Synonyms
Telsimia palitans Slipinski, Pang and Pope, 2005: 253.
Diagnosis
The most characteristic external feature of palitans is the median patch of inwardly directed setae on the elytral disc.
Description
Length 1.5-1.7 mm. Shortly oval, strongly convex, broadest at middle, pronotal and elytral margins not explanate; entirely black above, often with a slight, greenish-metallic reflection; underside black in mature specimens, legs, especially tarsi, somewhat lighter. Head between eyes as long as breadth across vertex, distinctly narrowed from base of clypeus to vertex; frontal punctures a little larger than eye facets, separated by 1 diameter, intervals smooth, pubescence subrecumbent, forwardly directed, not obscuring underlying surface. Pronotum with anterior border distinctly arcuate medially, distance between anterior angles 0.7 that between hind angles; lateral borders arcuately convergent anteriorad, more strongly so for anterior third; discal punctures similar in size to those of frons, separated by 1 diameter or less, punctures near scutellum more closely set, punctures on lateral margins up to twice as large as those of disc and separated by 0.5 diameter or less; intervals smooth; pubescence subrecumbent, forwardly directed except on lateral margins where it turns outward. Elytra almost as broad as long; punctures of disc and margins similar to those of pronotal disc, separated by from 1 to 2 diameters, intervals smooth; pubescence suberect, variably directed to form a whorled pattern including a distinct, inwardly turned median patch. Prosternum with intercoxal process little 0.5 times as broad at apex as basal mesoventral border; punctures on process shallow, variably spaced, similar in size to those elsewhere on prosternum, surface near apex appearing longitudinally rugulose; mesoventrite with hind border shallowly angled medially, punctures of disc similar to those of prosternal process, but sometimes more sparsely set, intervals smooth; punctures of metaventral disc 0.5 diameter of mesoventral punctures, separated by several diameters except immediately behind middle coxae, a lightly impressed longitudinal median groove usually present. Abdomen with postcoxal plates of 1st ventrite usually evenly curved; punctures of intercoxal process much larger than those of metaventral disc, separated by 1 diameter or more, punctures closer toward hind margin of ventrite; median length of 5th ventrite c. equal to that of ventrites 2-4 together, apical border evenly arcuate, discal punctures small, often separated by several diameters, discal intervals almost smooth, but obvious microsculpture present toward anterolateral angles; punctures across discs of ventrites 3 and 4 reduced to a single row on each.
Male
All tarsal claws bifid, inner tooth a little shorter on middle and hind legs. Male genitalia as illustrated.
Female
Tarsal claws very shallowly appendiculate.
Variation
Not observed.
Distribution and Biology
It is unclear at the moment whether the Brisbane occurrence of this species is due to introduction from Western Australia or the species is found in natural habitats in Western Australia and Queensland. Bred ex diaspid scales on pineapples.
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Species References
Slipinski, A., H. Pang, R. Pope, 2005. Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Part 4. Tribe telsimiini. Annales Zoologici (Warszawa), 55: 243-269.
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