Eucinetus protibialis, Lawrence, 2019

Lawrence, John F., 2019, New species of Eucinetus and Noteucinetus from Australia (Coleoptera: Scirtoidea: Eucinetidae), Zootaxa 4668 (2), pp. 151-182 : 164

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.2.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DDEB92E2-3F1B-463F-B68C-4C3E282279FF
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E52C87D7-3D36-FF94-FF74-49192D37F8DB
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Eucinetus protibialis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Eucinetus protibialis sp. nov.

( Figs 23 View FIGURES 13–23 , 44 View FIGURES 34–51 , 61, 72 View FIGURES 52–72 , 75, 86 View FIGURES 73–88 , 92, 99 View FIGURES 89–103 , 107 View FIGURES 104–118 , 137 View FIGURES 133–148 )

Diagnosis. This species differs from E. lorien , E. nebulosus , E. similis and E. tropicus in having a short, broad metanepisternum and sharply acute scutellar shield and in lacking a notched inner eye margin and hind wings. The male differs from all other Australian eucinetids in having a relatively short and broad, densely setose protibia and expanded protarsomeres, but the female is unknown. The species differs from E. brindabellae , E. tasmaniae , E. dorrigo and E. minutus in the contrasting red pronotum and black elytra. The few known specimens are distinctly smaller than most E. bicolor or E. limitaris and differ from E. bicolorellus in having the head reddish-brown, instead of red, and the abdomen red, instead of black. The four known specimens are all males and three were collected at localities where specimens of E. bicolor were also collected (Mt. Donna Buang and Myrtle Gully).

Description. Length 1.90–2.00 (1.97) mm; body 1.80–1.87 (1.85) times as long as combined elytral width; greatest depth 0.61–0.82 (0.68) times elytral width. Colour of pronotum and scutellar shield red; elytra black, with some red near scutellar shield, at sides and on epipleura; head reddish-brown; undersurface mostly red, with darker metacoxal plates; legs, antennae and palps yellow to yellowish-brown. Head about 0.95 times as long as wide; distance across eyes 1.36 times distance between them; inner edges of eyes not notched. Labrum 0.50 times as long as wide; sides evenly converging to truncate apex. Antenna about 1.78 times as long as head width; 3rd antennomere 0.89 times as long as 4th; 11th antennomere 1.22 times as long as 10th, 1.57 times as long as wide and truncate at apex. Mandibular mola reduced. Galea and lacinia both very narrow and not apically widened.Apical maxillary palpomere subulate, 2.5 times as long as wide, with short aciculate tip. Apical labial palpomere subulate, 2.36 times as long as wide with moderately long aciculate tip. Pronotum 0.46–0.52 (0.49) times as long as wide. Scutellar shield 0.20 times as wide as pronotum, 0.65 times as long as wide and apically acute. Elytra 1.41–1.49 (1.47) times as long as combined width and 3.60–4.04 (3.83) times as long as pronotum; elytral punctation and vestiture as in Fig. 86 View FIGURES 73–88 ; epipleura very narrow, gradually ending near metacoxal bases. Hind wings absent. Metanepisternum 0.48 times as long as mesepimeron, irregularly quadrangular, with anterior edge transverse and posterior edge strongly oblique. Metacoxal plate with outer edge about 3.5 times as long as posterior edge, which is more or less truncate. Protibia in male relatively short, broad and densely setose and basal protarsomeres expanded. Outer (acute) mesotibial spur in male 0.45 times as long as first mesotarsomere, inner spur almost twice as long, parallel-sided with a blunt, cleft apex. Sternite VIII in male 0.65 times as long as wide with weakly emarginate apex and basal strut 0.46 times as long as body of sternite; sternite IX 1.96 times as long as wide with basal strut 0.40 times as long as body of sternite. Parameres at about middle 0.50 times as wide as penis at same point, the apex of each strongly curved mesally and slightly expanded; penis slightly widened subapically, then narrowed to acute apex, extending almost to level of parameres.

Types: Holotype, ♁: “ 37.43S 145.38E VIC Myrtle Gully Res. NW Warburton, 1000m, 819, 30 Jan - 9 Feb. 1987 A. Newton, M. Thayer / Noth. cunn. & Euc. regnans FMHD #87-247 flight interc. trap” ( ANIC type #25- 067878). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. VIC: Cumberland Ck., 13km ESE of Marysville (37°34’S, 145°53’E), 18.i.1978, berlesed from log & leaf litter, Lawrence , Weir (1, ANIC) GoogleMaps ; Mt. Donna Buang, N of Warburton (37°43’S, 145°41’E), 1200m, 810, 26.i–11.ii.1987, wet scler. Noth. cunn. FMHD #87-218, berl. leaf & log litter, A. Newton, M. Thayer (2, ANIC) GoogleMaps

Distribution. Eastern VIC.

Biology. Collected in flight-intercept/trough traps and in berlesates of leaf and log litter.

Etymology. Derived from the Latin term protibia and the suffix alis, pertaining to, referring to the modified male protibia.