Indomias ajaykumari Ramamurthy, sp. nov.

2. Indomias ajaykumari Ramamurthy sp. nov.

(figs. 11, 42, 63, 107, 108, 176, 222, 223 and 224)

Diagnosis: This species closely resembles I. acutipennis (Boheman) and is distinguished by the following characters: Rostrum with median furrow short, broad, and posteriorly pointed; deeply impressed in the middle. Male genitalia with apex of manubrium blunt; ratio of length of dorsal piece (inclusive of parameres) and manubrium 1: 1.25; median lobe with its curvature not sharp. Elytra with the outline of posterior declivity sinuate; humeral fold present but not prominent; apices rounded. Prothorax 1.02x as broad as long.

Description: Colour black with pale or dull green vestiture. Head as long as rostrum, upper surface flat, with shallow, confluent punctations. Rostrum as long as broad at posterior margin; breadth at anterior margin 0.75x as that of posterior margin; deeply impressed at the middle dorsally; median furrow short, broad anteriorly, pointed posteriorly; lateral carinae distinct, running throughout length of rostrum; sides straight, parallel towards anterior margin; scrobes uniformly broad throughout, but pointed near the eyes, scrobes only 0.55x as long as rostrum, space between scrobes as much as breadth of rostrum at anterior margin. Eyes dorsal, oval and less convex (figs. 11 and 42). Antennae dark or reddish brown; funicle with first segment 1.1x as long as second, rest of the funicle segments bead like, seventh largest; club conical (fig. 63). Prothorax 1.02x as broad as long, its breadth at middle 1.1x as its breadth at posterior margin; sides almost straight, narrowed towards anterior margin, only 0.78x as broad as the posterior margin; anterior margin and posterior margin truncate dorsally, acute laterally, upper surface with coarse punctations, interspaces obscurely granulate, without any median stria. Legs with hind tibial apex without any dense, golden yellow hairs. Elytra ovate, with basal margin strongly raised, humeral fold present but not very prominent; more or less strongly impressed on declivity, posterior declivity distinctly sinuate; apices rounded; stria punctatostriate, intervals broad, convex and raised, third, fourth and fifth impressed on the declivity, short elongate scales seen on declivity; elytral vestiture with predominant scales subcircular to ovate, pinkish with 20–23 ridges, interspaces with granulated areas (fig. 107), less predominant elongate, their apices broad, inner core opaque, granulated and with 5–6 ridges (fig. 108).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe distinctly elongate, membranous at middle, length: breadth ratio 10:1, slightly broader at middle but narrowed towards ends, apex narrowly rounded; in profile median lobe arcuate at base; apophyses thin, their apices pointed and hooked, only 0.5x as long as median lobe; transfer apparatus less sclerotized, ejaculatory duct short (fig. 222–223). Tegmen with dorsal piece atleast 4– 5 x as broad as basal piece; parameres long, slender, papillate and pointed; manubrium uniformly thick, with a slightly bent and blunt apex, only 0.5x as long as median lobe (fig. 224). Spiculum gastrale long, slender, as long as median lobe; basal prongs subequal, their apices pointed (fig. 176).

Length: male, 8.97 mm; Breadth: male, 3.30 mm.

Holotype: 1 male, INDIA: Kerala: Malabar: Dhony forests, 26.V.1922. Coll. Ramakrishna (NPC).

Distribution: India: Kerala.

Etymology: The name I. ajaykumari sp. nov. is derived from and in recognition of Dr. Ajay Kumar Ganguly, Principal Scientist (PPI), IARI, New Delhi, and his support for research project management.