Stethorus ( Allostethorus ) forficatus Poorani, 2017

Stethorus ( Allostethorus) forficatus Poorani

( Fig. 13a–g View FIGURE 13 )

Stethorus forficatus Poorani, 2017: 593 .

Diagnosis. Length: 0.83–0.93 mm; width: 0.65–0.70 mm. Form ( Fig. 13c, d View FIGURE 13 ) 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. 13f–h View FIGURE 13 ) with penis guide of tegmen in inner view ( Fig. 13g View FIGURE 13 ) apically pincer-like / scissors-shaped, distinctly shorter than parameres, penis guide in lateral view ( Fig. 13f View FIGURE 13 ) 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. 13h View FIGURE 13 ) stout, with a well-defined, elongate capsule.

Immature stages. Larva ( Fig. 13a View FIGURE 13 ) and pupa ( Fig. 13b View FIGURE 13 ) as illustrated.

Material examined. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research Farm , N10°47'20.16" E078°34'29.88", 3.v.22, 1.v.25, on banana, R. Thanigairaj, 7 ex. (ICAR-NRCB) GoogleMaps .

Distribution. India ( Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal).

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.