Synonyms
Hippodamia Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836: 432. TS: Coccinella tredecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1758.
Adonia Mulsant, 1846: 39. TS: Coccinella mutabilis L.G. Scriba, 1791.
Diagnosis
H. variegata is superficially most similar to Coccinella undecimpunctata (L.), but can be distinguished immediately by its apically cleft tarsal claws, the dilated first tarsomere in the male fore and mid tarsi, the narrow and smooth prosternal process and completely recurved abdominal postcoxal lines.
Description
Length 4.2-5.2 mm; body elongate-oval, elytra moderately to strongly convex; winged, glabrous. Elytral colour orange with black pattern, variable. Head with anterior clypeal border straight between lateral projections. Antenna 11-segmented; slightly shorter than head capsule with moderately compact 3-segmented club. Terminal maxillary palpomere strongly securiform. Pronotal disc evenly convex transversely to narrowly upturned external borders; pronotal base with entire margin. Prothoracic hypomeron without fovea near anterior angles; prosternal process very narrow without distinct carinae. Anterior margin of mesoventrite straight and not much elevated. Elytral margin with narrow raised margins; epipleuron not foveate. Tibial spurs formula 0-2-2; claw split apically. Abdominal postcoxal line recurved and complete without oblique additional line. Male fore and mid tarsi with first tarsomeres enlarged. Male terminalia. Parameres and phallobase symmetrical; penis guide asymmetrical. Parameres articulated with phallobase. Penis stout, consisting of single sclerite; basal capsule distinct and T-shaped. Apodeme of male sternum 9 absent. Female terminalia. Coxities club-handle like; styli terminal, well developed, with apical setae; infundibulum absent; sperm duct simple, uniform in diameter. Spermatheca distinctly curved with cornu and basal ramus and nodulus; spermathecal accessory gland distinctly separated from sperm duct.
Distribution and Biology
Hippodamia is essentially a Holarctic genus of about 35 species, distributed from North America to Mexico and in the Palaearctic Region (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1982). H. variegata, the sole representative of this genus in Australia, is Palaearctic in origin but has been introduced or made its way naturally to many coutries in Africa (South Africa, Kenya), Asia (India, China), North America and South America (Chile). It was recently discovered in Australia, probably resulting from an accidental introduction in commerce. The first specimens of this species were found in Queensland around November 2000 (Franzmann 2002), but it now occurs throughout the continent, including Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
Genus References
Dejean, P F M A. 1836. Catalogue des Coléoptcres de la collection de M. le Comte Dejean [2 edtition, Fascicle 5]. 361-443 pp.
Franzmann, B A. 2002. Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predacious ladybird new in Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology, 41: 375-77.
Mulsant, M E. 1846. Histoire Naturelle des Coléoptères de France. Sulcicolles-Sécuripalpes. Maison, Paris. xxiv + 26 pp. + 280 pp. + 1 pl.
Mulsant, M E. 1850. Species des Coléoptères Trimcres Sécuripalpes. Annales des Sciencies Physiques et Naturelles, d'Agriculture et d'Industrie, publiées par la Société nationale d'Agriculture, etc., de Lyon, Deuxieme Série, 2: xv + 1-1104 (part 1 pp. 1-450; part 2 pp. 451-1104).
Iablokoff-Khnzorian, S.M. 1982. Les coccinelles. Coleoptères-Coccinellidae. Société nouvelle des editions Boubée, Paris. 568 pp.
Slipinski, S.A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
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