Synonyms
Brumoides piae Slipinski and Giorgi, 2006: 268.
Diagnosis
This species differs from B. maculatus by its smaller size, simple tarsal claws and joined lateral maculae on elytra.
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Description
Length 2.5-2.7 mm. Dorsal surface predominantly yellowish; head dark brownish around the eyes; each elytron with brownish sutural band, sometimes expanded laterally at apex and base; a second longitudinal brownish band running medially, not reaching any margin, distinctly expanded before its apex; meso-, metepimeron, meso-, metepisternum, meso-, metasternum, femora and abdominal ventrites (except the last one) usually dark brownish; the rest yellowish. Body slightly elongate oval and flattened; dorsal surface glabrous. Head flat between eyes; polished to weakly micro reticulate between punctures. Eyes dorsally separated by about 3 times the width of an eye; inner ocular margin conspicuously diverging apically. Antenna with scape symmetrical, slightly larger at apex; pedicel somewhat barrel-shaped, about as long as scape; antennomeres 3 and 4 very similar in size and shape, somewhat trapezoidal; 5th 1.5 times as long as 4th; 6th 1.5 times as long as 5th; 7th somewhat conical in lateral view, slightly shorter than 6th; 8th completely embedded in 7th. Terminal maxillary palpomere with sides nearly parallel (Fig. 60); terminal labial palpomere elongate, about 3 times as long as basal width; slightly shorter than preceding segment. Pronotal surface sculptured as on head; punctation smaller than eye facets, nearly 2 to 3 diameters apart; prosternum relatively short in front of coxae, about 1.5 times longer than prosternal process widest width; tarsal claws simple. Elytral surface as on pronotum; punctation weaker than on pronotum, slightly shallower and sparser; epipleura gradually narrowing towards the apex. Abdomen with ventrite 6 truncate at apex; surface of ventrite 1 polished between postcoxal lines.
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Male
Tegmen relatively short, about 1/2 the abdomen length; penis guide distinctly shorter than parameres; parameres densely setose at apex, the setae long; strut long, about 1.5 longer than tegmen; penis as figured.
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Female
Externally identical to male.
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Variation
Not observed.
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Distribution and Biology
This species has been found along the coastal salt marsh habitats in New South Wales and Queensland.
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Species References
Slipinski, S.A. 2007. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) their biology and classification. ABRS, Canberra. 286 pp.
Slipinski, A. and Giorgi, J.A. 2006. Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coccinellidae). Part 6. Tribe Chilocorini. Annales Zoologici (Warszawa), 56(2): 265-304.
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