Augasmus Motschulsky, 1858

Gimmel, Matthew L., 2013, <strong> Genus-level revision of the family Phalacridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) </ strong>, Zootaxa 3605 (1), pp. 1-147 : 102-104

27. Augasmus Motschulsky, 1858

( Figs. 30 ; 41g, h )

Augasmus Motschulsky 1858: 35 . Type species: Augasmus ligatus Motschulsky 1858 , fixed by subsequent designation.

Liocrus Flach 1889 b: 271 , as subgenus of Litocrus [sic] Erichson. Type species: Litocrus coronatus Flach 1889 , fixed by monotypy.

Heterolitus Guillebeau 1893 c: 375 . Type species: Heterolitus humilis Guillebeau 1893 , fixed by subsequent designation ( Guillebeau 1894 a: 280). [synonymized with Augasmus Motschulsky by Lyubarsky (1993 c: 35)]

Parischius Guillebeau 1896: 297 . Type species: Parischius alluaudi Guillebeau 1896 , fixed by subsequent designation (Švec in Löbl and Smetana 2007: 64).

Megischius Guillebeau 1896: 298 . Type species: Megischius limbicollis Guillebeau 1896 , fixed by monotypy. Syn. nov.

Nematolibrus Sahlberg 1913: 21 . Type species: Nematolibrus filitarsis Sahlberg 1913 , fixed by monotypy. Syn. nov.

Type material. Augasmus ligatus Motschulsky : holotype, “Augasma \ ligata \ Motsh. \ Ind. or. [handwritten on yellow label] // Augasmus \ ligatus Motsch. \ Lectotype design. \ Lyubarsky // HOLOTYPE \ Augasmus \ ligatus Motschulsky \ det. M.L. Gimmel 2010 [red label]” ( ZMUM), card-mounted with genitalia vial. Lyubarsky’s lectotype designation was not published, but is unnecessary in any case.

Liocrus coronatus Flach : type not seen.

Heterolitus humilis Guillebeau : three syntypes, first with the labels “ TONKIN (F.de B.) // Heterolitus humilis Grouv. ”; second with the label “ Mt ”; third with the labels “ Hué // Litochrus humilis Grou \ ty. // Heterolitus humilis Grouv. ” ( MNHN), all card mounted.

Parischius alluaudi Guillebeau : two syntypes, with the labels “ Madagascar \ Diego Suarez \ Ch. Alluaud 1893 // Museum Paris \ Coll. Générale // SYNTYPE // Augasmus alluaudi (Guill.) \ Zd. Svec det. 1998” and “Madag. // Alluaud” ( MNHN), card mounted.

Megischius limbicollis Guillebeau : type not located, but probably in MNHN.

Nematolibrus filitarsis Sahlberg : two syntypes, one here designated as lectotype with the labels “ Tarsus // J.Sahlb. // Spec. typ. // 4417 // Mus. Zool. H:fors \ Spec. typ. No 1002 \ Nematolibrus \ filitarsis J.S. // Nematolibrus filitarsis n.sp. [handwritten] // SYNTYPE [red label] // Nematolibrus filitarsis J.Sahlb. [red label] // LECTOTYPE ♀ \ Nematolibrus \ filitarsis J.Sahlberg \ des. M.L. Gimmel 2010 [red label]” ( MZH), point mounted. Paralectotype with the same data, female, with label affixed “ PARALECTOTYPE ♀ \ Nematolibrus \ filitarsis J.Sahlberg \ det. M.L. Gimmel 2010 [yellow label]”, card mounted. The lectotype is designated to enforce stability of its associated name.

Diagnosis. May be recognized by the long protibial ctenidium, anteriorly protruded metaventral process, oblique apical ctenidium on the metatibia, and extremely long metatarsomere I.

Description. Small to medium-sized, total length 1.5–2.6 mm. Dorsal color highly variable, often wholly testaceous but often with black patterns ( Figs. 41g, h ). Tibial spur formula 2-2-2, tarsal formula 4-5-4 or 5-5-4, sexes not differing in formula.

Head. Not constricted behind eyes. Eyes small to medium-sized to large; facets flat; interfacetal setae absent; weakly to deeply emarginate medially; without posterior emargination; periocular groove present or absent; with transverse setose groove ventrally behind eye. Frontoclypeus emarginate above antennal insertion; clypeal apex arcuate-truncate. Antennal club loosely 3-segmented, club weakly asymmetrical; antennomere XI not constricted ( Fig. 30b ), widened subapically in certain African forms. Mandible ( Fig. 30a ) with apex bidentate; retinaculum absent; mandible without ventral ridge. Maxillary palpomere IV short, stout, nearly symmetrical; galea short, rounded; lacinia with two stout spines. Mentum with sides divergent toward apex; labial palpomere III expanded at midlength, pointed apically. Labrum with apical margin arcuate. Gular sutures long, extending over halfway to ventral mouthparts.

Thorax. Pronotum without obvious microsetae; with distinct scutellar lobe. Prosternum anteriorly with row of marginal setae discontinuous, with gap medially, setae flattened at base; procoxal cavity without anterolateral notchlike extension; prosternal process rounded in lateral view, not setose preapically, without spinelike setae at apex. Protrochanter without setae; protibia with ctenidium on kickface extending from about half to three-quarters length of tibia ( Fig. 30c ). Scutellar shield small, width at base shorter than length of eye. Elytron with spectral iridescence; with one sutural stria; with absent to strong transverse strigae; lateral margin with row of tiny, sawtooth-like setae. Mesoventral plate ( Fig. 30f ) deeply notched anteriorly, extending posteriorly to metaventrite (dividing mesoventral disc medially), not forming procoxal rests; mesanepisternum with complete transverse carina; mesocoxal cavities separated by more than half width of single coxal cavity. Mesotarsomere III not bilobed. Metaventral process ( Fig. 30f ) exceeding level of anterior margin of mesocoxae, rounded apically; metaventral postcoxal lines separated slightly from mesocoxal cavity margin, following cavity borders; discrimen short, extending less than halfway to anterior margin of metaventral process; metendosternite ( Fig. 30g ) with anterior tendons moderately separated, ventral process intersecting ventral longitudinal flange behind anterior margin. Anterior margin of metacoxa with emargination sublaterally; metacoxal plate without transverse line; metatibial foreface with apical ctenidium markedly oblique, oriented about 45° to long axis of tibia ( Fig. 30d ); spurs cylindrical, longest spur longer than width of tibial apex; metatarsus as long as or longer than metatibia, metatarsomere I much longer than metatarsomere II, usually much longer than remainder of tarsus, joint between I and II rigid ( Fig. 30d ); metatarsomere III not bilobed. Hind wing ( Fig. 30e ) with distinct, ovate anal lobe; leading edge with incomplete row of long setae; AA 3+4 absent; cubitoanal system unbranched apically; CuA 2 and MP 3+4 without distal remnants; r4 absent; no flecks present in apical field distal to rpmp2, or with faint fleck near posteroapical border; long transverse sclerite and large nebulous triangular sclerite present just distal to end of radial bar.

Abdomen. Abdominal ventrite I without paired lines, with calli; spiracles present and apparently functional on segment VII. Male with aedeagus upright in repose; tegmen ( Fig. 30h ) with asymmetrical anterior margin, parameres separated by suture from basal piece, parameres without medial longitudinal division; penis ( Fig. 30i ) narrow, devoid of endophallic sclerites or prominent fields of endophallic spicules, apex acutely pointed; spiculum gastrale with arms V-shaped, free, with short, curved, anterior extension. Female ovipositor weakly sclerotized, palpiform.

Immature stages. Unknown.

Bionomics. Blacklight and Malaise trap are the most common methods by which members of this genus have been taken, but a few were collected by “beating hanging branch”. A series from Java (ANIC) was collected from the flowers and leaves of Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC. (Fagaceae) at the rainforest edge (1350 m elevation).

Distribution and diversity. A large and diverse group, this genus ranges throughout the tropical and some subtropical regions of the Old World, including islands in the Indian Ocean and near-continental islands.

Included species (36):

Augasmus borneensis Lyubarsky, 1994 (Distribution: Borneo)

Augasmus coloratus ( Blackburn, 1895) , comb. nov. ( Litochrus ) ( Distribution : Australia) (type!)

Augasmus comptulus Lyubarsky, 2003 (Distribution: Nepal)

Augasmus concolor Lyubarsky, 1994 (Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand)

Augasmus coronatus (Flach, 1889) (Distribution: Japan, Taiwan)

Augasmus distriatus Lyubarsky, 1994 (Distribution: Borneo)

Augasmus exquisitus Gimmel , nom. nov. [for Litochrus pulchellus Blackburn, 1895 , junior primary homonym of Litochrus pulchellus LeConte, 1856 ] (Distribution: Australia) (type!)

Augasmus filitarsis ( Sahlberg, 1913) , comb. nov. ( Nematolibrus ) ( Distribution : Turkey) (type!)

Augasmus gilbus Lyubarsky, 2003 (Distribution: Nepal, Vietnam)

Augasmus grouvellei (Guillebeau, 1894) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) ( Distribution : Indonesia) (type!)

Augasmus humilis (Guillebeau, 1893) (Distribution: China, Taiwan, Vietnam)

Augasmus intactus ( Lea, 1932) , comb. nov. ( Litochrus ) (Distribution: Papua New Guinea)

Augasmus ligatus Motschulsky, 1858 ( Distribution : Oriental Region) (type!)

Augasmus limbicollis ( Guillebeau, 1896) , comb. nov. ( Megischius ) (Distribution: Madagascar)

Augasmus longitarsis ( Lea, 1932) , comb. nov. ( Litochrus ) (Distribution: Papua New Guinea)

Augasmus luridus Lyubarsky, 2003 (Distribution: Nepal)

Augasmus nigromaculatus ( Hisamatsu, 1985) (Distribution: Japan, Taiwan)

Augasmus nipponicus ( Hisamatsu, 1985) (Distribution: Japan)

Augasmus noteroides ( Blackburn, 1895) , comb. nov. ( Litochrus ) ( Distribution : Australia) (type!)

Augasmus obliquenotatus (Champion, 1925) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) ( Distribution : South Africa) (type!)

Augasmus palleolus (Guillebeau, 1894) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) ( Distribution : Indonesia) (type!)

Augasmus perparvulus ( Guillebeau, 1896) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) ( Distribution : Madagascar) (type!)

Augasmus perpolitus Lyubarsky, 2003 (Distribution: Nepal)

Augasmus picinus (Guillebeau, 1894) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) ( Distribution : Tanzania) (type!)

Augasmus platycnemus (Champion, 1925) (Distribution: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia) (type!)

Augasmus pseudosinuatus Lyubarsky, 1994 (Distribution: Philippines)

Augasmus senegalensis (Guillebeau, 1894) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) (Distribution: Senegal) (type!) Augasmus shirozui (Hisamatsu, 1959) (Distribution: Japan, Russia)

Augasmus strigellus (Guillebeau, 1894) (Distribution: Celebes) (type!)

Augasmus strigosus ( Reitter, 1899) , comb. nov. ( Litochrus ) (Distribution: “Transcaspien”)

Augasmus subflavus Lyubarsky, 2003 (Distribution: Nepal)

Augasmus substrigosus (Champion, 1925) (Distribution: southern Africa) (type!)

Augasmus suturalis (Guillebeau, 1894) , comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) ( Distribution : Indonesia) (type!)

Augasmus testaceus Motschulsky, 1858 (Distribution: India, Sri Lanka)

Augasmus thoracicus (Fleutiaux, 1887) (Distribution: Australia through southern Asia to Africa) (type!) Augasmus v-niger ( Lea, 1932), comb. nov. ( Heterolitus ) (Distribution: Papua New Guinea)

Discussion. Although a highly distinctive genus, Augasmus has a complex and composite taxonomic history, largely stemming from the poor original description of Motschulsky (1858) and historical inaccessibility of his types. The genus was subsequently described once by Flach (as a subgenus of Litochrus ), once by Sahlberg, and at least two times by Guillebeau.

Although Lyubarsky (1993 c: 35) rightly synonymized Heterolitus with Augasmus , he did not make the new combinations explicit. I have listed all of these above. The type of Nematolibrus filitarsis Sahlberg conforms well to the definition of Augasmus outlined above. I am proposing synonymy of these two genera. After examining the Blackburn types of Litochrus coloratus , L. noteroides , and L. pulchellus , I have concluded that all three fall within the concept of this genus. The new combinations are made explicit above (and L. pulchellus , a junior primary homonym, is given a replacement name).

Although I have not examined the types of Arthur Lea, a few of his Litochrus species whose hind legs are illustrated in the same work obviously belong here, based on their obliquely oriented apical ctenidia and extremely long apical spurs. The species are L. longitarsis Lea (1932 : fig. 10), L. intactus Lea (1932 : fig. 18), and L. v-niger Lea (1932: fig. 24). The new combinations are made explicit above.

Unfortunately I could not locate the types of Megischius limbicollis Guillebeau in MNHN. Based on Guillebeau’s (1896) description, Megischius appears to be congeneric with Augasmus . He states that the genus is similar to Parischius Guillebeau (the type species of which clearly belongs in Augasmus ) except that the first article of the posterior tarsi is only twice as long as the second and shorter than the following joined together. The size is small (1.5 mm) and the metaventral process presumably surpasses the mesocoxae (these two characters preclude it from being congeneric with Malagasmus Gimmel ). There are no other phalacrids of which I have seen specimens or records from Madagascar that could fit this description other than species of Augasmus , and I am tentatively proposing synonymy of these two genera with the hope that the type of M. limbicollis will be located in the future.

Figures

FIGURE 30. Augasmus humilis, male. (a) Left mandible, dorsal; (b) left antenna (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (c) Left protibia and tarsus, dorsal; (d) right metatibia and tarsus, ventral (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (e) Hind wing (scale bar = 1.0 mm). (f) Meso- and metaventrite, ventral (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (g) Metendosternite (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (h) Tegmen, ventral; (i) penis, ventral (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 41. Photographs. Olibrus sp.: (a) dorsal. Antennogasmus cordatus, holotype: (b) dorsal. Malagasmus thalesi, holotype: (c) dorsal; (d) ventral. Olibrosoma testacea: (e) dorsal. Apallodes sp.: (f) dorsal. Augasmus humilis: (g) dorsal; (h) ventral. Entomocnemus sp., southeast Asia: (i) dorsal.