Phrynocaria perfida Poorani

Phrynocaria perfida Poorani

(Figs 167, 168)

Phrynocaria perfida Poorani, in Poorani et al. 2021: 121 (Holotype male, BMNH; Type locality: Kerala).

Coelophora circumusta sensu Gorham 1903: 344 (not Artemis circumusta Mulsant, 1850; misidentification).

Coelophora circumusta var. rufula: Gorham 1903: 344 (not Artemis rufula Mulsant, 1850; misidentification).

Diagnosis. Length: 3.63–4.00 mm; width: 3.26–3.40 mm. Form broadly rounded to almost circular, dorsum strongly convex and glabrous. Ground colour yellowish orange to reddish; scutellar shield black; pronotum with or without a small oval black spot on posterior margin above scutellar shield; elytral pattern variable as follows: (i) immaculate reddish to orange or yellow (Fig. 167a); (ii) with a narrow black lateral margin, anteriorly joining an elongate spot on humeral callus and posteriorly joining a larger apical black patch across elytra (Fig. 167e, f); (iii) each elytron with five black spots arranged in a 2-2-1/2 pattern (Fig. 167c, g), occasionally all spots coalescing to form larger fasciae (Fig. 167d) or reduced in size; and (iv) elytra dark brown to black with a pair of transverse yellow fascia across middle (Fig. 167h). Ventral side yellowish brown except outer one-third of epipleura black. Male genitalia (Fig. 168g –k) and spermatheca (Fig. 168e, f) as illustrated.

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

Notes. It is externally similar to P. circumusta, which is also distributed in South India, and these two species are best separated by their genitalia (Poorani et al. 2021). See Poorani et al. (2021) for detailed description.