Zeanillus punctigerus (Broun)

Figs. 1 B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8A, 9B, 10BGM, 11B, 12A–D, 14B, 15B, 16B, 18A

Anillus punctigerus Broun, 1914: 153 . Type locality: « Mount Hutt, near Methven » (original citation).

Examined material. Thirteen specimens (5 dissected) from the following localities: Canterbury: Staveley, Sharplin Falls; Geraldine, Orari Gorge.

Recognition. Adults of this species (Fig. 11 B) are practically indistinguishable externally from the adults of Z. phyllobius and Z. nunni, and are distinguished from the males of those by the structure of male genitalia. From other congeners, adults of Z. punctigerus can be distinguished by the characters listed in the subgeneric diagnosis.

Description. Size. Medium to large for genus (SBL range 1.64–1.94 mm, mean 1.80± 0.107 mm, n=5).

Habitus. Body form slightly convex, ovoid, moderately elongate (WE/SBL 0.35±0.010), head of moderate width for genus compared to pronotum (WH/WPm 0.76±0.016), pronotum of moderate width in comparison to elytra (WPm/WE 0.76±0.012).

Color. Body color rufotestaceous, appendages testaceous.

Prothorax. Pronotum moderately long (LP/LE 0.44±0.029) and moderately elongate (WPm/LP 1.29±0.032), with lateral margins rectilinear constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.70±0.118). Width between anterior angles much greater than between posterior angles (WPa/WPp 1.33±0.090).

Elytra. Slightly depressed along suture, comparatively short (LE/SBL 0.47±0.010) and moderately wide (WE/ LE 0.74±0.028). Lateral margins slightly divergent at basal third, subparallel at middle and evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe (Fig. 12 A) with straight ventral margin and semicircular short apex. Apical orifice area with a pair of long ostial fields. Sclerites of internal sac united basally, long, slightly shorter than length between apical and basal orifices. Left paramere with apical constriction (Fig. 12 C). Ring sclerite with long handle of approximately equal length and width (Fig. 14 B).

Female internal genitalia. Goncoxite 2 with short ensiform setae (Fig. 15 B). Spermatheca sclerotized, elongate, with three compartments (Fig. 16 B). Spermathecal duct short with few coils. Attachments of spermathecal duct and gland to spermatheca close together.

Geographical distribution. This species is known from the eastern ranges of Canterbury lying in basins of the Rakaia, Ashburton and Rangitātā rivers (Fig. 18 A, green circles).

Way of life. Specimens were collected in the broadleaf forest.

Relationships. The structure of male genitalia and spermatheca suggests that Z. punctigerus and the allopatric Z. phyllobius from the coastal hills of the Banks Peninsula are the sister taxa.