First Indian record of Phrynocaria laeta (Mulsant, 1850) comb. nov. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a poorly known Oriental species, with a redescription and distribution notes

Coelophora laeta Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a poorly known Oriental species of Coccinellini, originally described from Java (Indonesia). It is reported from India for the first time based on a series of highly polymorphic specimens collected during recent field surveys in West Bengal. Based on its morphological characters, particularly the presence of a narrow frons, lack of tibial spurs, and the male genitalia, it is transferred to Phrynocaria Timberlake, 1943 (new combination). It is redescribed with the illustrations of the polymorphic forms and other diagnostic characters, including the genitalia. The immature stages are also illustrated, along with notes on its distribution and host plant. The problems in the taxonomy of some Asian Phrynocaria arising from the possible misidentifications of the polymorphic forms are briefly discussed.