Austrocyphon spiculifer, Zwick, Peter, 2013

Zwick, Peter, 2013, Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) 4. Two new genera, Austrocyphon and Tasmanocyphon, Zootaxa 3706 (1), pp. 1-74 : 46

Austrocyphon spiculifer , sp. n.

( Figs. 140–144 )

Type material. Holotype ♂, plus 1 ♀, fragments of larval & 1 pupal exuviae on glass slides: WA Weeli Wolli Spring.22.9102 119.21 15/10/06 CHS.Watts (from alcohol sample, reared). Paratypes: 1♂, same data as holotype; 1 ♂, WA Millstream col. Ranger Summer 2000 ( SAMA). 1♂, Millstream, WA, 25.Oct.1970 D.H.Colless; 1♂, 21.35S, 117.0E, Millstream, WA, 28.x.1970 at light open eucalypt-paperbark woodland E.B. Britton; 5♂, 3km NWbyW of Millstream HS, 21.35S 117.04E, WA, 2 April 1971, Upton & Mitchell; 1♂, 3km NWbyW of Millstream HS, 21.34S 117.03E, WA, 11 April 1971, Upton & Mitchell (all ANIC). 4♂, W. Australia 100 km S Mt. Magnet (dint.Paynes Find.) 5-X-08 leg. Daccordi ( SMNS).

Habitus. BL 2.6 mm, BL/BW ~1.7. Slender, elytra with slightly convex sides. Light brown except dark brown occiput; frontal region rufous. Punctation stronger on pronotum than on elytra, normal. Semi-erect pilosity colourless.

Male. T8 caudally slightly concave, middle portion along hind margin unsclerotized. Fine setation only on sclerotization, no microtrichia. S8 a delicate narrow V-shaped sclerite.

T9 represented by very long gently inwardly curved lateral rods in continuation of straight apodemes. A short subterminal style forks out of apex of rod. S9 barely sclerotized, base not visible. Plate with subterminal constriction, caudal portion with slender setae on sides, distally with shallow notch between pointed corners.

Tegmen simple, V-shaped, supporting inwardly curved slender parameres with tips connected to a membrane and thereby appearing a little hooked.

Penis basally wider than distally, the basal frame narrow, the distal part only basally with narrow flange, apex a flat wide screen. Trigonium not nearly filling foramen, short, pyramidal, centema large, no apical spicules.

Female. Not distinctive. A straight lightly sclerotized smooth tube inside base of ovipositor. No prehensor, no receptacular armature.

Notes. Differs from other members of the adelaidae -group by apodemes of T9 much shorter than the caudal rods they support.

Etymology. The Latin name means “carrier of a spicule”, a reference to the outgrowth on the rod of T9.

Figures

FIGURES 140 – 144. Austrocyphon spiculifer sp. n .. 140, male T 8 and contour of S 8; 141, T 9, S 9, and tegmen with parameres, superimposed; 142, penis with part of ejaculatory duct; 143, apex of rod of T 9, enlarged; 144, female, ovipositor. 140 – 142 of the holotype, to the same scale; 144 not to scale.