Overview of the lady beetle tribe Diomini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and description of a new phytophagous, silk-spinning genus from Costa Rica that induces food bodies on leaves of Piper (Piperaceae) Author Vandenberg, Natalia J. Author Hanson, Paul E. text Zootaxa 2019 2019-02-08 4554 1 255 285 journal article 27575 10.11646/zootaxa.4554.1.9 ff7707f0-058f-4f40-8eb8-2b6c9c75a173 1175-5326 2623565 A804E949-109A-468D-B58B-CF7C8BCB3059 Moiradiomus nanita sp. nov. ( Figs. 19, 20 , 28 , 32 , 41 ) Diagnosis. This species is readily distinguished from its congeners by the male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ) with its short, broad paramere (length only 2× width), basal lobe in ventral view strongly tapered toward apex with rounded apical knob, and penis tube with slight angulation and irregular swelling near distal ½. In addition, the adult form ( Figs. 19, 20 ) is smaller and relatively shorter than in the other species, and the prosternal carinae ( Fig. 28 ) are nearly parallel, framing a subtrapezoidal depression. It is also distinguished by its larval host plant: P. reticulatum L., 1753. Description of holotype (male) ( Fig. 19 ). Length 1.3 mm , width 0.9 mm . Form shortened, oval weakly convex. Metathoracic wing present. Dorsal surfaces feebly shining, distinctly punctate, pubescent with fimbriate borders. Head, pronotum, appendages including mouthparts, straw yellow, with meso- metacoxae slightly darkened; base of pronotum in front of scutellar shield with light brown smudge; scutellar shield light brown; elytron light brown with apex narrowly yellow brown, epipleuron yellow brown, nearly transparent; pubescence shiny, off white. Venter predominantly light brown; prosternum pale yellow; mesepimeron, mesepisternum paler than surrounding sclerites except posterior margin of mesepimeron narrowly darkened; abdomen light brown, lighter, yellower toward apex; tarsal claw, mandibular apex dark reddish amber. Dorsal punctation moderately coarse; punctures separated by approximately 1× diameter, on elytron equal in width to eye facet, finer on head, pronotum. Dorsal pubescence semi erect, moderately dense, evenly distributed, lacking distinct setal pattern; individual setae equal to about 2/3 to 1× length of scutellar shield, arcuate; elytral setae mostly directed posteriorly except directed outwardly at sides of body, posterolaterally near suture. Head large, 0.80× width of pronotum; eye large, finely facetted, with interfacetal setae, weakly notched near antennal insertion by small rounded ocular canthus; inner orbits arcuate, strongly diverging toward vertex, weakly diverging toward clypeus, with minimum separation at slightly below midlength; interocular distance 1.2× width of eye in frontal view. Antenna composed of 10 antennomeres; antennomere 3 elongate, about 1.8× length of antennomere 4; last 4 antennomeres forming gradual club expanding apically from antennomere 7–9; antennomere 10 subrhomboidal, slightly narrower, slightly longer than 9. Maxillary palp with terminal palpomere short, strongly expanded distally; with oblique apex. Pronotum transverse, width 2.0× length, weakly, evenly convex. Elytron in dorsal view with lateral margin weakly arcuate; elytral apices dehiscent. Ventral surfaces pubescent, distinctly punctate, except glabrous, impunctate in posterior 4/5ths of metacoxal plate; punctation coarser, denser on abdomen. Prosternum ( Fig. 28 ) with carinae of intercoxal process extending to apex, subparallel, framing subtrapezoidal depression. Suture between abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 distinct, linear; 5 th ventrite with apex truncate; 6 th ventrite with apex shallowly, roundly emarginate in median ½. Tarsal claw with broad scythe-like inner tooth extending from base to apical 1/3rd or beyond. Male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Basal lobe in ventral view ( Fig. 32b ) strongly, unevenly tapered toward apex, with small knob at distal most point, slightly shorter than paramere; in lateral view ( Fig. 32a ) nearly flat in basal 2/3rds sinuous in apical third with upturned apex; paramere short and broad, strongly expanded toward obliquely rounded apex, about 3.0× as long as wide, slightly longer than longest setae. Penis ( Fig. 32c ) lacking apical flagellum, slender with irregular swelling at apical ½; capsule wedge shaped. Female ( Fig. 20 ). Similar to male except pronotum light brown; prosternum, mesepimeron, mesepisternum medium brown. 5 th abdominal ventrite with posterior margin truncate; 6 th ventrite with posterior margin arcuate. Tarsal claw with short triangular tooth near base, not extending beyond apical ½. Variation. Length 1.1–1.5 mm . Individuals vary slightly in the extent and degree of dark pigmentation on dorsal and ventral surfaces. Trophic relations. Larvae develop on food bodies of P. reticulatum ( Fig. 41 ). Etymology. Nanita, proper noun in apposition, from Nan (a version of Ann) + ita (diminutive). A reference to an old nursery rhyme or cantrip used to encourage a coccinellid to fly from your fingertip: Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home. Your house is on fire. Your children all roam, except little Nan, who sits in a pan, weaving gold laces as fast as she can. Type material. Holotype (male) with labels: “ COSTA RICA : Heredia : OTS-La Selva , 100m II.2013 , P. Hanson / ex. Piper reticulatum ” ( USNM ) ; 9 paratypes ( 4 males , 5 females ): 8 with same labels as holotype ; 1 with labels: “ COSTA RICA : Puntarenas : Rincon de la Osa, I.2017 , P. Hanson / ex. Piper reticulatum ” (5, USNM ; 4, MZUCR ).