Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle, 1919

Karner, Michael, 2020, Taxonomic Studies on Australian Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera, Silvanidae, Brontinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 723, pp. 135-158 : 142-144

Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle, 1919

Fig. 3

Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle, 1919: 11 .

Psammoecus obesus – Hetschko 1930: 83.

Diagnosis

The following combination of character states distinguishes this species: body elongate-oval ( Fig. 3A ), length 3.08–3.29 mm; eyes large ( Fig. 3B ), irregularly rounded with stronger curvature posteriorly; temples distinct, short, strongly curved; frontal grooves distinct, diverging anteriorly, parallel near end; reaching anterior ²⁄5 of eyes; antennae stout ( Fig. 3D ), antennomere 8 slightly darkened, antennomeres 9–10 darkened, antennomere 11 bright yellowish-brown; punctation on vertex moderate, punctures distinctly elongate, as large as eye facet diameter; microsculpture on vertex absent, pubescence moderate; pronotum widest just in front of middle ( Fig. 3C ), lateral pronotal margins with five teeth; tooth I slightly and tooth V distinctly bigger than II–IV, distance between I and II wider than distances between other teeth, anterior and posterior denticles present, small; pronotal punctation dense, punctures as large as on vertex, distinctly widened, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate, setae directed medially; elytra widest at middle ( Fig. 3A ), with transverse brown maculae behind middle, interstices distinctly wider than striae, pubescence moderate, microsculpture absent; male genitalia ( Fig. 3 E–H) strongly sclerotised, median lobe in dorsal view wide, narrowed abruptly near ostium, apical end well rounded, in lateral view also narrowed abruptly, with sharp apical end; parameres in ventral view very wide, inner margins, apex and apical third of lateral margins with distinct setae; in lateral view with very wide basis, narrowed abruptly towards apex with dorsal margin almost forming angle.

Material examined

Holotype INDONESIA • ♀; Maluku, Seram; Pascoe leg.; “HOLO - | Type” [round label with red border]; “Ceram” [blue, elliptic label]; “Pascoe | Coll. | 93–60”; “ Psammoecus | obesus | ty. Grouv” [Grouvelle’s hand]; “HOLOTYPUS | Psammoecus | obesus Grouv. 1919 | det. R.G. Booth 2013”; NHMUK.

Other material

AUSTRALIA • 1 spec.; Queensland, Cairns ; 16°55′ S, 145°46′ E; 1942; Perkins leg.; NHMUK • 1 spec.; Queensland, Cassowary Coast Region , 10 km NE of Tully; Nov. 1994; C. Reid leg.; rainforest; ANIC • 1 spec.; Queensland, Cassowary Coast Region, Cardstone ; 1–2 Dec. 1966; J.G. Brooks leg.; ANIC • 1 spec.; Queensland, Shire of Cook, McIlwraith Range ; 500 m a.s.l.; 13°45′ S, 143°22′ E; 27 Jun.–12 Jul. 1989; T.A. Weir leg.; at light; ANIC • 1 spm; Queensland, Shire of Douglas, Daintree ; 29 Oct. 1966; E. Britton leg.; dead leaves, edge of rainforest; ANIC • 1 spm; same data as for preceding; MKF .

INDONESIA • 2 specs; West Papua, Waigeo, Camp Nok ; 2500 ft a.s.l.; 0°12′ S, 130°50′ E; Apr. 1938; Cheesman leg.; NHMUK .

Distribution

The species has been found in Australia (Queensland) and Indonesia.

Remarks

Psammoecus obesus is closely related to P. hirsutus Grouvelle, 1883 , P. decoratus Grouvelle, 1919 , and P. signatus Grouvelle, 1919 . It differs from all three by the shape of the male genitalia.

Figures

Fig. 3. Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle, 1919. A–D. Holotype, ♀ (NHMUK). A. Habitus. B. Head. C. Pronotum. D. Left antenna. E–H. Specimen from Queensland, ♂ (ANIC). E. Aedeagus, ventral view. F. Aedeagus, lateral view. G. Parameres, ventral view. H. Median lobe, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, D = 1.0 mm; B–C, E–F = 0.5 mm; G–H = 0.2 mm.