Theprisa australis (Castelnau)

Liebherr, James K., Porch, Nick, Shaw, Matthew, Sinclair, Bronte E. & Maddison, David R., 2021, Systematic revision of the trans-Bassian moriomorphine genus Theprisa Moore (Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 1044, pp. 339-373 : 339

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1044.62335
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8264C999-3201-4A3B-B39C-222790AC0192
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/95F9D468-1695-5537-BADB-471CC1F34045
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Theprisa australis (Castelnau)
status

Treatment

Theprisa australis (Castelnau) View in CoL Figures 2A View Figure 2 , 3D View Figure 3 , 4D View Figure 4 , 5D View Figure 5 , 6D View Figure 6 , 7D View Figure 7 , 8D View Figure 8 , 10 View Figure 10

Drimostoma australis Castelnau, 1867: 112.

Theprisa australis Moore, 1963b: 285.

Types.

Lectotype male (MGDG): triangular platen-mounted male (aedeagus partly everted) // Drimost. / australis / Cast. // TYPUS (red label) // Montagne / albaiensis / & Victoria // LECTOTYPUS / Drimostoma / australis / Castelnau, 1867 (red label) // MUSEO GENOVA / Coll. Castelnau. Castelnau (1868: 198) cites the locality of this species as "Mountains of Victoria"; that locality designated type locality by Straneo (1941).

Extended diagnosis

(n = 5). The nearly straight, completely margined pronotal basal margin, coupled with the obtusely angulate hind angles with the pronotal lateral margins straight anterad the angles, distinguish this species from other Theprisa (Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ). The pronotal base is broadly punctate, with 12-13 punctures each side of the median base, the punctate surface extended across the laterobasal depression to the hind angle. The elytra are moderately constricted basally, HuW/MEW = 0.64, and the elytral disc is moderately convex, the scutellum much less depressed relative to the disc than in T. convexa (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ). As in T. montana and T. darlingtoni , the elytral striae are smooth, only slightly wavering along their length. But individuals of this species are nearly always smaller, with standardized body length = 5.7-7.1 mm. The eyes are smaller than in T. montana , with ocular ratio 1.38-1.43, 15-17 ommatidia bisected by a line horizontally crossing the eye; and little convex, with the EyL/EyD ratio ranging 3.2-4.2. Body coloration is dark, with the piceous dorsal and ventral surfaces accompanied only by paler dark rufous pro- and elytral epipleura, and rufous femora. Cuticular microsculpture is well developed, with the vertex covered with an evident isodiametric mesh, and the pronotal and elytral discs covered with dense transverse lines resulting in a cyaneous iridescence. Apical abdominal ventrite of male bearing a single seta each side along margin, female apical ventrite with two setae each side plus a median group of 3-5 setae in two subapical rows.

Male genitalia (n = 5). Aedeagal median lobe robust, base broadly open on right side, basal margin sclerotized dorsad basal opening (Fig. 3D View Figure 3 ); median lobe apex broadly rounded apically, ventral margin evenly curved to meet nearly straight apical face, tip not extended beyond ostium, lateral surfaces of apex densely covered with large pits; internal sac bearing a dark field of microtrichia visible in uneverted specimens (e.g., Fig. 3D View Figure 3 ), and covering much of right side of internal sac ventrad flagellar complex (Fig. 4D View Figure 4 ); flagellum elongate, slender, with a broad base well evident in uneverted specimens (Fig. 3D View Figure 3 ); right paramere slender, evenly curved basally and narrowly extended apically to tightly rounded tip (Fig. 5D View Figure 5 ), ventral surface lined with 13-23 setae in apical 3/4 of length, 1-3 setae on dorsal surface near apex, and apex glabrous or bearing a single seta; left paramere broadest in basal half, evenly narrowed to rounded tip, ventral margin glabrous or with a single short seta near apex, dorsal surface with 0-2 setae near apex, and apex glabrous; antecostal apodeme of abdominal segment IX angled distally, lateral arms gracile, their distal juncture only slightly broader than adjoining portions of lateral arms (Fig. 6D View Figure 6 ).

Female reproductive tract (n = 2). Bursa copulatrix columnar, length 1.25 × maximum breadth compressed under microslide cover slip, vagina translucent, as broad as apical portion (Fig. 7D View Figure 7 ); helminthoid sclerite present, rounded apically, not extended beyond juncture with spermathecal duct; spermathecal duct stout, straight, length subequal to length of annulated spermathecal reservoir; spermathecal gland duct very thin, length twice that of spermathecal reservoir which it joins at reservoir base; spermathecal gland comprising sclerotized stem plus membranous reservoir bearing numerous ductules; gonocoxa bipartite, basal gonocoxite 1 with single, small apical fringe seta, median surface glabrous, membranous ramus present (Fig. 8D View Figure 8 ); apical gonocoxite 2 with base extended laterally, lateral margin arcuate, apex broadly rounded; two lateral ensiform setae and one dorsal ensiform present; two apical nematiform setae set in fossa at apical 1/4 of apical gonocoxite length.

Distribution and habitat.

Theprisa australis is broadly sympatric with T. montana in the mountains of Victoria east and southeast of Melbourne (Fig. 10 View Figure 10 ). Localities where T. australis and T. montana have been collected syntopically include Gunyah, Mt. Baw Baw, Mt. Donna Buang, Sherbrooke Forest, Tarra Valley in Tarra-Bulga N. P., and Warburton. Individuals have been found in leaf and log litter associated with Eucalyptus regnans , E. delegatensis R. T. Baker, Nothofagus cunninghamii , and Blechnum ferns, and via application of pyrethrin fog insecticide to logs with fungal outgrowths (FMNH).