Stethorus ( Allostethorus ) indicus Poorani, 2025

Stethorus ( Allostethorus) indicus Poorani , sp. nov.

( Figs 15a–n View FIGURE 15 , 16a–h View FIGURE 16 )

Diagnosis. Stethorus ( Allostethorus) indicus sp. nov. has a broad oval outline ( Fig. 16g, h View FIGURE 16 ) as in S. forficatus , and can be reliably identified only by the male genitalia ( Fig. 15f–n View FIGURE 15 ), particularly the elongate cylindrical, apically rounded penis guide and the stout penis that is apically strongly narrowed into a long, curved, and pointed apex.

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. 16g, h View FIGURE 16 ). Dorsum black, ventral side black except antenna, mouthparts and legs yellowish except all coxae black. Head ( Fig. 15a View FIGURE 15 ) with large eyes, interocular distance ca. 0.45x as wide as head and 1.30–1.40x 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. 15b, c, e View FIGURE 15 ), 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. 15c View FIGURE 15 ), broadly arcuate in female ( Fig. 15b View FIGURE 15 ).

Male genitalia ( Fig. 15f–n View FIGURE 15 ) with penis guide in lateral view ( Fig. 15f, g View FIGURE 15 ) elongate, parallel-sided up to middle, thereafter gradually narrower, apex acutely narrowed and slightly outwardly curved and upturned; penis guide in inner view ( Fig. 15h–k View FIGURE 15 ) tubular and cylindrical, apically rounded ( Fig. 15h, i View FIGURE 15 ) or slightly arcuately rounded ( Fig. 15j, k View FIGURE 15 ); parameres longer than penis guide, apically with long hairs; tegminal strut elongate; penis robust and strongly curved in the middle ( Fig. 15l, m View FIGURE 15 ), penis capsule distinct and variable, outer and inner arms subequal ( Fig. 15l, m View FIGURE 15 ) or outer arm shorter ( Fig. 15n View FIGURE 15 ), penis apex strongly narrowed to a curved and pointed tail-like process.

Immature stages. The larva ( Fig. 16a–d View FIGURE 16 ) and pupa ( Fig. 16e, f View FIGURE 16 ) resemble those of other Allostethorus species.

Material examined. Holotype male, “ INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research farm, N10°47'20.16" E078°34'29.88", 3.vi.2023, Collected on banana, R. Thanigairaj” (ICAR-NBAIR) GoogleMaps . 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) GoogleMaps ; Other material: with the same data as holotype except date of collection (8.v.25), 5 ex (ICAR-NRCB) GoogleMaps ; INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Podavur, NRCB Research farm, N10°47'20.16" E078°34'29.88", 30.iv.25, 25.iv.25, on coconut, R. Thanigairaj, 20 ex. (ICAR-NRCB) GoogleMaps .

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

Etymology. The species epithet is in reference to the country of origin of this species.

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 MG744264.2, MG744265.2). 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.