Platynaspis wittmeri (Bielawski)

(Fig. 12)

Phymatosternus wittmeri Bielawski, 1979: 110.— Poorani 2002: 315.

Platynaspis wittmeri: Dorji et al. 2019: 504.

Diagnosis. Length: 3.20–3.50 mm. Form (Fig. 12a–c) short oval, dorsum convex and densely pubescent. Head black. Pronotum black, except anterolateral corners yellow. Scutellar shield black. Elytra yellowish to reddish brown, with black maculae arranged in a 1-1/2-1 pattern on each elytron and lateral and apical margins of elytra bordered black, apical elytral macula merged with the lateral and apical borders, suture with a black stripe. It is externally very similar to P. saundersii and can be distinguished by the elytral pattern and the male genitalia (as illustrated by Bielawski, 1979).

Material­ examined.­ “INDIA: Kalimpong, 1.V.85/ C32 on Aphis sp., C.I.E.A 17184/ Playtnaspis saundersi Crotch R.G. Booth det. 1985/ male genitalia in glass vial / Pres. by Comm. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1985-1/ Phymatosternus wittmeri Bielawski, R.G. Booth det. from orig. descr.”­ (BMNH: 1);­ “Gopaldhara, Bw. Darjeeling, 4720 ft. 12.vii.17, H. Stevens/ Phymatosternus wittmeri Biel. R.G. Booth det. 1985” (BMNH: 1); “Feeding on aphids on an aromatic plant / Kalimpong, 13.5.1965/ CIBC-IS/ 16/ C.I.E. Coll. No. A987/ Platynaspis saundersi Cr. R.D. Pope det. 1966/ Phymatosternus wittmeri Biel., R.G. Booth det. 1985” (BMNH: 1); “Coccinellid found on Artemisia/ Romain— India Oct. 1959/ CIBC-IS, 163/ C.I.E. Coll. No. 16900/ Pres. by Comm. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1960-2” (BMNH: 1).

Distribution. India (Sikkim; Uttarakhand; West Bengal). Bhutan.

­ Prey­/­associated­habitat. Collected in association with aphids; Aphis sp.; collected on Artemisia sp. (label data).

­ Notes.­ Bielawki (1979) described it from Nepal and compared it with P. lewisii but it appears to bear a very close resemblance to P. saundersii and as mentioned by Bielawski, their male genitalia also are very similar and it is not clear if this is a valid species. The male genitalia of P. wittmeri could not be examined for comparison. If it is a good species, it is likely that at least some records of P. saundersii could turn out to be misidentifications of P. wittmeri because of their external similarity and the same distribution range.