Pharoscymnus sp.

Poorani, J., 2025, A review of Pharoscymnus Bedel (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Sticholotidini) of the Indian region, Zootaxa 5665 (1), pp. 37-57 : 53

Pharoscymnus sp.

( Fig. 11 )

Diagnosis. Length: 1.80 mm; width: 1.40 mm. Form oval, broadest around middle; dorsum moderately convex and densely pubescent. Ground colour dark brown; anterolateral margins of pronotum paler, yellowish-testaceous; each elytron with a pair of angular, obliquely positioned yellowish spots, anterior spot smaller, posterior spot larger and transverse, lateral and apical margins of elytra paler, yellowish-testaceous ( Fig. 11a, b ). Abdominal postcoxal line ( Fig. 11c ) incomplete. Coxites ( Fig. 11d ) elongate, triangular.

Distribution. India (Gujarat) [new record].

Prey/associated habitat. Collected on date palm (label data).

Notes. A single female specimen of this type from the Western Indian state of Gujarat (collected on date palm, received for identification) was examined in this study. It looks like a colour form/variant of more than one West Asian species like Pharoscymnus pharoides ( Marseul, 1868) , P. brunneosignatus Mader, 1949 , and P. setulosus ( Chevrolat, 1861) (as illustrated by Abdolahi & Khormizi 2024). In the absence of male specimens, it is difficult to establish its identity.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Pharoscymnus sp.: a, b) dorsal view; c) abdomen, female; d) female genitalia.