Phrynocaria unicolor ( Fabricius, 1792 )

Zhuang, Jiamin, Wei, Xueyuan, Tao, Xunhong, Wang, Xingmin & Chen, Xiaosheng, 2025, Descriptions of immature stages of six aphidophagous Coccinellini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species from China, Zootaxa 5646 (2), pp. 236-254 : 249-250

Phrynocaria unicolor ( Fabricius, 1792)

( Figs 1I–J , 12–13 )

Fourth instar larva ( Figs 12A–B, 12E , 13 ). Length 11.5 mm; width 3.5 mm. Body elongate, cylindrical and tapered, with parascoli and chalazae, black and yellow color. Head: black, tapered ( Figs 12A–B ). Epicranial stem absent; frontal arms inverted omega-shaped, do not reach antennae ( Fig. 13A ). Three hemispherical stemmata dark, arranged in a triangle, near the base of antenna. Antenna with 3 antennomeres; antennomere 3 with preapical setae and sensilla ( Fig. 13B ). Labrum with setae and brown curves on each side, posterior margin V-shaped ( Fig. 13C ). Mandible with two apical teeth, central convex, and with one basal tooth and two setae above the condyle in dorsal side ( Fig. 13D ). Maxilla with mala trapezoidal, rounded at apex, with spare long curved setae and outer margin with thin and short setae in ventral side ( Fig. 13F ). Maxillary palp with three palpomeres ( Fig. 13H ). Labium with setae, posterior margin with numerous short setae, labial palpi with three palpomeres in ventral side ( Figs 13G, 13I ).

Thorax. Pronotum black, with two dorsal plates, semi-oval and sclerotized, separated by a narrow band and yellow stripe in anterior margin; lateral margin of plates and central surface without projection, only with dense short setae ( Figs 12A–B ). Mesonotum black separated by a yellow stripe. Lateral margin with a yellow struma; anterior and posterior margins of mesonotum without projection, with dense short setae ( Figs 12A–B ). A pair of circular spiracles with lamellae at the opening in anterolateral part of mesonotum ( Fig. 12B ). Metanotum black, with a yellow trapezoidal spot; lateral margins with a yellow struma; anterior and posterior margins with dense short setae ( Figs 12A–B ). Legs black, long, with setae; ventral part with a seta brush near the tarsal claw, and row of external setae in the tibia; tarsal claw with a subquadrate basal tooth and dense setae around the tooth ( Fig. 13E ).

Abdomen with nine segments ( Fig. 12E ). Segment S1 to S8 with a pair of anterolateral spiracles similar to those of the mesothorax ( Fig. 12E ). Segment S1 black, with light yellow spots in dorsolateral and lateral areas, unconnected to S2; dorsal plates with a pair of black strumae; dorsolateral and lateral projections with yellow strumae ( Figs 12A–B, 12E ). Segment S2 and S3 dark brown, with black strumae in dorsal, dorsolateral and lateral areas ( Figs 12A–B, 12E ). Segment S4 light yellow, and black between lateral and dorsolateral regions; dorsal, dorsolateral and lateral areas with light yellow strumae ( Figs 12A–B, 12E ). Segment S5 to S6 black, with black strumae in dorsal and dorsolateral plates and light yellow strumae in lateral areas ( Figs 12A–B, 12E ). Segment S7 and S8 black with yellowish white stripes in posterior margin; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with black strumae; lateral areas with light yellow strumae ( Figs 12A–B, 12E ). Segment S9 black with nearly 20 setae ( Figs 12A–B, 12E ).

Pupa ( Figs 12C–D ). Length 6.2 mm; width 4.8 mm. Body yellowish white with black spots. Body oval, convex and truncate in the anterior region. Pronotum yellowish white with short setae. Mesonotum with a yellow spot in central surface. Metanotum with a central yellow stripe and a pair of black spots in anterolateral margins. Abdomen with seven visible segments. Segment S1 yellowish white, with yellow irregular stripes in lateral margins. Segment S2 and S3 yellowish white with two black spots; S4 yellow, without black spot. Segment S5 to S7 yellowish white, without black spot.

Notes. The immature stages of this species are described for the first time. Yu (2010) provided illustrations of larva and pupa for this species; however, no further descriptions regarding its immature stages were given.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Life stages of six studied species of the tribe Coccinellini. A–C. Cheilomenes sexmaculata, larva (A), pupa (B) and adult (C). D–F. Harmonia dimidiata, larva (D), pupa (E) and adult (F). G–H. Harmonia sedecimnotata, larva (G) and pupa (H). I–J. Phrynocaria unicolor, larva (I) and pupa (J). K–M. Coelophora biplagiata, larva (K) pupa (L) and adult (M). N–P. Microcaria pupillata, larva (N), pupa (O) and adult (P).

FIGURE 12. The larva and pupa of Phrynocaria unicolor. A–B. fourth instar larva, in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) view. C–D. pupa, in dorsal (C) and lateral (D) view. E. nine segments of abdomen of fourth instar larva, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Main characters of the fourth instar larva of Microcaria pupillata. A. head, dorsal view. B. antenna. C. labrum. D. mandible. E. tibiotarsus. F. maxilla. G. labium. H. maxillary palp. I. labial palp. Scale bars: 500 µm in A, E; 100 µm in B–D, F–I. Black lines: outlines of structures; red dots: boundaries of segmentation of maxillary and labial palpi.