Scymnus (Pullus) castaneus Sicard (=Pullus castaneus)

Length 2.10-2.40 mm, width 1.60-1.90 mm. Form oval, moderately convex; uniformly dark reddish brown to dark brown, pronotum slightly darker. Ventral side reddish brown to dark brown, legs lighter, yellowish brown. Pronotum and elytra densely punctate, punctations separated by 0.5-1.0 diameter. Antenna (Fig. 1) 11-segmented. Prosternal intercoxal process with carinae (Fig. 2) strongly divergent towards posterior. Postcoxal line boat-shaped and obliterated towards anterolateral margin of first abdominal segment, appears to be incomplete; area enclosed coarsely punctate, inner margin smooth. Male genitalia (Figs. 3-5) as illustrated.


Figs. 1-5. Scymnus (Pullus) castaneus: 1. Antenna; 2. Prosternal intercoxal process; 3-5. Male genitalia: 3. Tegmen, lateral view; 4. Tegmen, ventral view; 5. Sipho.

   Adult
 Larva
 Pupa

Widely distributed in India. Bangladesh.

HEMIPTERA: Aphididae: Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, Aphis punicae Passerini, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), Schoutedenia emblica (Patel & Kulkarni); commonly associated with aphids infesting cotton, hibiscus, gliricidia, brinjal, beans, star gooseberry, cowpea, guava, Spathodea campanulata, etc. Pseudococcidae: Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell).

Present throughout the year in South India, particularly active during March-August.