Nephus quadrimaculatus ( Herbst, 1783 )

Nephus quadrimaculatus ( Herbst, 1783)

Figs 5a–j

Sphaeridium quadrimaculatus Herbst, 1783: 30 View in CoL .

Coccinella bisbipustulatus Panzer, 1793: 5 .

Nephus quadrimaculatus quadrimaculatus : Kugelann 1794: 564. Canepari & Tedehi 1977: 101. Fürsch 1980: 109.

Coccinella quadrilunulatus Illiger, 1798: 416 .

Scymnus obliquus Comoli, 1837: 52 . Weise 1879: 154.

Nephus ( Nephus) quadrimaculatus : Ren & Pang 1994: 6. Kovář 2007: 580.

Material examined. Pakistan, Gilgit–Baltistan , Ghizer , Punyial, Gahkuch–Bala, 36°09’36” N, 73°44’49” E, 2129 m, 3♂♂, 3♀♀, 3.vii.2017, leg. Z. Iqbal ( PMAS – AAUR) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Nephus quadrimaculatus is similar to N. cf. similincludens in general appearance, but it can be easily separated by having 10 antennomeres in antennae, apex of penis with a large hook-shaped appendage at 1/5 of its length ( Fig. 5f). However, in N. cf. s imilincludens antennae are composed of 11 antennomeres, while apex of penis is slightly curved and pointed, with appendage ( Fig. 8g).

Description. TL: 1.75–1.77 mm; TW: 1.26–1.28 mm; TH: 0.74–0.75 mm; EL/TW: 1.02; TL/TW: 1.38–1.39; HW/PW: 0.65–0.66; PL/PW: 0.46–0.48.

Body ( Figs 5a–b) elongate oval, moderately convex, dorsum covered with dense white pubescence; head, mouthparts and antennae yellow-brown; pronotum reddish brown to black; elytra reddish brown to black, elytra with four yellow-brown spots, first two basal spots sub-rectangular, the remaining two apical spots small commashaped, apex of elytra brown ( Figs 5a–b); antennae composed of 11 antennomeres; prosternal process without carinae; abdominal ventrite 1 with postcoxal line incomplete laterally, parallel to posterior line, not curved at lateral margin ( Fig. 5d).

Male genitalia ( Figs 5e–h). Penis long; penis capsule with inner arm distinctly longer than outer one ( Fig. 5e); apex of penis with a large hook-shaped appendage on inner side at 1/5 of apical length, and flattened blunt apex ( Fig. 5f); tegmen stout, penis guide in lateral view, with 2/5 of basal length projected, and 3/5 of its apical length abruptly curved into arc, then gradually narrower toward pointed tip ( Fig. 5g), asymmetrical in inner view, widest at base and tapered toward apex ( Fig. 5h); parameres of the same length as penis guide in outer view ( Fig. 5g), apices of parameres covered with long setae.

Female genitalia ( Figs 5i–j). Ovipositor with coxites elongate triangular, with styli; spermatheca with tubular cornu, without clearly defined nodulus or ramus; infundibulum absent.

Prey. This species has been reported as a predator of Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green ( Hemiptera :Margarodidiae) (First record for this prey).

Associated plants. Nephus quadrimaculatus was collected from the Malpighiales : Salicaceae : Salix alba Linnaeus ; Rosales : Elaeagnaceae : Elaeagnus angustifolia Linnaeus.

Distribution. Pakistan: Gilgit–Baltistan: Ghizer (current study); Europe; Kazakhstan; Iran; China ( Kovář 2007). A new species record for Pakistan.

Remarks. Nephus quadrimaculatus is broadly distributed in the Palaearctic region ( Kovář 2007), however, it is rarely collected in Pakistan. Fürsch & Uygun (1980) provided illustrations of the habitus and male genitalia of this species.