Synonyms
Scymnillini Casey, 1899: 74. Type genus: Scymnillus Horn, 1895.
Zilini Gordon, 1985 : 74. Type genus: Zilus Mulsant, 1850 (unnecessary replacement name).
Diagnosis
Small (less than 3 mm). Body convex, unicoloured; winged; dorsum glabrous. Head with antennal insertions exposed; ventral antennal groove indistinct. Eye moderately large, finely facetted, pubescent, with short or long ocular canthus. Mandible bidentate apically; prostheca and mola present. Maxillary palp short and stout, terminal palpomere parallel-sided or weakly expanded apically. Antenna distinctly shorter than head, 8-10-segmented, with 3- or 4-segmented weak club; scape usually slightly enlarged. Pronotum transverse, hypomeron sometimes foveate. Prosternum simple, long or short in front of coxae (in Cryptognatha where the prosternum is long there are weak notches laterally); prosternal process moderately broad, not carinate. Meso-metaventrite broadly articulated; metaventral postcoxal lines recurved. Legs short with femora and tibiae flattened and received in impressions on ventral body surface; tarsi 4-segmented. Abdomen with 5 ventrites; abdominal postcoxal line incomplete. Tegmen symmetrical; penis very long with distinct capsule. Ovipositor with coxites elongate; stylus short; spermatheca worm-like, bent; infundibulum absent.
Distribution and Biology
This so far exclusively New World group has been extended to include two Australian genera as they agree with the diagnostic tribal characters. Results from future phylogenetic research should assess the validity of this taxon. New World representatives are known to prey on whiteflies (Aleyrodidae).
Tribe References
Casey, T.L. 1899. A revision of the American Coccinellidae. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 7(2): 71-169.
Gordon, R D. 1985. The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America north of Mexico. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 93(1): 1-912.
Slipinski, A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
[ Top ]