Synonyms
Orcus evelynensis Weise, 1923: 133.
Diagnosis
The distinctly recurved postcoxal line combined with an elongated and weakly convex body, and the shape of the anterior angle of pronotum distinguish this species from the other Halmus.
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Description
Length 3.4 mm. Dorsal surface bluish to purple, somewhat metallic, venter dark brownish. Body elongate, somewhat flattened. Head micro reticulate between punctures; punctation about as large as eye facets, nearly 1.5 to 2 diameters apart. Eyes dorsally separated by less than 2 times the width of an eye, inner ocular margin slightly diverging apically. Antennomere 6 about 2 times longer than 5th and 7th. Clypeus distinctly emarginate medially, with lateral extension markedly narrow. Terminal maxillary palpomere nearly weakly securiform; terminal labial palpomere somewhat conical; less than 2 times longer than basal width; conspicuously shorter than the preceding segment. Pronotal surface polished between punctures; punctation smaller than eye facets, shallow and sparse, 2 to 3 diameters apart, obsolete on anterior angles; lateral borders somewhat rounded with sharp angle on inner side; prosternum short in front of coxae, about 1.5 times longer than prosternal process widest width. Elytral surface polished between punctures; punctation stronger than on pronotum, about as large as to larger than eye facets, slightly deeper and more concentrated; lateral margin slightly reflexed. Abdomen with ventrite 6 short; surface of ventrite 1 polished between postcoxal lines; postcoxal line distinctly recurving apically.
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Male
Male genitalia not studied.
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Female
Externally identical to male.
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Variation
Not observed.
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Distribution and Biology
Known only from few localities in northern 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.
Weise, J. 1923. Results of Dr. E. Mjöbergís Swedish Scientific Expedition to Australia 1910-1913. 31. Chrysomeliden und Coccinelliden aus Queensland. Arkiv för Zoologi, 15(12): 1-150.
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