Renius cornutus, a new genus and species of Chilocorini from Tibet, China (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae).

Wenjing Li,Dirk Ahrens,Lizhi Huo,Shunxiang Ren,Xingmin Wang

doi:10.3897/zookeys.678.11862

Abstract

A new monotypic genus of Chilocorini, Renius Li & Wang, gen. n., with a new species R. cornutus Li et Wang, sp. n. is described from Tibet, China. All diagnostic features are illustrated. The relationships with other genera of Chilocorini are discussed and a key to Chinese genera of Chilocorini is provided.

Highlights

Ladybirds belonging to tribe Chilocorini, well-known primary predators of coccids, with known instances of aphidophagy (Giorgi et al 2009), are distributed worldwide
The following measurements were made with an ocular micrometer: TL total length, length from apical margin of clypeus to apex of elytra; TW total width, width across both elytra at widest point; TH height measured across the highest point of the elytra; HW head width in frontal view, including eyes; PL pronotal length, from middle of anterior margin to base of pronotum; PW pronotal width at widest point; EL elytral length, from the apex of the elytra to the base including the scutellum; EW elytral width, equal TW
The genus Renius can be distinguished from other genera of the tribe Chilocorini by the following combination of characters: clypeus distinctly projecting medially in male (Fig. 1c–d), slightly projecting medially in female (Fig 1e); antenna composed of 10 antennomeres (Fig. 1f); basal margin of pronotum with distinct border line; prosternal process long, narrow, parallel sided, without carina (Fig. 1j); outer elytral margin strongly reflexed without distinct bead; epipleuron without foveae for the reception of mid and hind legs; abdominal postcoxal lines complete or almost complete, arcuate (Fig. 2a–b); legs with stout femora, tibiae slender without apical spurs (Fig. 1m–o); between the coxites with large, subtriangular sclerite (Fig. 2h)

Summary

Introduction

Ladybirds belonging to tribe Chilocorini, well-known primary predators of coccids, with known instances of aphidophagy (Giorgi et al 2009), are distributed worldwide. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal that Chilocorinae does not represent a monophyletic group (Giorgi et al 2009; Margo et al 2010; Seago et al 2011; Robertson et al 2015), and Chilocorini should be classified in the subfamily Coccinellinae (Ślipiński 2007 and Seago et al 2011). During our study of the Chinese Chilocorini, a particular species from Tibet was found, recorded twice during collecting trips in 2009 and 2011, respectively. This new species is similar to members of Orcus Mulsant, 1850 in body shape and coloration. Some characters make it hard to group it to any extant genus of Chilocorini

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Conclusion