Distribution and morpho-taxonomic account of Scymnini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fauna with one first record from Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

The coccinellids of the genus Scymnus Kugelann are predaceous ladybirds taxonomically placed under the tribe Scymnini of the family Coccinellidae. The present investigation explores the distribution and morphotaxonomic account of five coccinellid species of the genus Scymnus Kugelann in four sampling sites of Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. During the study period, Scymnus (Scymnus) nubilus Mulsant (with 234 individuals) was found to be the most abundant coccinellid species, followed by Scymnus (Pullus) saciformis Motschulsky (with 57 individuals), Scymnus (Neopullus) fuscatus Boheman (with 45 individuals), Scymnus (Pullus) posticalis Sicard (with 27 individuals) and Scymnus (Pullus) sp. (with 18 individuals). Scymnus (Neopullus) fuscatus had a small body size, measuring 1.70 mm – 1.90 mm in length and 1.00 mm – 1.30 mm in breadth, along with orangey-brown elytra featuring a distinct black Y-shaped patch. Scymnus nubilus was 1.40 mm – 1.80 mm in length and 1.00 mm – 1.20 mm in width, featuring dark-brown elytra equipped with a black-coloured sutural stripe. Scymnus (Pullus) posticalis was an oval beetle with a 1.80 mm – 2.00 mm length, a 1.70 mm – 1.90 mm width, and black elytra with a broad, brown patch. Scymnus (Pullus) saciformis was an elongated-oval beetle with a 1.20 mm – 1.50 mm length, a 1.40 mm – 1.60 mm width and completely black elytra. Scymnus (Pullus) sp. was 1.50 mm – 1.70 mm in length and 1.50 mm – 1.80 mm in breadth, with black elytra featuring an orangey-brown lateral margin in the posterior portion. Scymnus (Neopullus) fuscatus Boheman was recorded for the first time in Uttarakhand.