, somewhat flattened. Head micro reticulate between punctures; punctation about as large as eye facets, nearly 1.5 to 2 diameters apart. Eyes dorsally separated by less than 2 times the width of an eye, inner ocular margin slightly diverging apically. Antennomere 6 about 2 times longer than 5th and 7th. Clypeus distinctly emarginate medially, with lateral extension markedly narrow. Terminal maxillary palpomere nearly weakly securiform; terminal labial palpomere somewhat conical; less than 2 times longer than basal width; conspicuously shorter than the preceding segment. Pronotal surface polished between punctures; punctation smaller than eye facets, shallow and sparse, 2 to 3 diameters apart, obsolete on anterior angles; lateral borders somewhat rounded with sharp angle on inner side; prosternum short in front of coxae, about 1.5 times longer than prosternal process widest width. Elytral surface polished between punctures; punctation stronger than on pronotum, about as large as to larger than eye facets, slightly deeper and more concentrated; lateral margin slightly reflexed. Abdomen with ventrite 6 short; surface of ventrite 1 polished between postcoxal lines; postcoxal line distinctly recurving apically.
Male
Male genitalia not studied.
Female
Externally identical to male.
Variation
Not observed.
Distribution and Biology
Known only from few localities in northern Queensland.
Species References
Slipinski, S.A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
Slipinski, A. and Giorgi, J.A. 2006. Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coccinellidae). Part 6. Tribe Chilocorini. Annales Zoologici (Warszawa), 56(2): 265-304.
Weise, J. 1923. Results of Dr. E. Mjöbergís Swedish Scientific Expedition to Australia 1910-1913. 31. Chrysomeliden und Coccinelliden aus Queensland. Arkiv för Zoologi, 15(12): 1-150.
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