Deretaphrus aequaliceps Blackburn, 1903: 127 Heinze 1943: 119 A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Deretaphrus Newman, 1842 (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Bothrideridae) Lord, Nathan P. McHugh, Joseph V. The Coleopterists Bulletin 2013 mo 12 2013-12-20 67 1 107 Blackburn, 1903 Blackburn 1903 [716,1141,1113,1134] Insecta Bothrideridae Deretaphrus Animalia Coleoptera 15 16 Arthropoda species aequaliceps  ( Figs. 57, 82–83, 140, 177, 183–184)      Deretaphrus aequaliceps Blackburn, 1903: 127. Carter and Zeck 1937: 200–201;  Heinze 1943: 119.   Diagnosis.This species can be readily distinguished from congeners by the impressed anterior portion of the head, the distinctly anteriorly narrowed pronotal median longitudinal canal, the well-defined anterior pronotal angles, the strongly transverse submentum, and generally smaller size. It most closely resembles  D. viduatus. Due to the extreme size variation within members of the genus, small specimens may be very difficult to identify correctly.   Redescription.Length 4.84–10.36 mm. Width 1.15–2.48 mm. Body elongate, parallel, red to black; dorsal surface glabrous, slightly shiny; ventral surface moderately shiny, glabrous except for minute setae that arise from punctures. Head: In dorsal view, slightly narrowed anteriorly; with supra-ocular ridges, slightly expanded laterally, dorsolateral margin sinuate; eyes visible from above; punctures small and dense, except sparse along posterior margin. Frontoclypeal suture distinct. Clypeus distinctly narrower than head; posterior margin of clypeus slightly incised medially, anterior margin of clypeus broadly arcuate. Submentum shape similar to Fig. 53; short and transverse, distinctly separated from subgenal braces, with paired setose pits; anterior margin straight to slightly convex, moderately expanded anteroventrally over oral cavity, apices of palpi visible, part of mentum often visible. Antennal groove well-developed, impunctate. Antenna sparsely setose; segments 2–8 with single transverse row of moderately long setae, setae extending at least to distal margin of antennal segment from which they arise; antennal club segments with sparse setae, setae long and located at or near distal margin of the segment. Antennal club subsymmetrical. Dorsal surface (external face) of mandible with median setose groove. Thorax( Fig. 57): Pronotum elongate, widest near anterior ¼, distinctly wider than head; dorsal surface flattened to slightly impressed at middle, convex laterally; anterior margin arcuate; anterior angles produced, nearly right angles, slightly rounded; posterior margin slightly sinuate, distinctly narrower than elytral bases; posterior angles pronounced, with small denticle; lateral margin with incomplete carina, forming a distinct raised border in dorsal view. Pronotal disc with small, dense, oval punctures. Pronotal median longitudinal canal well-developed, interrupted to form a weakly impressed, anterior portion and a posterior canal; interruption of the canal impunctate; anterior fovea a small slit or merely a depression; posterior canal elongate, narrow and triangular (isosceles) widest at base and narrowing to a sharp point anteriorly; internal lateral margins of canal grooved. Hypomeron minutely punctate; lateral walls nearly vertical. Prosternum flat medially, strongly deflexed at lateral margin. Tergosternal suture slightly sinuate; located on lateral wall of prothorax. Elytra( Figs. 82–83): Elytron flattened dorsally, convex laterally; interstitial intervals 5 and 7 carinate for entire length, more pronounced near apex. Interval 3 raised near apex only. Intervals 3, 5, and 7 with micropunctures at crest. Basal elytral margin with intervals 3 and 5 ending in a weak, knob-like protuberance. Elytral shoulder with weakly developed finger-like callosity. Legs: Setation sparse; inner face of tibia with a double fringe of moderately long setae. Tarsus sparsely setose except for 2 pockets of dense setae on the ventral surface near apex of tarsomeres 1–3 and a few erect setae at apices of tarsomeres. Abdomen: Ventrite V more densely punctured than preceding segments. Aedeagus: Phallobase as in Fig. 140. Tegmen consisting of paired, subtriangular plates at middle; plates narrowly touching medially. Basal piece with short anterolateral struts; struts slightly curved anteriorly. Parameres moderately short, broadly rounded, distinctly separated and individually articulated to phallobase, internal lateral margins arcuate; paramere sparsely setose with short setae at apical margin; dorsal surface of paramere with short subtriangular process; process thickest at base, narrowing apically, slightly shorter than half the length of the paramere, apex slightly swollen; processes narrowly separated, parallel medially. Penis similar to Fig. 169; short, moderately thick, more or less straight; apex narrowed and pointed; base slightly expanded, bearing short, paired anterior struts. Penis slightly lighter in color near base.  Variation.Size and color vary strongly within the species. The width of the median longitudinal pronotal canal is also somewhat variable, ranging from narrower in smaller specimens to wider in larger specimens.   Distribution. Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria( Fig. 177).   Biology.Not known.   Remarks. Blackburn (1903)did not mention the number of specimens examined. In order to stabilize this name, a lectotypeis here designatedfrom the syntypeseries of  D. aequaliceps.     TypeLocality. Victoria(Dividing Range).    TypeMaterial Examined.L E C T O T Y P E ( Figs. 183–184) ( BMNH, pinned; right elytron broken, glued on card beneath specimen): “  TypeH.T. [round label with orange border] // 7204 Healesville T.[“7204” and “ Healesville” written in red ink, “T.” written in black ink, in Blackburn’s hand] // Australia. [red underline] Blackburn Coll. B.M.1910-236. // Deretaphrus aequaliceps Blackb[in Blackburn’s hand]” [ BMNH 95 NL, examined]. Sex not determined.  Additional Material Examined (32). AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES: Kyogle ( ANIC171 NL); Mongarlowe River ( ANIC166 NL); Nimmitable, 6 km. N ( ANIC240 NL); Tumut River ( BPBM38 NL). QUEENSLAND: North Queensland ( ANIC35 NL). SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Yorketown ( FMNH22 NL); no locality ( BMNH3 NL). VICTORIA: Broadford ( BPBM24 NL); Carrum ( MVMA110 NL); Edenhope ( SAMA116 NL); Eltham ( MVMA56 NL, MVMA64 NL); Fern TreeGully ( MVMA4 NL); Hamilton ( MVMA6 NL, MVMA52 NL); Healesville, Coranderrk Res. ( ANIC247–248 NL); Melbourne ( OUMNH14 NL, SAMA144 NL, UQIC26 NL); Mordialloc ( BMNH16 NL); Ringwood ( MVMA49 NL); no locality ( ANIC207 NL, MVMA57 NL). STATE UNKNOWN: Kangaroo ( MVMA44 NL). NO LOCALITY: ANIC39 NL, ANIC44 NL, BMNH2 NL, BMNH93 NL, MCZ30 NL, MCZ38 NL, MVMA54 NL. [731,1144,911,932] Victoria 16 17 1 Victoria holotype BMNH Examined. L E C T O T Y P E 16 17 1 holotype NL Healesville T. & Blackburn Coll. B. M. Australia Blackburn' Healesville Blackburn' 16 17 BMNH 95 1 holotype