| Description: |
Scutellera spilogastra (Walker, 1867), new combination (Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9, 28, 29, 38–41, 46, 47, 52, 61–64, 69, 70) Callidea spilogastra Walker, 1867: 30. Syntypes: Ceylon [= Sri Lanka]; BMNH! Scutellera brevirostris Breddin, 1909: 258. Lectotype (Gaedike 1971: 81): Ceylon [= Sri Lanka], Kandy; SDEI. Erroneously synonymized with Scutellera nobilis (= S. perplexa) by Distant (1918: 116) (tentatively). New subjective synonym. Callidea spilogastra: Walker (1867: 36) (comparison with related species), Kirby (1891: 76) (distribution), Lethierry & Severin (1893: 48) (as of unknown identity, catalogue, distribution). Chrysocoris spilogastra: Distant (1899: 38, 49) (listed). Chrysocoris spilogaster: Distant (1902: 56) (diagnosis, distribution), Kirkaldy (1909: 296) (catalogue, distribution). Eucorysses spilogaster: Schouteden (1904: 34) (catalogue, distribution). Scutellera brevirostris: Gaedike (1971: 81) (type material). Diagnosis. Immediately distinguished from the other two described species of Scutellera by its relatively short and broad body (body length: width 2.1–2.15, in S. nepalensis and S. perplexa 2.3–2.4) and uniformly metallic bluegreen pronotum, thoracic pleura, and femora (Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9). The male (Figs. 28, 29, 38–41, 46, 47, 52) and female (Figs. 61–64, 69, 70) genitalia are diagnostic. Redescription. Colour. Ground colour of body deep metallic blue-green, with complex black pattern (Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9); a median vitta between eyes extending most of length of head except for apex of clypeus, frequently also a pair of elongate sublateral vittae immediately anteriad of or surrounding ocelli; antenna black, extreme base of scape brownish; labium dark brown; pronotum with a broad median vitta along whole length except for anterior collar, a pair of large transverse spots on calli, a pair of large sublateral spots reaching to basal margin and a pair of small humeral spots on posterior lobe of pronotum black; scutellum with a median vitta from its base to about its middle, gradually tapering posteriad, ... |