Leaus

Matthews, Eric G. & Lawrence, John F., 2015, Trachelostenini sensu novo: redescriptions of Trachelostenus Solier, Myrmecodema Gebien and Leaus Matthews & Lawrence, based on adults and larvae, and descriptions of three new species of Leaus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Zootaxa 4020 (2), pp. 289-312 : 310-311

Leaus species

( Figs 23 , 26 , 32 )

A specimen of a species which appears to be identical to L. elusus except for distinctly denticulate lateral pronotal carinae bears the label: ‘Qld: 27.293o Sx 152.745o E 0.5 km W Mt Tenison Woods, N side. RF. 615m. Malaise.

19160 30 Oct—06 Nov 2009. G. Monteith & F. Turco’ COL 1085 (ANIC). It is in alcohol for DNA sequencing and therefore not suitable as a holotype. It is unquestionably a different species from L. elusus not only because of its different pronotal sides but also because the collection locality is in lowland rainforest while that of the latter is in highland sclerophyll forest. Since it is a female the opportunity was taken to examine the ovipositor and vaginal sclerite. The ovipositor is without gonostyli ( Fig. 26 ) as in L. monteithi .

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 23. Leaus vaginal sclerites (vs): 20, L. tropicalis, sclerite in situ; 21, L. tasmanicus; 22, L. monteithi; 23, L. sp.

FIGURES 24 – 26. Leaus ovipositors: 24, L. tropicalis; 25, L. monteithi; 26, L. sp. cb—baculus of coxite 1; pb—baculus of paraproct. Scale bars 1 mm.

FIGURES 27 – 32. Leaus habitus, dorsal except 29: 27, L. tasmanicus paratype ♀ (SAMA); 28, L. tropicalis holotype ♀ (QMBA); 29, L. tropicalis paratype ♂ (ANIC); 30, L. monteithi holotype ♀ (QMBA); 31, L. elusus holotype ♂ (QMBA); 32, L. sp. ♀ (ANIC). Scale bars 1 mm.