Coelophora biplagiata ( 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 : 240-242

Coelophora biplagiata ( Swartz, 1808)

( Figs 1K–M , 4–5 )

Larval descriptions or illustrations of Coelophora biplagiata : Kamiya 1965: 85, Sasaji 1968: 121. Fourth instar larva ( Figs 4A–B, 4E , 5 ). Length 12.0 mm; width 3.9 mm. Body elongate, cylindrical and tapered, with parascoli and chalazae, black and yellow color ( Figs 4A–B ). Head: black, tapered. Epicranial stem absent; frontal arms inverted omega-shaped, do not reach antenna ( Fig. 5A ). 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. 5B ). Labrum with setae and brown curves on each side, posterior margin V-shaped ( Fig. 5C ). Mandible with two apical teeth ( Fig. 5D ). Maxilla with mala trapezoidal, rounded at apex, with spare long curved setae and outer margin with thin and short setae in ventral side ( Fig. 5F ). Maxillary palp with three palpomeres ( Fig. 5H ). Labium with setae in ventral side, posterior margin with numerous short setae, labial palpi with three palpomeres ( Figs 5G, 5I ).

Thorax. Pronotum with two black dorsal plates, semi-oval and sclerotized, separated by a narrow band and posterior marginal areas without projection, only with dense short setae ( Figs 4A–B ). Mesonotum yellow and black, with dense short setae; black plates with semi-circular outer margins and trapezoid inner margins; lateral margins with black strumae ( Figs 4A–B ). Metanotum yellow and black, with dense short setae; black plates with semi-circular outer margins and trapezoid inner margins; laterally with yellow strumae ( Figs 4A–B ). Legs black, 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. 5E ).

Abdomen with nine segments ( Fig. 4E ). Segment S1 to S8 with a pair of anterolateral spiracles similar to those of the mesothorax ( Fig. 4E ). Segment S1 yellow in dorsolateral and lateral areas and dark brown elsewhere, with a yellowish white spot in central part; dorsal plates with black parascoli; dorsolateral and lateral areas with yellow parascoli ( Figs 4A–B, 4E ). Segment S2 and S3 dark brown, with three pairs of black parascoli in dorsal, dorsolateral and lateral areas ( Figs 4A–B, 4E ). Segment S4 yellow, and black in dorsolateral regions; dorsal and lateral areas with two pair of yellow parascoli; dorsolateral plates with a pair of black parascoli. Segment S5 and S6 black and yellow; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with two pairs of black parascoli; laterally with a pair of yellow strumae ( Figs 4A–B, 4E ). Segment S7 chequered with black and yellow, with a yellow stripe in posterior margin; dorsal and dorsolateral plates with two pairs of black parascoli; lateral areas with a pair of black strumae ( Figs 4A–B, 4E ). Segment S8 black, with yellow strumae in dorsal, dorsolateral and lateral areas ( Figs 4A–B, 4E ). Segment S9 black with nearly 20 setae ( Figs 4A–B, 4E ).

Pupa ( Figs 4C–D ). Length 6.2 mm; width 4.8 mm. Yellowish brown with black spots. Body oval, convex and truncate in the anterior region. Pronotum with two black spots in anterior part. Mesonotum with a pair of spots in lateral margins. Metanotum with a pair of black spots connected to mesonotum. Abdomen with seven visible segments. Segment S1 and S2 yellowish brown without black spot. Segment S3 and S4 with a pair of black spots. Segment S5 to S7 yellowish brown without black spot.

Notes. Yu (2010) provided illustrations of the larval and pupal stages of this species under the name Lemnia biplagiata (Swartz) . Additionally, Kamiya (1965) outlined the general characteristics of various Coccinellidae tribes including Lemnia biplagiata (Swartz) as an example, though no specific description was provided.

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 4. The larva and pupa of Coelophora biplagiata. 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 5. Main characters of the fourth instar larva of Coelophora biplagiata. 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.