Pharoscymnus Bedel, 1906

Poorani, J., 2025, A review of Pharoscymnus Bedel (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Sticholotidini) of the Indian region, Zootaxa 5665 (1), pp. 37-57 : 38-41

Genus Pharoscymnus Bedel, 1906

Pharus Mulsant, 1850: 949 (preoccupied in Gray, 1840 (Mollusca: Solecurtidae )). Type species: Coccinella 6-guttata Gyllenhal in Schönherr, 1808: 206, by subsequent designation of Korschefsky 1931: 214.

Pharoscymnus Bedel, 1906: 93 (replacement name).

Pharoscymnus (Gymnopharus) Sicard, 1909: 157 . Type species: Pharoscymnus eburifer Sicard, 1909: 156 , by original designation.

Neojauravia Gordon & Almeida, 1991: 153 . Type species: Neojauravia naeida Gordon & Almeida, 1991: 154 , by original designation.—Synonymized by Poorani & Booth 2006: 30.

Diagnosis. Body small, round to short oval to slightly more elongate oval, dorsum convex and densely pubescent. Head ( Fig. 1a ) with clypeus not emarginate around antennal sockets. Antennae ( Fig. 1b ) with 10 antennomeres, apical three antennomeres forming a club. Terminal maxillary palpomere ( Fig. 1c ) elongate conical and apically narrowed. Pronotal hypomera with distinct anterolateral foveae. Prosternum ( Fig. 1d ) T-shaped, intercoxal process broad, quadrate with parallel carinae.Abdomen ( Fig. 1e, f ) with five ventrites, abdominal postcoxal lines incomplete, similar to Diomus type (apically merged with posterior margin of abdominal ventrite 1). Tarsal claws almost simple with only a basal dilation ( Fig. 1g ) or with a basal tooth. Coxites ( Fig. 1h ) elongate triangular.

Related genera. Among the Indian genera of Sticholotidini , Sticholotis Crotch, 1874 and Jauravia Motschulsky, 1858 appear to be the closest relatives of Pharoscymnus , particularly the latter, as both are dorsally densely pubescent with a broad prosternal intercoxal process. However, Jauravia species have 11-segmented antenna, terminal maxillary palpomeres broader and less narrowed apically, six visible abdominal sternites, and always appendiculate tarsal claws. Pope (1961) and Miyatake (1994) provided a diagnostic account of Pharoscymnus in their revision of Pharini and Asian Sticholotidinae , respectively.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the Oriental, Afrotropical, and Palaearctic regions. One species, Pharoscymnus flexibilis (Mulsant) , commonly distributed in South Asia and the Middle East, appears to have been deliberately or accidentally introduced and established in parts of Europe (Macaronesia), North America ( USA: Florida), and South America ( Brazil).

Immature stages. Representative images of the egg, larva, and pupa of Pharoscymnus horni , the most common species in peninsular India, are provided for reference. The egg is elongate oval with distinct microsculpture on chorion ( Fig. 2a, b ) and laid singly or in small groups in scale colonies or beneath scales. The larva ( Fig. 2c, d ) is fusiform, broadest around the middle with the dorsum covered with microtrichia and sparse short setae, longer and stouter at sides, lateral sides with setose lobes/strumae. The pupa ( Fig. 2e ) is densely setose with the last larval skin attached to the caudal end. Pupation usually takes place on the leaf substrate.

Biology/host associations. Most of the Pharoscymnus species are known to feed on armoured scales ( Hemiptera : Sternorrhyncha: Diaspididae ) on various host plants, with date palm and other palms being host to some species in India and the Middle East. Feeding on other prey such as whiteflies and aphids, and even mites has been recorded.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pharoscymnus horni (Weise), diagnostic characters: a) head; b) antenna; c) maxilla; d) prosternal process; e) abdomen, male; f) abdomen, female; g) foreleg; h) coxites; i–k) male genitalia: i) tegmen, lateral view; j) tegmen, inner view; k) penis.

FIGURE 2. Immature stages of Pharoscymnus horni (Weise): a, b) egg; c, d) larva; e) pupa.