Harmonia sedecimnotata ( Fabricius, 1801 )

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 : 245-247

Harmonia sedecimnotata ( Fabricius, 1801)

( Figs 1G–H , 8–9 )

Larval descriptions or illustrations of Harmonia sedecimnotata : Singh & Phaloura 1990: 90, Phaloura & Singh 1991, Poorani 2023: 146.

Fourth instar larva ( Figs 8A–B, 8E , 9 ). Length 6.9–7.5 mm; width 2.4–2.5 mm. Body elongate, cylindrical and tapered, with parascoli and chalazae, black and yellow color ( Figs 8A–B ). Head: black, tapered. Epicranial stem absent; frontal arms inverted omega-shaped, do not reach antennae ( Fig. 9A ). 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. 9B ). Labrum with setae, posterior margin V-shaped, with brown curves on each side ( Fig. 9C ). Mandible with two apical teeth ( Fig. 9D ). Maxilla with mala trapezoidal, rounded at apex, with long curved setae and outer margin with thin and short setae in ventral side ( Fig. 9F ). Maxillary palp with three palpomeres ( Fig. 9H ). Labium with sestae, posterior margin with numerous short setae, labial palpi with three palpomeres in ventral side ( Figs 9G, 9I ).

Thorax. Pronotum yellow with two dorsal plates, semi-oval and sclerotized, boundary indistinct; lateral margins of plates with four yellow parascoli bearing two branches; posterior margin of plates with four yellow smaller parascoli; about eight charazae in the anterior area; central surface with spare short setae ( Figs 8A–B ). Mesonotum and metanotum black separated by yellow band and yellow circular ring in the root of lateral projections; anterolateral margin of plates each with a black parascoli bearing three to four branches; posterolaterally each with a black sentus ( Figs 8A–B ). Lateral margin of mesonotum each with a black sentus, without setae ( Figs 8A–B ). A pair of circular spiracles with lamellae at the opening in anterolateral part of mesonotum ( Fig. 8B ). Metanotum laterally each with a black sentus ( Figs 8A–B ). Legs yellow, 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 square small basal tooth and dense setae around the tooth ( Fig. 9E ).

Abdomen with nine segments ( Fig. 8E ). Segment S1 to S8 with a pair of anterolateral spiracles similar to those of the mesothorax ( Fig. 8E ). Segment S1 yellow, black in lateral areas, a black oblique stripe between dorsal and dorsolateral plates, and a black spot closed to S2; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with two pairs of yellow parascoli, developed two branches; lateral areas with a pair of yellow parascoli ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ). Segment S2 yellow, black in lateral areas, a black oblique stripe between dorsal and dorsolateral plates, and black irregular stripe separates two sides; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with two pairs of yellow parascoli bearing three branches; lateral projections are black parascoli ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ). The surface color and location of projection of S3 are similar to those of S2, differing only in the dorsal projections ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ). Segment S4 is similar to S1 ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ). Segment S5 to S7 black, with yellow base of dorsal projections and lateral areas; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with black parascoli, developed two branches; laterally with smaller black parascoli, only S7 with strumae ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ). Segment S8 yellow, with yellow parascoli in dorsal and dorsolateral plates and yellow strumae in lateral areas ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ). Segment S9 yellow with nearly 20 setae ( Figs 8A–B, 8E ).

Pupa ( Figs 8C–D ). Length 4.9–5.1 mm; width 3.0– 3.5 mm. Yellowish brown with black spots and stripes. Body oval, convex and truncate in the anterior region. Pronotum with two black spots at both sides. Mesonotum with a pair of black spots in central region, and a brown arc on each side in lateral area. Metanotum with two black oblique stripes at both sides. Abdomen with seven visible segments. Segment S1 and S2 with four black spots in central surface. Segment S3 with six black spots: two oblique stripes in central region, four irregular spots arrange in parallel in lateral area; S4 to S6 with one black arc on each side; S7 without black spot.

Notes. Singh & Phaloura (1990) presented a field key to the larvae of four species within the genus Harmonia , including H. sedecimnotata . Authors mentioned that H. sedecimnotata can be distinguished from other Harmonia species by the color of S 4 in lateral areas. Subsequently, Phaloura & Singh (1991) provided a description of the larval chaetotaxy for this species. Poorani (2023) presented comprehensive illustrations of this species along with brief descriptions of its immature stages.

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 8. The larva and pupa of Harmonia sedecimnotata. 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 9. Main characters of the fourth instar larva of Harmonia sedecimnotata. A. head, dorsal view. B. antenna. C. labrum. D. mandible. E. tibiotarsus. F. maxilla. G. labium. H. maxillary palp. I. labial palp. Scale bars: 200 µm in A, B, D–I; 100 µm in B, D. Black and blue lines: outlines of structures; red dots: boundaries of segmentation of maxillary and labial palpi.