Neaspis Pascoe, 1872

Kolibac, Jiri, 2013, Trogossitidae: A review of the beetle family, with a catalogue and keys, ZooKeys 366, pp. 1-194 : 119-120

Genus Neaspis Pascoe, 1872 Fig. 11 ; Map 12

Neaspis Pascoe, F. P. 1872: 317.

Type species.

Neaspis villosa Pascoe, 1872 [by monotypy]

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25. Matthews, E. G. 1992: 4. Kolibáč, J. 2005: 70. Kolibáč, J. 2006: 111 (phylogeny). Reitter, E. 1876: 47

Description.

Body size: about 4.0 mm. Body shape flat. Gular sutures wide, convergent at apex. Frontoclypeal suture absent. Frons: longitudinal groove or depression absent. Cranium ventrally: tufts of long setae at sides absent. Submentum: ctenidium absent. Antennal groove absent. Eyes: size moderate. Eyes number: two. Epicranial acumination absent. Lacinial hooks absent. Galea: shape sub-clavate. Galea: ciliate setae absent. Mediostipes-Lacinia not fused. Palpifer: outer edge even. Mandibular apical teeth number: two, horizontally situated. Mola absent. Penicillus (at base) long setae. Pubescence above mola or cutting edge absent. Ventral furrow absent. Basal notch shallow or absent. Labrum-Cranium not fused. Epipharyngial sclerite absent. Lateral tormal process: projection projection not developed (all remaining). Ligula: ciliate setae absent. Ligula rigid, not retroflexed, weakly emarginate. Hypopharyngeal sclerite H-shaped. Antenna 10-segmented. Antennal club symmetrical, sensorial fields absent. Front coxal cavities externally open, internally open. Pronotum transverse. Middle coxal cavities closed. Elytra: long hairs absent. Epipleuron moderate. Elytral interlocking mechanism absent, carinae reduced. Elytral punctation regular, scales present. Wing: radial cell moved down, often small, wedge cell absent, cross vein MP3-4 absent, cross vein AA1+2-3+4 absent. Front tibiae: spines along side moderate. Hooked spur present. Claws: denticle absent. Spiculum gastrale absent. Tegmen composed of three parts. Coxitae undivided.

Biology.

The species are probably predatory. According to Matthews (1992), they live in dry sclerophyll and Eremaean zones.

Distribution.

The genus is autochthonous in Australia; Neaspis squamata from the Phillippines is probably mislabelled, misidentified or introduced (I did not examine the species). Recently, I studied a specimen of Neaspis cf. variegata collected in Brazil by Wygodzinski (coll. National Museum Prague), labelled as "Corcovado, Rio D.F." (= Rio de Janeiro, former Districto Federal). This record is believed to be plausible. The presence (either autochthonous distribution or introduction) might be the grounds for certain improbable descriptions of South American Ancyrona species.

Species:

Neaspis pusilla Blackburn, 1891; South Australia (AL)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25

Neaspis sculpturata Reitter, 1876; Australia (AL)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25. Reitter, E. 1876: 48

Neaspis serrata Léveillé, 1907; Queensland (AL)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25

Neaspis squamata Escherich, 1822; Philippines: Luzon (AL)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25. Reitter, E. 1876: 49

Note: doubtful record.

Neaspis variegata MacLeay, 1873; Australia, one specimen from Brazil (varA)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25. Kolibáč, J. 2005: 70 (redescription). Reitter, E. 1876: 47 ( Neaspis subtrifasciata Reitter, 1876)

Neaspis villosa Pascoe, 1872; Australia (AL)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 25. Reitter, E. 1876: 48

Figures

Figure 11. A Ancyrona (syn. Latolaeva) bivittata B Ancyrona vicina C Ancyrona kosnovskorum (= fairmairei?) D Ancyrona sp., lewisi - group, Malaysia E Ancyrona japonica, Slovakia F Ancyrona gabonica G Leptonyxa fairmairei H Neaspis variegata.

Map 12. A distribution of the tribe Ancyronini.