Pristoderus monteithi Turco & Ślipiński, 2012

Turco, Federica, Ślipiński, Adam & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, Taxonomic revision of Australian Pristoderus Hope (Coleoptera, Zopheridae), Zootaxa 3239, pp. 1-34 : 24-25

Pristoderus monteithi Turco & Ślipiński sp. n.

( Figs 3d , 5d, 7d)

Types. Holotype: Australia, New South Wales : Wiangaree State Forest , via Kyogle , 28.xi.1970, G. Monteith [Ga: 28.465S 153.118E] (UQIC now at QMBA, T169600 ; QM photo PS1760).

Paratypes: Australia, Queensland: National Pk ,. iii.1932, H. Hacker [ Ga : 28.256S 153.134E] (1, ANIC); Springbrook, 14.11.30, H. Hacker [ Ga : 28.188S 153.277E] (1, QMBA, T 169601) .

Other specimens examined. Queensland: 28.188S 153.121E, Lamington N.P., Lahey Mem., 746m, Pyrethrum, 2 Nov 0 9, G.B. Monteith & F. Turco, 18582 (2, QMBA ethanol coll.); 28.198S 153.125E, Lamington NP, O'Reillys Rd., 800m, Pyrethrum, 29 Sep 10, G.B. Monteith , rf, 34618 (2, QMBA ethanol coll.); Lamington N.P., 900–1000m, 16–18 Feb 1964, J. Sedlacek [Ga: 28.210S 153.130E] (1, BPBM).

Diagnosis. This species is very distinct from the remaining in the group of P. saccharatus because of the long and stout median pronotal process, without dorsally pointed tubercles, and lateral edge of elytra abruptly indented medially.

Description. Body length: 10.6–11.4 mm.

Body convex, about 1.5–2 times as long as wide (ratio max length/max width: 1.71–1.75); body vestiture of short, dense, recumbent whitish setae, holding a coat of dirt and possibly micro-algae, thus creating a pattern varying from grey-greenish to light green.

Head transverse; eyes protruding without interfacetal setae; long and fine setae just posterior to eyes; supraorbital carina raised, indented with a distinct upwardly directed, pointed tubercle at posterior end, above the eye; supra-antennal carina distinctly raised, frontal edge indented; antennal insertion frontal, just below the edge of supra-antennal carina; antennae 11-segmented with a distinct 3-segmented club; antennomere I slightly elongate, about as long as III; II subspherical; III distinctly longer than II; IV–VIII from subcylindrical to subspherical gradually decreasing in length; IX–XI distinctly transverse to form a rather loose club.

Pronotum distinctly transverse (pronotal length/width: 0.61–0.68), as wide as elytra; dorsal median process anteriorly prominent and long, reaching anterior margin of head beyond anterior pronotal angles, slightly sloping in lateral view without pointed tubercles on dorsal edge; antero-lateral margins widely lobate (7–8 lobes), expanded posteriorly to form a widely open lateral notch; lacking admedian tubercles in middle.

Elytra about 1.1 times as long as wide, with lateral margins abruptly narrowing at middle and distinctly indented margins; strongly prominent tubercles along 3rd and 5th intervals; 3rd interval with variable tubercles in size and shape, joined to form a crest, strongly zigzag ; proximal third of crest subparallel and ridge-shaped; apical tubercle distinctly raised, with edge smoothly indented and pointing backwards; tubercles on 5th interval subequal in size and edge of basal tubercle pointed.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr. Geoff Monteith , Honorary Research Associate and former Curator of Entomology at the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, to acknowledge his considerable effort in collecting and describing Queensland biodiversity and for his invaluable mentoring and friendship.

Distribution and habitat occurrence. SE Queensland and NE New South Wales ( Fig. 13 c); upland subtropical rainforest.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Group of P. sa cc ha ra tu s, habitus dorsal: a. P. ch lo reus; b. P. co rn utu s; c. P. duvalensis; d. P. monteithi; e. P. occultus; f. P. saccharatus; g. P. sp in osu s; h. P. tomentosus; i. P. zig zag.

FIGURE 13. Distribution maps: a. P. c h l o re u s; b. P. duvalensis; c. P. monteithi.