Pediobius grisescens Sheng & Wang 1994

5. Pediobius grisescens Sheng & Wang, 1994

(Fig. 5)

Pediobius grisescens Sheng & Wang, 1994: 103 –104; ♀. Holotype ♀, IZCAS, examined.

Diagnosis. Coxae metallic green, femora dark brown and basal three fourths with metallic blue green reflections, tibiae brownish yellow (Fig. 5 b). Three funicular segments freely separated by narrow petioles, and almost subequal to each other in length and width, rectangle (Fig. 5 c). Mesoscutum and scutellum coarsely reticulate.

Material examined. Holotype ♀, CHINA, Jiangxi, Nanchang, 12.V.1984, coll. Rong-Wu Shen (IZCAS), ex. the larvae of Galerucella grisescens (Joannis). Paratypes: 4♀, same data as the holotype.

Biology. The type specimens of P. grisescens were reared from the larvae of Galerucella grisescens (Joannis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Distribution in China. Jiangxi.

Remarks. Pediobius grisescens is similar to the Japanese species P. iwatai in morphology and biology, which P. iwatai agrees well with characters in diagnosis of the cassidae -group. The type specimens of both species were reared from the beetle eggs or larvae of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera). Pediobius grisescens and P. iwatai mainly differ in the following combination of characters: in P. grisescens, body metallic blue, PMV longer than STV, submedian area broader than long, and Gt1 hardly reaching mid-length of gaster; while in the latter, body black, PMV very short and shorter than STV, submedian area longer than broad, and Gt1 covering a little more than half length of gaster. However, we don't have an opportunity to examine the type specimens of P. iwatai. The further studies on the type specimens of P. iwatai are necessary to discuss their relationships.