Lepanus meierae Gunter & Weir, 2021

Gunter, Nicole L. & Weir, Thomas A., 2021, Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): review of the L. ustulatus, L. storeyi, and L. nitidus species groups and description of eight new species, Zootaxa 4923 (1), pp. 1-66 : 38-41

Lepanus meierae Gunter & Weir , new species

( Figs. 8 A–D; 9A; 10A–B; 11A; 12A–B)

Type series. Holotype: ♂ “ 30.36S 152.10E NSW Styx River SF., W end Thru Road, 24km SE Wollomombi, 980m 10 June 1993, D.S. Chandler ” / “Berlesate ANIC 1634 , cut wet sclerophyll, fern and Eucalyptus litter” / “ ANIC database 25 054067” / “ Lepanus NSW 2, det T.A. Weir 2010 ” / “ ANIC image” (in ANIC) [30°36’00”S, 152°10 ”00”E] ; Paratypes (50 ♂, 43 ♀, 2 undetermined): New South Wales: Styx River State Forest, W end Thru Road , 24 km SE Wollomombi, 30°36’00”S, 152°10’00”E, 980 m, 25.vi.1993, D.S. Chandler (25-054065 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Styx River State Forest, W end Thru Road , 24 km SE Wollomombi, 30°36’S, 152°10’E, 980 m, 20.iv–12.v.1993, D.S. Chandler, flight intercept trap (25-054066 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Roy’s Road, Beerwah , 26°51’22”S, 152°59’13”E, 22.ii–14.iii.2008 (T156699 1 specimen ♀ in QM) ; Smith Road , gully rainforest, 28°08’47”S, 153°21’36”E, 3– 7.iii.2008 (T156698 1 specimen ♀ in QM) ; Mount Gannon , 1 km NNE, 28°11’34”S, 153°19’06”E, 4–9.xi.2007 (T151159–T151160 2 specimens ♂ in QM) ; Binna Burra , 28.194°S, 153.189°E (28°11’38”S, 153°11’20”E), 700 m, 22.–26.ii.2009, C.J. Burwell (T169405–T169407 2 specimens ♂, 1 specimen ♀ in QM) ; Apple Tree Park , Springbrook, 28°09’54”S, 153°15’36”E, 570 m, 30.xi.2011, G.B. Monteith (25-053888 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC also as COL2344) ; Apple Tree Park, Springbrook , 28°09’54”S, 153°15’36”E, 570 m, 29–30.xi.2011, G.B. Monteith (25- 053889 5 specimens ♂, 2 specimens ♀ in ANIC, 25-057606 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as COL2341, 25-057607 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as COL2342, 25-057608 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC also as COL2343) ; Springbrook , north end, 28°09’47”S, 153°15’42”E, 15.v–30.viii.1997 (T83078–T83089 10 ♂, 2 specimens ♀ in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 660 m, 28°13’16”S, 153°17’48”E, 21–22.xi.2002 (T124839–T124840 2 specimens ♂, T124842 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Tallebudgera Valley , falls area, 28°13’40”S, 153º18’46”E, 11.xi.1997 – 28.i.1998 (T83110 1 specimen ♀, T83117 1 specimen ♂ in CMNC, T83111–T83116 1 specimen ♂, 5 specimens ♀ in QM) ; Girraween National Park, Pyramid track, Site 6, 28°49’38”S, 151°56’31”E, 8–10.xii.2013, F. Turco & A. Venchi (25-065485 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as COL3006, 25-065486 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as COL3005) ; Woodburn , 7 km S by road, 29°07’50”S, 153°19’18”E, 26–30.xii.2007, (T154881–T154882 2 specimens ♂ in QM) ; Bruxner Flora Reserve, Sealy Lookout Road , 5 km NW Coffs Harbour, [30°15’00”S, 153°07’00”E], 260 m, 23.v.1993, D.S. Chandler (25-054069 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC) ; Wild Cattle Creek State Forest , 30°17’S, 152°41’E, 29.iii–30.v.1993, V.W.H. Lorimer (25- 065553 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC) ; Dorrigo National Park [30°20’00”S, 152°43’00”E], 750 m, 28.ii– 4.iii.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer (25-054062 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Dorrigo National Park, E end Blackbutt Track [30°22’00”S, 152°45’00”E], 710 m, 28.ii–5.iii.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer (25-054063 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC, 25-054064 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC) ; Scotchman State Forest, Grahams trail off Horseshoe Road , 30°25’23”S, 152°49’45”E, 23–26.ix.2011, N. Gunter (25-057584 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC also as COL2008) ; Scotchman State Forest, Grahams trail off Horseshoe Road , 30°25’23”S, 152°49’45”E, 23–26.ix.2011, N. Gunter (25-057585 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC also as COL2009) ; Newry State Forest, Hungry Head Road [30°31’41”S, 153°00’22”E], 23–26.ix.2011, N. Gunter (25-057586 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC aslo as COL2010, 25-057587 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as COL2011) ; Styx River State Forest, W end Thru Road , 24 km SE Wollomombi [30°36’00”S, 152°10’00”E], 980 m, 25.vi.1993, D.S. Chandler (25-054065 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Styx River State Forest, W end Thru Road , 24 km SE Wollomombi, [30°36’00”S, 152°10’00”E], 980 m, 20.iv.1993 – 12.v.1993, D.S. Chandler (25-054066 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Styx River State Forest [30°38’00”S, 152°11’00”E], 31.xii.1992 – 9.i.1993, V. Lorimer (25- 058710 12 specimens ♂, 16 specimens ♀ in ANIC and AM) ; Petroi Road, Lower Creek State Forest [30°39’00”S, 152°16’00”E], 20.xii.1998, G. Williams & B. Williams (25-054068 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC, 25-058067 2 specimens with sex undetermined in GWC) ; Ingalla State Forest , 13 km S Macksville [Ingalbar State Forest] [30°50’00”S, 152°55’00”E], 40 m, 12.vi–26.viii.1982, J. Peck & S. Peck (25-054061 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Buladelah State Forest, Bulahdelah [32°20’00”S, 152°14’00”E], 13.xi.1977, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-057861 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Talawahl National Park, Stewarts Road , 32°00’53”S, 152°23’14”E, 22–27.ix.2011, N. Gunter (25- 057588 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as COL2012) ; Royal National Park [34°11’00”S, 151°01’00”E], 1.iv.1991, T. Gush (25-057862 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) ; Mount Keira Lookout via Wollongong [34°24’00”S, 150°51’00”E], 25.xi.1978, G. Williams & T. Williams (CMNEN-00030580–00030581 2 specimens ♂ in CMNC) .

Other material examined. An additional 197 specimens from almost 50 localities were also examined.

Queensland: Mount Tamborine [27°58’00”S, 153°11’00”E], Lea (25-027650 1 specimen in SAMA) ; Springbrook , north end, 28°09’47”S, 153°15’42”E, 30.viii–31.x.1997 (T107713, T83104–T83109 7 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook , north end, 28°09’47”S, 153°15’42”E, 31.x–31.xii.1997 (T83090–T83103 14 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook, Apple Tree Park , 28°10’00”S, 153°15’34”E, 1–2.iv.2006 (T135099–T135102 4 specimens in QM) ; Bally Mountain , 1.6 km ESE, 28°10’41”S, 153°21’10”E, 21–22.iv.2001 (T107714 1 specimen in QM) ; Binna Burra , below, 28°11’20”S, 153°11’10”E, 610 m, 29.ii–1.iii.2012, G.B. Monteith (25-053909 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Binna Burra Lodge , 700 m, 28°11’54”S, 153°11’0”E, 3–5.xi.2006 (T148367–T148368 2 specimens in QM) ; Mount Gannon , 2.4 km SW, 28°13’08”S, 153°18’02”E, 11–12.iv.2004 (T125018–T125021 4 specimens in QM) ; Mount Gannon , 1.4 km ESE, 28°12’13”S, 153°19’44”E, 25–27.xi.2001 (T117009, T117010 2 specimens in QM) ; Mount Gannon , 1.5 km SE, 28°12’39”S, 153°19’27”E, 9–12.ii.2006 (T135092–T135098 7 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 660 m, 28°13’16”S, 153°17’48”E, 26–27.xi.2001 (T116999 –T117002 4 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 660 m, 28°13’16”S, 153°17’48”E, 21–22.xi.2002 (T124841, T124843–T124848 7 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 600 m, 28°13’18”S, 153°17’54”E, 26–27.xi.2001 (T117006–T117008 3 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 550 m, 28°13’23”S, 153°17’53”E, 26–27.xi.2001 (T117011–T117012 2 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 550 m, 28°13’23”S, 153°17’53”E, 11.iv–12.iv.2004 (T125010–T125017 8 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 300 m, 28°13’36”S, 153°18’30”E, 25–26.xi.2001 (T117004–T117005 2 specimens in QM) ; Springbrook Track , 300 m, 28°13’36”S, 153°18’30”E, 11.iv–12.iv.2004 (T125009 specimens in QM) ; Tallebudgera Valley , falls area, 28°13’40”S, 153°18’46”E, 9.xii.2001 (T117003 1 specimen in QM) ; Tallebudgera Valley , falls area, 28°13’40”S, 153°18’46”E, 30.xi.2003 (T124849–T124852 4 specimens in QM) ; Tallebudgera Valley , falls area, 28°13’40”S, 153°18’46”E, 11.xi.1997 – 28.i.1998 (T83113, T83118–T83132 16 specimens in QM) ; Tallebudgera Valley , falls area, 28°13’40”S, 153°18’46”E, 28.i–21.v.1998 (T83133 1 specimen in QM) ; Mount Cougal W Peak , 1 km NNW, 28°13’42”S, 153°18’34”E, 26.i–2.ii.2006 (T133755–T133756 2 specimens in QM) ; Bilbrough Lookout , 1.3 km ENE, 28°13’47”S, 153°17’59”E, 4–11.ii.2006 (T135090–T135091 2 specimens in QM) ; Upper Tallebudgera 330 m, 28°14’00”S, 153°18’32”E, 2.i–17.ii.1995 (T83134–T83137 4 specimens in QM) ; Boyds Butte , 2 km ESE, 28°14’21”S, 153°21’17”E, 13.vii.2005 (T154856–T154860 5 specimens in QM) ; 12 mi. NW Murwillumbah [28°12’00”S, 153°15’00”E], 7.xii.1967, E. Matthews (25-057860 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Tallebudgera Valley , falls area [28°14’00”S, 153°19’00”E], 7–8.i.2000, G.B. Monteith & D. Cook (25-060843 1 specimen in ANIC also as COL581) ; New South Wales: 6 mi. E Woodenbong , 28°22’00”S, 152°43’00”E, 8.xii.1967, E. Matthews (25-057859 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Whian Whian Stae Forest between Rummery Park & Boggy Creek [28°36’00”S, 153°22’00”E], 26.x.1999, G. Williams (25-058072 2 specimens in GWC) ; Whian Whian Stae Forest Boggy Creek [28°52’00”S, 153°21’00”E], 26.x.1999, G. Williams (25-058069 2 specimens in GWC) ; Ewingar State Forest, 750 m along Elkhorn Road from junction with North Ewingar Road , 29°06’43”S, 152°26’53”E, 24.iii–9.v.1999, S. Lassar. & C. Lemann (25-060774 1 specimen and AM K266975 , in ANIC also as COL755) ; Gibralter Range National Park [Gibraltar] [29°30’00”S, 152°17’00”E], 8.xii.1978, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-058078 1 specimen in GWC) ; Marengo State Forest, 3.1 km up Chimney Road from Chaelundi Road [30°06’00”S, 152°25’00”E], 1155 m, 25.ii.2002, C. Reid, (25-060926 1 specimen and AM K266976 , in ANIC also as COL754) ; 10 mi. S Coffs Harbour [30°26’00”S, 153°08’00”E], 5.ix.1967, E. Matthews (25-027653–55 3 specimens in SAMA, 25-057858 9 specimens in ANIC) ; SW base of Smoky Cape [30°55’00”S, 153°05’00”E], 5.ii.1985, G. Williams (25-058074 1 specimen in GWC) ; Werrikimbe National Park main road, [31°12’00”S, 152°09’00”E], 3.vii.1998, L. Tasker & P. German (25-060804 7 specimens, also as AM K266977 , in ANIC also as COL786–787) ; Werrikimbe National Park main road [31°12’00”S, 152°09’00”E],.xi.1997– 2.xii.1997, L. Tasker & P. German (25-060788 2 specimens also as AM K266978 , in ANIC also as COL781–782) ; Cockerawombeeba Creek, Easy Creek junction ; NW Wauchope, Mount Boss State Forest [31°14’00”S, 152°21’00”E], 14–15.i.1988, G. Williams & B. Williams (25-058076 1 specimen in GWC) ; Cockerawombeeba Creek, Easy Creek junction; NW Wauchope, Mount Boss State Forest [31°14’00”S, 152°21’00”E], 14–16.i.1988, G. Williams & B. Williams (25-058070 2 specimens in GWC) ; Mount Keira Lookout via Wollongong [34°24’00”S, 150°51’00”E], 25.xi.1978, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-058068 4 specimens in GWC, CMNEN-00030580–00030581 2 specimens in CMNC) ; Mount Warning track, 600 m, 28°24’12”S, 153°16’36”E, 30.i–1.ii.2008 (T154867–T154872 6 specimens in QM) ; Mount Warning track, 750 m, 28°24’15”S, 153°16’18”E, 30.i–1.ii.2008, (T154873–T154877 5 specimens in QM) ; Byrrill Creek , campground, 28°26’55”S, 153°11’35”E, 30.i–1.ii.2008 (T154879 specimens in QM) ; Lorne State Forest, near Taree [31°35’00”S, 152°38’00”E], 26.ix–21.xii.1978, D. Milledge (25-060789 15 and AM K266974 , in AM also as COL783–5) ; Swans Crossing, Kerewong State Forest , approximately 12 km WNW Kendall [31°36’00”S, 152°34’00”E], 24.x.1993, G. Williams & B. Williams (25-058073 5 specimens in GWC) ; Rummery Campground , 28°36’01”S, 153°22’37”E, 29–31.i.2008 (T154865–T154866 2 specimens in QM) ; Minyon Falls , 3.5 km S, 28°38’27”S, 153°21’39”E, 29–31.i.2008 (T154861–T154864 4 specimens in QM) ; Mount Gibralter, Comboyne Plateau [31°39’00”S, 152°26’00”E], 18–20.i.1998, G. Williams (25-058080 7 specimens in GWC) ; Mount Gibralter, Comboyne Plateau [31°39’00”S, 152°26’00”E], 27.i.1988, G. Williams (25-058081 1 specimen in GWC) ; Ku–ringai Chase National Park near Church Point [33°39’00”S, 151°13’00”E], 17.xi.1979, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-058077 1 specimen in GWC) ; Sassafras Gully via Springwood [33°42’00”S, 150°32’00”E], 26.xii.1979, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-058075 2 specimens in GWC) ; Newbys Creek Road, Lansdowne State Forest [31°44’00”S, 152°31’00”E], 6.ii.1981, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-058071 1 specimen in GWC) ; Lorien 3 km N Lansdowne [31°45’00”S, 152°32’00”E], 26.vi.1998, C. Reid (25-058079 1 specimen in GWC) ; Whian Whian State Forest , 28°38’32”S, 153°20’05”E, 29–31.i.2008 (T154878 1 specimen in QM) ; Wardell , 2 km N, 28°56’16”S, 153°28’14”E, 26–30.xii.2007 (T154880 1 specimen in QM) ; Bulahdelah State Forest [31°58’00”S, 152°28’00”E], 11.xii.1980, G. Williams & T. Williams (25-058082 1 specimen in GWC) .

Description. Head and thorax dark brown to black, elytra dark brown to black with either reddish-brown humeri and apical edges (as in holotype) or reddish-brown areas extending completely along elytral edge from striae 6 outwards. Antennal clubs grey.

Total length: 2.8–3.8 mm. Holotype measurements: total length 3.8 mm, elytral width 2.6 mm.

Male. Head: Width to length ratio 50: 37. Surface smooth and nitid with fine punctation, becoming very fine anteriorly. Dorsal part of eyes narrow, separated by an interocular space approximately 13 times eye width (40: 3).

Prothorax: Pronotum anterior angles sharp. Surface smooth, nitid, finely punctate. A row of slightly elongate punctures present along middle two thirds of hind margin. Hypomeral surface very finely reticulate. Hypomeral stria about half the length of the hypomeron, and very close to lateral margin, which almost appears double at that point. Pronotum width to length ratio 82: 50.

Elytra: Surface reticulate with very fine superficial striae. Striae 1–4 appearing double, at least in part, with striae 1 widest. Stria 6 extending to the elytral base. Epipleura reticulate. Ratio of length of elytra along suture to maximum elytral width 50: 54.

Legs: Protibia with 2 teeth on outer edge, front edge deeply angulate between outer tooth and apical digit. Apical digit parallel sided and obliquely truncate, with a sharp inner angle. Mesotibia with a brush of setae apically on inner edge

Abdomen: Pygidium with a transverse sinuate fold meeting the depression. Depression somewhat diamond shaped with a reticulate surface, about half the size of pygidial disc and extending under the upper edge of pygidium. Abdominal ventrites finely reticulate for full width. Ventrite 6 punctate, setose.

Pterothorax: Medial lobe of metaventrite very finely punctate, broadly margined between mesocoxae. Mesoventrite smooth, with a few fine punctures, mesepimeron very finely reticulate. Metanepisternum reticulate.

Female. Depression on the pygidium larger than in male and occupies more than half of the disc. Protibia with a short apical digit giving rise to a long apical spur. Mesotibia without brush of setae apically on inner edge.

Etymology. Named for Robyn Meier, Australian National Insect Collection, for her assistance with distributional records and continuous support throughout this project.

Distribution. Known from temperate rainforests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests of the eastern Australian Mesic zone from Beerwah (Queensland) to Wollongong (New South Wales) ( Fig. 12A ). Recorded in the following IBRA bioregions: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), New South Wales North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SYB), and the most northerly extents of New England Tablelands (NET). This species has a wide elevational distribution from sea level up to 1150 m. BIOCLIM models suggest L. meierae may be more widespread in NNC than currently recorded ( Fig. 12B ).

Comments. This species has been referred to under the informal name of “ Lepanus NSW 2”, which is followed by Gunter et al. (2019) and Ebert et al. (2019). The specimen sequenced in Gunter et al. (2019) was collected from Scotchman State Forest is designated as a paratype here (ANIC 25-057584 also as COL2008). In that study L. meierae and was recovered as sister to L. bidentatus (Wilson, 1922) . In this study, sequences from a total of five localities representing the SEQ, NNC, and SYB IBRA regions were included, these specimens clustered together confirming the close relationship between specimens. The relationship of L. meierae with L. bidentatus was not supported in this analysis, instead L. meierae was recovered an isolated branch across a polytomy. The monophyly of the L. storeyi species group cannot be confirmed as no other species from the group have been sequenced to date.

Matthews (1974) listed some specimens from near Coffs Harbour (25-057858 9 specimens in ANIC), Woodenbong (25-057859 1 specimen in ANIC), and Murwillumbah (25-057860 1 specimen in ANIC) as L. bidentatus , however these specimens are L. meierae .

Most specimens have been collected in baited pitfall traps (macropod dung, human dung, or mushroom) but have also collected in flight intercept traps, berlesed leaf and log litter, and in yellow pan traps. One specimen was collected under bird droppings. This species appears to be a generalist feeder, these observations are supported by Ebert et al. (2019) 10-way bait preference study. L. meierae was one of the most abundant species collected in the survey with a total of 288 specimens collected. Domestic fowl dung was the most attractive bait, collecting almost 37.5% of specimens (n = 108), followed by mushroom (n = 73), vertebrate carrion (n = 46), and kangaroo dung (n = 32). Less than 10 specimens were collected at each of the three invertebrate carrion baits (n = 8, 9, 3), and at fermenting cucumber (n = 9). No specimens were collected in fermenting fruit traps.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Some diagnostic characters of the Lepanus storeyi species group. A, Male protibia of Lepanus meierae; B, female protibia of Lepanus meierae; C, head of Lepanus meierae; D, ventrolateral view of hypomeron of Lepanus meierae showing hypomeral stria appearing double.

FIGURE 12. A, Map of known records of Lepanus meierae, Lepanus storeyi, and Lepanus williamsi, B, predicted distribution of Lepanus meierae.