taxonID	type	description	language	source
038E87CDFFE8FFEDFF7AD646FD35F81D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Form very small (0.80 – 1.30 mm long), elongate to slightly broader oval, dorsum densely pubescent. Both sides black, except antennae, mouthparts, and legs piceous to yellowish brown. Antenna 11 - segmented, rarely 10 - segmented. Prosternal process without carinae, medially convex and produced forward in the form of a broad arch, partly covering mouthparts. Abdomen with six ventrites, abdominal postcoxal lines complete (Stethorus) or incomplete and apically recurved (Parastethorus).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE8FFEDFF7AD646FD35F81D.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. All Stethorini are specialist predators of spider mites (Tetranychidae) and false spider mites or flat mites (Tenuipalpidae), and cosmopolitan in distribution (Chazeau 1985; Biddinger et al. 2009). Only two genera, Stethorus and Parastethorus are recognized under Stethorini with about 100 species. Kapur (1948) revised 21 old world species of Stethorus including five commonly occurring Indian species. After this, only three species, S. indira Kapur (1950), S. keralicus Kapur (1961) and S. forficatus Poorani (2017) have been added in the last seven decades, with scores of undescribed species.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEFFF7AD1D5FE9FFB90.taxon	description	(Figs 6 a – j, 7 a – h, 8 a – h)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEFFF7AD1D5FE9FFB90.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 1.20 – 1.30 mm; width: 0.80 – 0.90 mm. Form elongate oval, dorsum moderately convex and covered with dense, white pubescence (Figs 6 a, 7 a). Dorsum and underside entirely black, except antennae, mouthparts and legs (except coxae) yellowish brown. Abdominal postcoxal lines (Figs 6 b, 7 e) apically recurved and incomplete. Male genitalia (Figs 6 c – e, 6 f – j, 7 f – h.) with tegmen stout, penis guide gradually broad and apically narrowed, apex with a small, U-shaped median notch in inner view (Figs 6 h, 7 g); widest at base and strongly narrowed towards apex in lateral view (Figs 6 f, 7 f); parameres oblong-ovate, with many short stout seta-like processes at the inner sides and distal end with a group of long setae in lateral view (Fig. 6 f, g); penis elongate, curved, apically split (Figs 6 e, j, 7 h). Life stages. Life stages of P. indira found in association with E. orientalis (on banana and guava) are illustrated in Fig. 8 a – h.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEFFF7AD1D5FE9FFB90.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Trichy: Viyalanmedu: N 10 ° 47 ' 52.22 " E 078 ° 34 ' 36.78 ", 19. iii. 2020, R. Thanigairaj, 15 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEFFF7AD1D5FE9FFB90.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India (Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal); China; Thailand.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEFFF7AD1D5FE9FFB90.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Commonly collected in association with and apparently specific to Eutetranychus orientalis on banana and castor in South India (label data). Collected on banana, castor, plumeria, coconut, cassia (prey not known) (Vidya 2018). Notes. It is likely to be more widely distributed in India though the material studied for this work was collected mainly from peninsular India. See Kapur (1950) and Li et al. (2015) for detailed descriptions and more illustrations.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEFFF7AD5D7FEA3F956.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Externally similar to Parastethorus and differs mainly by the complete abdominal postcoxal lines and the male genitalia. There are two subgenera in Stethorus. The subgenus Allostethorus can be distinguished from the subgenus Stethorus by the short penis, stout penis guide, and tegminal strut longer than penis guide. The subgenus Stethorus is characterized by a slender penis, somewhat elongate penis guide with the tegminal strut shorter than penis guide.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEEFF7AD796FD6FFBC5.taxon	description	(Figs 9 a – l, 10 a – h)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEEFF7AD796FD6FFBC5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 0.85 – 0.90 mm; width: 0.70 – 0.80 mm. Form elongate oval and narrowed at both ends; dorsum convex; head and pronotum sparsely but uniformly pubescent; elytra with a mixture of long setae mainly confined to the anterior half and lateral margins, and very short, erect setae on disc and in the posterior half (Figs 9 a, 10 h). Dorsum black; ventral side black except mouthparts and antenna yellowish-testaceous, legs brownish testaceous except all coxae black, tibiae and tarsi yellowish-testaceous. Antenna 10 - segmented (Fig. 9 b). Prosternal process broad and quadrate (Fig. 9 c, d). Elytral punctures large, thimble-like, and widely separated. Abdominal ventrites with yellowish pubescence, noticeably longer on ventrites 5 and 6. Abdominal postcoxal lines (Fig. 9 e – g) complete, shallowly semicircular, reaching up to middle of ventrite 1, with punctures confined to the anterior half of the enclosed area. Male genitalia (Fig. 9 h – j) with penis guide strongly curved (Fig. 9 h), penis as illustrated (Fig. 9 i, j). Female genitalia with spermatheca large and globular with a short neck (Fig. 9 k, l). Life stages. Life stages as illustrated in Fig. 10 a – h.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEEFF7AD796FD6FFBC5.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research Farm, N 10 ° 47 ' 20.16 " E 078 ° 34 ' 29.88 ", 20. xi. 19, 13. vi. 25, 16. ix. 25, feeding on Raoiella indica on banana, R. Thanigairaj, 25 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEEFF7AD796FD6FFBC5.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India (Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu); Vietnam.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE6FFEEFF7AD796FD6FFBC5.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Collected in association with Raoiella indica on arecanut, banana, coconut, date palm, and jamun (personal observations, label data). Barcode sequence. A barcode sequence of the material collected on banana is deposited in GenBank (accession number OR 739411.1). Notes. This is the smallest Indian species of Stethorus that can be readily identified by characteristic elytral pubescence and punctation, 10 - segmented antenna, and the much broader prosternal process, and the genitalia of both sexes are also diagnostic. Kapur (1961) mentioned that the male genitalia in S. keralicus lacks a sipho (‘ penis’), but it is present and extremely hard to take out of the strongly curved penis guide. The spermatheca is large, globular or pot-shaped, with a narrow neck, and is diagnostic. Due to these unusual characters, it is an outlier in Stethorus as it does not truly belong in either of the two subgenera and the larvae also appear to be distinctive. Vidya et al. (2022) also recovered S. keralicus in a distinct clade separate from other Stethorus spp. in their phylogenetic analysis of Stethorini of southern India and stated it was genetically the most distant species. It is a specific predator of R. indica on banana and various palms, particularly coconut.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE7FFEEFF7AD520FC3DF822.taxon	description	(Figs 11 a – h, 12 a – j)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE7FFEEFF7AD520FC3DF822.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 1.00 – 1.20 mm; width: 0.80 – 0.90 mm. Form elongate, somewhat narrowly oval; dorsum moderately convex and densely pubescent with silvery white hairs (Fig. 11 a – c). Abdominal postcoxal lines fairly deeply semicircular (Fig. 11 d, e) extending beyond middle to nearly two-thirds of the length of ventrite 1, enclosed area with few punctures confined to the anterior inner half. Male genitalia (Fig. 11 f – h) diagnostic, as illustrated. Immature stages. Immature stages as illustrated in Fig. 12 a – g.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE7FFEEFF7AD520FC3DF822.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research Farm, N 10 ° 47 ' 20.16 " E 078 ° 34 ' 29.88 ", 18. xi. 16, 13. iii. 24, 8. ix. 25, on banana, R. Thanigairaj, 30 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE7FFEEFF7AD520FC3DF822.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India: Widely distributed (Bihar; Delhi; Karnataka; Kerala; Gujarat; Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal); Pakistan; Middle East (Yemen) (Kapur 1948).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFE7FFEEFF7AD520FC3DF822.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Commonly collected on banana and several other host plants, including brinjal, Calotropis gigantea, coconut, etc.; Oligonychus indicus (Hirst) on bajra, maize, sorghum; Oligonychus sp. on arecanut, banana; Tetranychus truncatus on bhindi, cowpea; T. macfarlanei Baker and Pritchard on Amaranthus sp.; T. okinawanus on cowpea; Tetranychus sp. on bhindi; predatory on Eutetranychus orientalis, Tetranychus ludeni; collected on Andropogon, banana, bhindi, coconut, ridge gourd, soyabean, sugarcane (prey not known) (Kapur 1948; Gupta 1985; Vidya 2018; Vidya et al. 2022). Barcode sequence. A barcode sequence of the material collected on banana is deposited in GenBank (accession number MF 188881.1). Notes. It is the most common Stethorus species with a pan Indian distribution on various crops, besides banana. The key diagnostic characters are the deeply semicircular abdominal postcoxal lines extending beyond middle to nearly two-thirds of the length of ventrite 1 and the male genitalia.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD1D5FC42FC10.taxon	description	(Fig. 13 a – g)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD1D5FC42FC10.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 0.83 – 0.93 mm; width: 0.65 – 0.70 mm. Form (Fig. 13 c, d) elongate, oblong oval, elytral apices obliquely arcuate; dorsum moderately convex and densely covered with elongate, silvery white pubescence. Dorsal side black except clypeus paler, ventral side black, antenna, mouthparts, and legs yellowish except all coxae dark brown to black, last two abdominal ventrites often distinctly paler testaceous in males. Abdominal postcoxal lines complete, fairly deeply semi-circular; last abdominal ventrite truncate in male. Male genitalia (Fig. 13 f – h) with penis guide of tegmen in inner view (Fig. 13 g) apically pincer-like / scissors-shaped, distinctly shorter than parameres, penis guide in lateral view (Fig. 13 f) parallel-sided up to middle, thereafter curved and narrowed towards apex, parameres broadest at base, progressively narrowed towards apices, lateral and apical margins with a few hairs; penis (Fig. 13 h) stout, with a well-defined, elongate capsule. Immature stages. Larva (Fig. 13 a) and pupa (Fig. 13 b) as illustrated.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD1D5FC42FC10.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research Farm, N 10 ° 47 ' 20.16 " E 078 ° 34 ' 29.88 ", 3. v. 22, 1. v. 25, on banana, R. Thanigairaj, 7 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD1D5FC42FC10.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India (Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD1D5FC42FC10.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Predatory on tetranychid mites on banana (label data). Predatory on citrus hindu mite, Schizotetranychus hindustanicus (Hirst) (Poorani 2017); Feeds on Tetranychus truncatus Ehara on amaranthus, cosmos, cowpea, papaya, and tapioca; Tetranychus okinawanus Ehara on cowpea; jack, Butea monosperma, and mulberry (prey not known); Oligonychus biharensis (Hirst) on Bauhinia (Vidya 2018; Vidya et al. 2022). Notes. See Poorani (2017) for detailed description and more illustrations.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD557FBFCF8CB.taxon	description	(Fig. 14 a – j)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD557FBFCF8CB.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 1.20 – 1.30 mm; width: 0.90 – 1.00 mm. Form elongate, broadly oval, elytral apices somewhat broadly rounded to subtruncate (Fig. 14 e, f); dorsum moderately convex and densely pubescent. Abdominal postcoxal lines (Fig. 14 g) usually shallowly semicircular, rarely slightly deeper in females. Male genitalia (Fig. 14 h – j) diagnostic, penis guide anteriorly broad and subparallel up to middle (Fig. 14 i) and then gradually narrowed, with two elongate, apically narrowed and pointed prongs, parameres subequal to slightly longer than penis guide with long apical hairs (Fig. 14 h, i), penis (Fig. 14 j) stout, penis capsule having lamellate expansions and the apex laterally acutely produced. Immature stages. Larva (Fig. 14 a, b) and pupa (Fig. 14 c, d) as illustrated.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD557FBFCF8CB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research Farm, N 10 ° 47 ' 20.16 " E 078 ° 34 ' 29.88 ", 24 - 29. i. 24, on banana, R. Thanigairaj, 10 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD557FBFCF8CB.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India (Andhra Pradesh; Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal); Bangladesh.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFFFFF6FF7AD557FBFCF8CB.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Associated with tetranychid mites on banana; Tetranychus sp. on banana, coconut, jute; Oligonychus biharensis on bauhinia; on coconut, Helecteres isora (prey not known) (Vidya 2018; Vidya et al. 2022). Notes. Kapur (1948) described it from ' Bengal: Dacca' (now Bangladesh) as a predator of Tetranychus sp. on jute. Puttarudriah & ChannaBasavanna (1956) recorded it as a predator of R. indica. Poorani (2017) gave an illustrated account of S. tetranychi and compared it with S. vietnamicus Hoàng, 1979 (distributed in Vietnam and China), a species with similar male genitalia, and a likely synonym of S. tetranychi.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD775FB3AF8FD.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The subgenus Stethorus can be differentiated from Allostethorus by the long and slender penis and the narrow, slender penis guide with a much shorter tegminal strut. Two species, S. (S.) aptus Kapur and S. (S.) gilvifrons Mulsant, are included here. Of these, S. aptus is frequently collected in the banana ecosystem in Tamil Nadu and is likely to be present on banana as well. Stethorus gilvifrons is widespread on many crops in the northern states of India and feeds on banana mites also, though it is not present in peninsular India.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	description	(Figs 15 a – n, 16 a – h)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Stethorus (Allostethorus) indicus sp. nov. has a broad oval outline (Fig. 16 g, h) as in S. forficatus, and can be reliably identified only by the male genitalia (Fig. 15 f – n), particularly the elongate cylindrical, apically rounded penis guide and the stout penis that is apically strongly narrowed into a long, curved, and pointed apex.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	description	Description. TL: 0.90 – 1.00 mm; EW: 0.70 – 0.80 mm; TL / EW = 1.30 – 1.35; PL / PW = 0.35 – 0.43; EL / EW = 1.03 – 1.10. Form elongate oval, dorsum moderately convex and densely pubescent (Fig. 16 g, h). Dorsum black, ventral side black except antenna, mouthparts and legs yellowish except all coxae black. Head (Fig. 15 a) with large eyes, interocular distance ca. 0.45 x as wide as head and 1.30 – 1.40 x as wide as an eye; punctures medially sparse and widely separated, closer near clypeal and inner ocular margins. Pronotum and abdomen with shallowly impressed punctures, separated by 2 – 4 diameters. Abdominal postcoxal lines semicircular and complete (Fig. 15 b, c, e), short of reaching mid-length of ventrite 1; enclosed area with few punctures mainly confined to anterior half. Ventrite 6 posteriorly truncate in male (Fig. 15 c), broadly arcuate in female (Fig. 15 b). Male genitalia (Fig. 15 f – n) with penis guide in lateral view (Fig. 15 f, g) elongate, parallel-sided up to middle, thereafter gradually narrower, apex acutely narrowed and slightly outwardly curved and upturned; penis guide in inner view (Fig. 15 h – k) tubular and cylindrical, apically rounded (Fig. 15 h, i) or slightly arcuately rounded (Fig. 15 j, k); parameres longer than penis guide, apically with long hairs; tegminal strut elongate; penis robust and strongly curved in the middle (Fig. 15 l, m), penis capsule distinct and variable, outer and inner arms subequal (Fig. 15 l, m) or outer arm shorter (Fig. 15 n), penis apex strongly narrowed to a curved and pointed tail-like process. Immature stages. The larva (Fig. 16 a – d) and pupa (Fig. 16 e, f) resemble those of other Allostethorus species.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype male, “ INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research farm, N 10 ° 47 ' 20.16 " E 078 ° 34 ' 29.88 ", 3. vi. 2023, Collected on banana, R. Thanigairaj ” (ICAR-NBAIR). Paratypes: Four males with the same data except date of collection 2. v. 25, 23. iv. 25, 24. iv. 25, 21. v. 25 (ICAR-NBAIR); Other material: with the same data as holotype except date of collection (8. v. 25), 5 ex (ICAR-NRCB); INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research farm, N 10 ° 47 ' 20.16 " E 078 ° 34 ' 29.88 ", 30. iv. 25, 25. iv. 25, on coconut, R. Thanigairaj, 20 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India (Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species epithet is in reference to the country of origin of this species.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFFAFFF3FF7AD1D5FE9AFA31.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Commonly collected as a predator of Oligonychus spp. and Tetranychus spp. infesting banana and coconut in Tamil Nadu (label data); Tetranychus sp. on coconut (Vidya 2018). Notes. This species is commonly collected in association with Oligonychus spp. and Tetranychus sp. on banana and coconut. The larva resembles that of S. pauperculus. This species was listed and described as " Stethorus (Allostethorus) sp. 1 " with male genitalia illustrations by Vidya (2018) in her Ph. D. dissertation but it has not been named and formally published until now. Vidya (2018) also generated two barcode sequences for this species (GenBank accessions MG 744264.2, MG 744265.2). Vidya et al. (2022) listed the same species as Stethorus (Allostethorus) sp. Material received from Karnataka for identification (collected on coconut) was also examined in this study.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFFCFF7AD1D5FA8AFA1F.taxon	description	(Figs 17 a – i, 18 a – h)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFFCFF7AD1D5FA8AFA1F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 1.30 – 1.50 mm; width: 1.00 – 1.10 mm. Form elongate oval, dorsum moderately convex, and densely pubescent (Fig. 17 a, b). Head black, anteriorly distinctly lighter yellowish to reddish-testaceous around clypeal margin (Fig. 17 c), more prominently so in males; antennae, mouthparts, and legs testaceous. Abdominal postcoxal lines shallowly semi-circular, enclosed area with punctures arranged in a single transverse row, sometimes with an additional anterior row of only a few punctures (Fig. 17 d, e). Male genitalia (Fig. 17 f – i) as illustrated. Immature stages. Immature stages as illustrated in Fig. 18.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFFCFF7AD1D5FA8AFA1F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Kuzhumani, N 10 ° 83 ' 75.95 " E 078 ° 59 ' 53.22 ", 25. viii. 22, Ex. Tetranychid mites on Physalis sp., R. Thanigairaj, 10 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFFCFF7AD1D5FA8AFA1F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India (Kerala; Tamil Nadu) (new record); China; Malaysia.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFFCFF7AD1D5FA8AFA1F.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. This species is commonly collected in association with Tetranychus spp. found on coconut and Sesbania sp., a fodder shrub grown as a live fence on the borders of banana plantations in many parts of South India. It is included here due to the likelihood of its occurrence on banana also. Collected on Physalis sp., Moringa oleifera, and coconut (label data). Notes. The Indian material fits the description of S. siphonulus given by Kapur (1948) and Seki & Maruyama (2025). Kapur (1948) described S. siphonulus based on two specimens from Malaya. The male genitalia of the specimens examined for this work also match Sasaji’s (1971) descriptions of S. aptus tsutsuii Nakane & Araki, 1959, and S. japonicus Kamiya, 1959. Sasaji (1971) stated S. aptus tsutsii could be a subspecies of S. japonicus. Seki & Maruyama (2025) reviewed the Japanese species of Stethorus and Parastethorus and synonymized S. japonicus and S. aptus tsutsuii with S. siphonulus. They observed that the original descriptions by Kamiya (1959) and Nakane & Araki (1959) revealed no morphological differences and the morphological features of S. japonicus were completely consistent with those of S. siphonulus based on the drawings from the original description and type specimens. Seki & Maruyama (2025) also stated that S. (S.) siphonulus itself may be a synonym of S. (S.) aptus Kapur (1948), which requires further study. Kapur (1948) described S. aptus based on a female and two other specimens from China and did not illustrate the male genitalia. A reliable diagnostic account of S. aptus is not available anywhere. Kapur (1948) stated that the ‘ femoral lines’ in S. aptus were “ widely rounded, complete and extending to near the middle of the length of the segment ”. However, in S. siphonulus, the postcoxal lines are posteriorly distinctly short of mid-length of the abdominal ventrite 1. Comparison of the images of the final instar larvae from India with the illustrations given by Kishimoto et al. (2013) for S. japonicus also suggests that the Japanese and Indian material are conspecific as the the pronotal shield of the full-grown larva has black, punctate patterns (Fig. 18 a – c) as mentioned by Kishimoto et al. (2013).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFF8FF7AD753FE55FE5C.taxon	description	(Fig. 19 a – f)	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFF8FF7AD753FE55FE5C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length: 1.20 – 1.40 mm; width: 0.90 – 1.00 mm. Form elongate, narrow oval, dorsum moderately convex, with dense, greyish white pubescence (Fig. 19 a, b). Dorsum mostly black, antenna, mouthparts and legs testaceous. Abdominal postcoxal lines (Fig. 19 c) complete, shallowly semi-circular, not reaching middle of ventrite 1, enclosed area with punctures confined to anterior half. Posterior margin of abdominal ventrite 6 medially distinctly and widely emarginate. Male genitalia with a characteristic, very long penis guide (Fig. 19 d, e), tapering towards apex and outwardly bent towards parameres in lateral view (Fig. 19 e); parameres narrow and nearly two-thirds the length of penis guide, each bearing a pair of short setae at the apex; penis strongly curved, elongate (Fig. 19 f) with a dark brown to black penis capsule (Fig. 19 g) with an elongate inner arm.	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFF8FF7AD753FE55FE5C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Uttar Pradesh, 2021, Santosh Kedar, without other data, 3 ex. (ICAR-NRCB).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
038E87CDFFF5FFF8FF7AD753FE55FE5C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Widely distributed in the Oriental and Palaearctic regions; India (Delhi; Haryana; Jammu & Kashmir; Punjab; Uttar Pradesh; Uttarakhand); Pakistan; Middle East; Europe (Poorani 2002; Rafi et al. 2005; Kovář 2007; Ren et al. 2009; Hayat & Khan 2013; Ashfaque et al. 2015; Iqbal et al. 2018). Notes. Stethorus gilvifrons is commonly found in northern and northwestern India as a predator of several mite pests on many host plants, including the species found on banana, like E. orientalis, O. indicus, T. urticae, and T. neocaledonicus (Gupta 1985).	en	Poorani, J., Anuradha, C., Thanigairaj, R. (2025): An illustrated account of Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predatory on mite pests of banana in India, including description of a new species. Zootaxa 5737 (1): 34-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5737.1.2
