Corresponding author: J. Poorani (
Academic editor: David Bilton
The genus
Male and female genitalia were cleared in 10% NaOH overnight and dissected in distilled water and transferred to glycerol for studies and imaging. After examination, the genitalia were transferred to microvials and pinned beneath the respective specimens. The following measurements were made using the measurement module of a Leica M205A stereo microscope: total length, from apical margin of clypeus to apex of elytra (TL); total width, across both elytra at their widest point (TW = EW); pronotal length, from the middle of anterior margin to the base of pronotum (PL); pronotal width at its widest (PW); elytral length along suture from apex to base including scutellum (EL). Images of whole specimens and their diagnostic characters were taken using a Leica DFC 420 camera attached to a Leica M205A stereo microscope. Composite images were generated from image stacks using Combine ZP and touched up in Adobe Photoshop Elements 11.
The specimens studied are deposited in the following collections:
NBAII – National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Bangalore, India.
UASB – University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.
TL: 3.02–3.30 mm; TW: 2.68–2.90 mm; TL/TW: 1.13–1.16; EL/EW: 0.92–0.96; PL/PW: 0.51–0.52; PW/TW: 0.55–0.57. Form (Figs
The specific epithet is a Latin adjective in reference to the small size of this insect.
India: Northeastern region (Assam; Meghalaya; Sikkim).
The host plants on which the specimens were collected include
This species is placed in
The author is grateful to Dr. Sunil Joshi, NBAII, Bangalore, and Dr. C.A Viraktamath, Emeritus Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, for providing the specimens studied here and the Network Project on Insect Biosystematics, ICAR, New Delhi, for funding this work.
Habitus of
Dorsal view - live specimen
Dorsal view - dead specimen
Head and pronotum, dorsal view
Lateral view
Diagnostic characters of
Head, dorsal view
Abdominal postcoxal line
Male genitalia, tegmen, inner view
Male genitalia, tegmen, lateral view
Male genitalia, penis
Penis apex, enlarged
Female genitalia, spermatheca.
Live specimen of