Synonyms
Menochilus Timberlake, 1943: 40. TS: Coccinella sexmaculata Fabricius, 1781.
Diagnosis
Menochilus is distinguished from other Australian Coccinellini by its arcuate anterior margin of clypeus, short antenna with scape carinate externally and the elytral margins devoid of thickened external border or a gutter along its edge.
Description
Length 3-6.5 mm. Elytra strongly convex; winged, glabrous. Elytral colour pattern, variable. Head with anterior clypeal border arcuate between lateral projections. Antenna 11-segmented; distinctly shorter than length of head capsule with arcuate, asymmetrical scape and compact 3-segmented club. Terminal maxillary palpomere securiform. Pronotal disc evenly convex transversely to narrowly upturned external borders. Prothoracic hypomeron without fovea near anterior angles; prosternal process with distinct carinae slightly extending anteriorly. Anterior margin of mesoventrite weakly emarginate medially. Elytral margin with narrow raised margins but without thickened border; epipleuron weakly foveate. Tibial spurs formula 0-2-2. Abdominal postcoxal line not recurved and incomplete laterally with oblique additional line. 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 club-handle like; styli terminal, well developed, with apical setae; infundibulum tube-like, enclosing the sperm duct; sperm duct complex and partially sclerotised. Spermatheca distinctly curved with cornu and basal ramus and nodulus; spermathecal accessory gland adjacent to sperm duct.
Distribution and Biology
Asia from China and Japan to India, Malaysia, Pacific Islands, New Guinea and Australia. Single Australian species is commonly found in Western Australia and Northern Territory. It has been recorded feeding on various aphids in many countries, including Australia but other recorded prey are psyllids, scale insects and whiteflies.
Genus References
Timberlake, P. H. 1943. The Coccinellidae or ladybeetles of the Koebele collection - part I. The Hawaiian Planters' Record, 47, (1): 7-67.
Iablokoff-Khnzorian, S.M. 1982. Les coccinelles. Coleoptères-Coccinellidae. Société nouvelle des editions Boubée, Paris. 568 pp.
Pope, R. D. 1989. A revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Part 1. Subfamily Coccinellinae. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 2 (1988): 663-735.
Slipinski, S.A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
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