Synonyms
Iracilda Slipinski, 2007: 121. TS: Iracilda limae Slipinski, 2007.
Diagnosis
Iracilda is distinguished from all known Australian Coccinellidae by its deeply divided eyes, 10-segmented antenna with enlarged scape, five abdominal ventrites visible in both sexes and apically cleft tarsal claws.
Description
Length 2.4-3.1 mm; head dorsally exposed; body elongate oval and distinctly flattened; dorsum uniformly densely hairy. Dorsum brown. Head transverse with eyes very broadly separated on vertex and deeply divided by ocular canthus. Antenna 10-segmented; shorter than head capsule with scape enlarged and externally arcuate; antennal club 3-segmented, asymmetrical. Terminal maxillary palpomere securiform. Pronotal disc evenly convex; prosternum long in front of coxae; prosternal moderately narrow without distinct carinae. Elytral epipleuron very narrow, incomplete apically, not foveate. Protibia not angulated externally. Tibial spurs absent. Abdominal postcoxal line recurved and complete; male 5th ventrite without foveae. Male terminalia. Parameres and phallobase symmetrical; penis guide symmetrical. Parameres reduced and 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 distinctly elongate, triangular; styli terminal, well developed, with apical setae; infundibulum absent; sperm duct simple, uniform in diameter. Spermatheca multicameral, sclerotised; spermathecal accessory gland absent.
Distribution and Biology
Known from southern part of Western Australia only. Adults have been collected in October from vegetation or from log surfaces at night.
Genus References
Slipinski, S.A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
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