Nothocyphon imitator, Zwick, Peter, 2015

Zwick, Peter, 2015, Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 7. Genus Nothocyphon, new genus, Zootaxa 3981 (3), pp. 301-359 : 315-316

Nothocyphon imitator , n. sp.

(Figs. 29−31, 170)

Type material: ♂ holotype, 1♂ paratype: 37.43S 145.41E VIC Mt Donna Buang 1200 m N of Warburton 811 26.Jan–11.Feb. 1987 A.Newton & M.Thayer \ wet scler. Noth. cunn. FMHD #87 216 flight intercept (window) trap ( ANIC).

Additional paratypes: VIC: 1♂: 337.43S 145.37E VIC Mt Ben Cairn 960m, NW of Warburton 30.Jan.– 11.Feb.1987 A.Newton & M.Thayer \ wet scler.for. FMHD 87 250 Flight interception trap; 5♂: 37.43S 145.41E VIC Mt Donna Buang 1200 m N of Warburton 811 26.Jan–11.Feb. 1987 A.Newton & M.Thayer \ wet scler. Noth. cunn. FMHD #87 216 flight intercept (window) trap.— NSW: 1♂: South Ramshead 1850 Kosciusko Ntl Park, NSW, March 1982 Ken Green pitfalls 1♂: South Ramshead 2000 Kosciusko Ntl Park, NSW, April 1982 Ken Green pitfalls (all ANIC).

Additional material examined: 1♀ (presumed), same data as holotype ( ANIC).

Habitus. BL 2.6−3.0mm, BL/BW ~1.8. A sibling of N. donnabuangi n. sp., a little bit darker (which, however, may be related to specimen age), the granular punctation of prothorax slightly finer than in N. donnabuangi , and the dark brown band on the elytra a bit wider ( Fig. 170 ). However, definite identification requires study of the terminalia. These are similar, only distinctive details are described.

Male (Fig. 29). Apical penis fork wider than in N. donnabuangi , wider than deep, the lateral lobes are flat, irregular teeth on the outside occur only near the tip. The parameres are largely membranous with a lateral row of large coarse teeth on a sclerotized fold which in slide mounts appears as elongate sclerite with shallowly serrate outer margin. S9 of same general shape as in N. donnabuangi but the hairy caudal lobes are entire, not excised. The armature ventrally from the penis consists of two separate patches of needle-like spinules. They are caudally connected to a triangular field with a median strip of teeth.

Female (presumed, see under N. donnabuangi ; Figs. 30−31). Sternite 7 is shorter than in N. donnabuangi , it ends in a blunt triangular tip. The tooth-bearing sclerites of the prehensor are not bent but only gently curved. Each bears only about 9 strong teeth.

Note. Several males preserved dry on cards have everted genitalia. They are easily recognized by the entire lobes of S9 and two separate spinule patches between them, as well as the widely separated, only apically spinose branches of the penis tip. The presumed female has somewhat finer pronotal punctures than the female assigned to N. donnabuangi .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition highlighting the great similarity, also of the genitalia, almost imitating N. donnabuangi .

Figures

FIGURES 165 – 173. Habitus of Nothocyphon spp.: 165, N. lindensis; 166, N. taurus; 167, N. taeniatus; 168, N. denticulatus; 169, N. donnabuangi; 170, N. imitator; 171, N. frater; 172, N. frater, lateral; 173, N. taurus, lateral. To similar sizes, not to scale.