Oodes coelestinus

“ coelestinus ” species group

Diagnosis. This species differs from other representatives of the genus, in having: (1) blue metallic color of the dorsum; (2) ventral surfaces of meso- and metatarsomeres 2–4 in both sexes and protarsomeres 1–4 in female with dense and long pubescence (Fig. 6C); (3) pronotum without basal setiferous punctures; (4) broadest pronotum, i.e. PW/PL ≥1.76; (5) basal sulcus of metacoxa reduced, ending at medial third; (6) male mesotibia markedly curved at basal third, forming an angle of 35º or more (seen ventrally); (7) ostium reaching basal bulb. Character states (1) and (4) are autapomorphies while the others, although derived features, are homoplasies within the Oodes generic group. For example, state (2) also occurs in the species of Oodes (Lachnocrepis), (3) occurs in all species of Oodes s.l. and Sundaoodes, (5) occurs in Oodes gracilis, etc. The strong modification of the male mesotibia in P. coelestinus is different from that in P. rambouseki. While the mesotibia of the former species is strongly bent inwards at its basal third, that of the latter species is slightly concave on lateral margin, and significantly thickened in the apical twothirds on medial margin. In addition, deep apical sinuation of the elytra and highly reduced parascutellar striola are two more distinctive features which clearly delimit the species from other congeners.