Synonyms
Pharellus glabratus Slipinski and Tomaszewska, 2005: 378.
Diagnosis
This species is different from all known species of the Sukunahikonini because of its apparently glabrous dorsum. It is different from the only other Australian congener in having a shorter head, shorter mouthparts with stouter maxillary palps and differently structured antenna.
Description
Length 1.1-1.3 mm. Winged; form oval, convex; surfaces apparently glabrous with short setae on dorsum irregular and often absent except for a regular transverse row along pronotal base. Dark brown, ventral side opaque; labrum and appendages yellowish brown. Dorsal surfaces between punctures highly polished, shiny. Head flat, sparsely punctate and shortly setose, punctures as large as eye facets, 3-4 diameters apart, interspaces smooth. Clypeus weakly prominent anteriorly, not forming a rostrum, anterior margin weakly arcuate. Eyes normal, coarsely facetted, dorsally separated by about 3-4 times width of an eye. Antenna 10-segmented with long 3-segmented club. Pronotum widest just before base and gradually narrowing anteriorly, pronotal margins not explanate but entirely visible from above; anterolateral line distinct but not reaching lateral margin. Disc regularly convex, sparsely punctate, punctures twice as large as those on vertex, 2-4 diameters apart with interspaces smooth and shiny. Scutellum elongate, triangular, well visible, glabrous. Elytron shiny, punctate, punctures dual; larger punctures of about size of pronotal ones and mostly in regular rows, usually separated by 1-2 diameters; intervals with much smaller punctures also in regular rows, puncture interspaces shiny and usually polished. Elytral margins smooth, narrow and visible from above at basal 2/3. Epipleuron narrow, extending to level of abdominal ventrite 3. Abdomen: ventrite 5 arcuate posteriorly, usually exposing 6th ventrite apically; postcoxal line of first ventrite incomplete, almost reaching lateral margin, postcoxal disc.
Male
Male genitalia: tegmen 0.5 times, median lobe 1.2 times as long as abdomen; trabes about as long as basal piece; parameres strongly reduced, apparently absent.
Female
Not externally different from male.
Variation
Not observed.
Distribution and Biology
Widely spread along the eastern coast from northern Queensland to central New South Wales. Adults have been collected in flight intercept traps. The larva is unknown. Click on map for larger version (use the bowser 'back arrow' to return to this page).
Species References
Slipinski, A, Tomaszewska, W. 2005. Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Part 3. Tribe Sukunahikonini. Australian Journal of Entomology, 44: 369-384.
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