Tricheops epipphiger Newman

(Fig. 1)

Tricheops epipphiger Newman 1838: 171 . Type locality: New Holland.

Diagnosis. Tricheops epipphiger can be distinguished from other members of this genus by its yellow body and distinctive brown saddle shape on elytra (Fig. 1 A), upper, middle and lower eye lobes at narrowest point separated by approximately 5, 6 and 2 stemmata, respectively (Fig. 1 D) and metafemur length 7.5–8.0 times its greatest width (Fig. 1 A,E).

Description. Length. 12–24mm and length 4.3–5.0 times width. Dorsal surfaces bearing short recumbent setae (Fig. 1 A). Head. Not constricted behind eyes and frontoclypeal suture weakly impressed (Fig. 1 A, C). Gland dispenser bearing group of stout setae (Fig. 1 C–D). Frontal interocular index 2.0 and upper lobes separated dorsally by 2.1–2.5 times diameter of antennal socket. Number of stemmata at narrowest point of lobes (near junction with next lobe): upper lobe 5–6; median lobe 6; and lower lobe 2–3 (Fig. 1 D). Antennal insertions separated by 2.2–2.5 times diameter of antennal foramen (Fig. 1 C). Antenna. Exceeding apex of elytra by 2–3 antennomeres (Fig. 1 A– B). Scape 0.5–0.7 of pronotum length and antennomere 3 about 1.3 times the size of antennomere 4 (Fig. 1 A). Prothorax. Pronotal disc nodulose, bearing short recumbent setae only (Fig. 1 A). Pterothorax. Scutellum disc sparsely setose and mesocoxae narrowly separated, at narrowest point separated by 0.3 of the cavity diameter (Fig. 1 A–B). Elytra. Length 3.0–3.1 times the length of the pronotum and vestiture of elytra comprising of short recumbent setae (Fig. 1 A). Legs. Metafemur length 7.5–8.0 times greatest width (Fig. 1 A,E). Abdomen. Ventrites without patches of setae and ventrite 1 as long as ventrite 2 (Fig. 1 B). Ventrite 5 in male about as long as 4 and apically emarginate with short endocarina. Ventrite 5 in female as long as 4, tapered toward truncate apex.

Types. Type / New Holland / Tricheops ephippiger Newm (1, BMNH; 1, OMNH; both probably syntypes).

Other specimens examined. New South Wales. Blaxland, 19.ix.2003, M. Bonham (1, AM). Blue Mountains, 9.i.1909, G.E. Bryant (1, ANIC). Blue Mountains, n.d (1, AM). Blue Mountains, n.d (1, NMV). Blue Mountains, 1.iii.1947 (1, NMV). Booklana, East Dorrigo, i.1929, W. Heron (1, AM). Bundeena, 2.ix.1958 (1, AM). Cascade, i.1934, F.E. Wilson (1, AM). Cascade, i.1934, F.E. Wilson (2, NMV). Condong Falls, Whian State Forest, NNE of Lismore (28°37'S, 153°23'E, 18, xi, 1983, D.C.F Rentz & M.S. Harvey (1, ANIC). Depot Beach, 16km NE of Batemans Bay, 21.xi.1970, I.F.B Common (1, ANIC). Dorrigo, n.d (2, AM). Dorrigo, 24.x.1971, R.J.T (1, AM). Dorrigo, 14.xi.1971, R.J.T (1, AM). Kioloa SF, 15km SE of Batemans Bay (35°30'S, 150°18'E), xii.1986, M.G. Robinson (2, ANIC). Mount Victoria, i.1939 (2, AM). National Park, 6.xii.1914, C. Gibbons (1, AM). New South Wales, n.d (1, AM). New South Wales, n.d (1, NVM). New South Wales, n.d., J. Armstrong (1, NVM). New South Wales, n.d, E. W. Ferguson (2, ANIC). New South Wales, iii.1920 (1, AM). Wahroonga, n.d, H. J. Carter (3, ANIC). 72km west on Oxley Highway, Wauchope (31°27'S, 152°44'E), 4.i.1970, Britton & Misko (1, ANIC). Sydney, n.d. (1, NVM). Sydney, n.d., Carter (1, NVM). West Pymble near Sydney, 10.xii.1987, Scambler (1, AM).

Queensland. Bunya Mountains, 23.xii.1937, N. Geary (1, AM). Bunya Mountains, 21.i.1938, N. Geary (1, AM). Fraser Island, 1–2.xii.1975, G. Thompson & A. Slater (5, QM). Fraser Island, 3–4.xii.1975, G. Thompson & A. Slater (3, QM). Mount Huntley (28°08'S, 152°26'E), 29–30.i.1993, G.B. Monteith (3, QM). Kuranda, n.d, F.P. Dodd (1, AM). Kuranda, 25.x.1959, E.J. Harris (1, ANIC). Kuranda, 3.i.1978, D. Lane (1, ANIC). 19 Butler dr, Kuranda (16°48'S, 145°38'E), 15–30.xi.2003, D.C.F Rentz (1, ANIC). 19 Butler dr, Kuranda (16°48'S, 145°38'E), 1–15.xii.2005, D.C.F Rentz (1, ANIC). 19 Butler dr, Kuranda (16°48'S, 145°38'E), 15–26.x.2006, D.C.F Rentz (1, ANIC). 3 Mason rd, Kuranda (16°50'S, 145°38'E), 26.iv.2013, D.C.F Rentz & B. Richardson (1, ANIC). 19 Butler dr, Kuranda (16°48'S, 145°38'E), 16–31.iv.2014, D.C.F Rentz (1, ANIC). Mount Spec, i.1965, J.G. Brooks (3, ANIC). Paluma (19°00'S, 146°12'E), 30.xii.1978, D.W. Frith (1, ANIC). Queensland, n.d, F.H. Taylor (1, NMV). South Johnston, H.W. Brown (4, AM). Tinaroo Waters (17°185'S, 145°552'E), 10–20.i.2010, G. Monteith (1, ANIC). Toowoomba, 28.xii.1976, J. Macqueen (1, ANIC). Wangabel state for. Pavey rd (17°19'06.63'S, 145°30'43.58'E), 17.ix.2013,D.C.F Rentz (1, ANIC). Whitfield rd, Cairns, 27.x.1971, J. G. Brooks (1, ANIC). Yarraman, 1.xii.1975, F.T. Frick (1, AM). 10km SSE of Yeppoon (23°12'S, 150°47'E), 5.ii.1983, I.C.B. Common (1, ANIC).

Distribution. T. ephippiger is widely distributed along the eastern Australian coast, from Kuranda in northern Queensland to Batemans Bay in New South Wales.