Microcaria pupillata ( Swartz, 1808 )

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 : 247-248

Microcaria pupillata ( Swartz, 1808)

( Figs 1N–P , 10–11 )

Fourth instar larva ( Figs 10A–B, 10E , 11 ). Length 11.2 mm; width at metathorax 3.6 mm. Body elongate, cylindrical and tapered, with strumae and chalazae, black and yellow color ( Figs 10A–B ). Head: black, tapered. Epicranial stem absent; frontal arms inverted omega-shaped ( Fig. 11A ), do not reach antennae; they appear to be separated at bases. Three hemispherical stemmata dark, arranged in a triangle, near base of antenna. Antenna with 3 antennomeres; antennomere 3 with preapical setae and sensilla ( Fig. 11B ). Labrum with setae, posterior margin V-shaped, with brown curves on each side ( Fig. 11C ). Mandible with two apical teeth ( Fig. 11D ). Maxilla with mala trapezoidal, rounded at apex, with spare long curved setae and outer margin with thin and short setae in ventral side ( Fig. 11F ). Maxillary palp with three palpomeres, bearing a seta at palpomere 2 ( Fig. 11H ). Labium with sparse setae, posterior margin with numerous short setae, labial palp composed with three palpomeres ( Figs 11G, 11I ).

Thorax. Pronotum yellowish white with two semi-oval and sclerotized black dorsal plates, separated by a narrow band; lateral, anterior and posterior marginal areas without projections, only with dense short setae ( Figs 10A–B ). Mesonotum yellowish white, with dense short setae; black plates with semi-circular outer margins and trapezoid inner margins; lateral margins with yellowish white strumae ( Figs 10A–B ). A pair of circular spiracles with lamellae at the opening in anterolateral part of mesonotum. Metanotum yellowish white, with dense short setae; black plates with semi-circular outer margins and trapezoid inner margins; laterally with yellowish white strumae. Legs black, long, with sparse 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. 11E ).

Abdomen. Nine segments ( Fig. 10E ). Segment S1 to S8 with a pair of anterolateral spiracles similar to those on mesothorax ( Fig. 10E ). Segment S1 yellowish white and black; dorsal plates with a pair of black strumae; dorsolateral plates with a pair of yellow strumae; lateral areas with a pair of yellow strumae; each struma with three short chalazae and two short setae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ). Segment S2 and S3 yellowish white and black; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with two pairs of black strumae; lateral areas with a pair of strumae; each struma with three long chalazae and approximately five short chalazae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ). Segment S4 yellowish white, with two pairs of yellow strumae in dorsal and dorsolateral plates; laterally with a pair of yellow strumae; each struma with three long chalazae and approximately three short chalazae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ). Segment S5 and S6 yellowish white with black dorsal and dorsolateral strumae; lateral regions with a pair of yellow strumae; each struma with approximately eight short chalazae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ). Segment S7 yellowish white with black dorsal and dorsolateral strumae, bearing yellow stripe in posterior margin; laterally with yellow strumae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ). Segment S8 dark brown, with yellow stripe in central surface; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with two pair of black strumae; lateral areas with yellow strumae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ). Segment S9 dark brown, with nearly 20 setae ( Figs 10A–B, 10E ).

Pupa ( Figs 10C–D ). Length 4.5 mm; width 3.5 mm. Yellowish white or yellow with black spots. Body oval, convex and truncate in the anterior region. Pronotum with a pair of black spots in parallel in anterior region. Mesonotum yellowish white with a white trapezoid spot in central part and a pair of large black spots in lateral areas. Metanotum with white U-shape spot in the central region and a pair of black spots. Abdomen with seven visible segments. Segment S1 to S6 yellow with a light brown band in central part. Segment S7 yellowish white with a light brown band in central part.

Notes. The immature stages of this species are described for the first time. This species has been previously placed in the genus Bothrocalvia Crotch, 1874 by several authors ( Yu 2010; Ren et al. 2009; Wang & Chen 2022). However, Ślipiński et al. (2020) considered Bothrocalvia as a synonym of Microcaria Crotch, 1871 and consequently transferred the species to the genus Microcaria .

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 10. The larva and pupa of Microcaria pupillata. 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 11. 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 C, D, F–I; 50 µm in B. Black lines: outlines of structures; red dots: boundaries of segmentation of maxillary and labial palpi.