Austrocyphon enigmaticus, Zwick, Peter, 2013

Zwick, Peter, 2013, Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) 4. Two new genera, Austrocyphon and Tasmanocyphon, Zootaxa 3706 (1), pp. 1-74 : 69-70

Austrocyphon enigmaticus , sp. n.

(Figs. 233–236)

Type material. QLD: Holotype ♂, Bellenden Ker Range NQ, Summit TV station, 1560m, 17 Oct.–5 Nov. 1981 Earthwatch/Qld.Museum, Malaise trap, rainforest / ANIC Coleoptera Voucher No. 83-597 ( ANIC). Paratype ♂, Bellenden Ker Range, NQ, Summit TV Stn., 1560m, 17 Oct.- Nov.5, 1981 EARTHWATCH / QLD. MUSEUM, Malaise trap. rainforest ( QMSB, T169586).

Habitus. BL 2.1 mm, BL/BW ~1.8. An average Austrocyphon without distinctive details. Light brown, pronotum and head darker than elytra, blond semi-erect pilosity. Legs yellowish brown. Antennae apically infuscate, apical flagellar segments about twice as long as wide.

Male. Plate of T8 medially membranous. The long robust apodemes continue caudo-laterally and end in blunt knobs supporting cap-like caudolateral sclerites. Apodemes with slender inner branches representing incomplete basal edge of tergite. S8: an unpaired pointed base supports two large wing-like sclerites, limits of which are concealed by muscles connecting to T9.

T9 with long and strong slightly sinuous apodemes curving abruptly outward and then caudad at base of plate. Outer sclerite extended into a long curved caudally hooked strut. Base of plate with fine incomplete basal rib. Plate mebranous. S9 with handle-like narrow unpaired base, oval plate caudally a little excised, edge with few setae.

Penis bent near middle, pala with rectangular base, sides a little extended just basally from bridge supporting trigonium. Trigonium slender, ending in a little plate resembling a finger nail set in a collar-like ring. No spicules. Fused parameroids forming a parallel sclerite with acutely rounded tip, transparent window oval. Parameres very long, slender struts originating from narrow common base, pointed tips with wide membranous flanges.

Female. Not known.

Note. Complete separation of T8, S8 and T9 during dissection failed, homologies uncertain.

Etymology. From the Latin enigmaticus —“mysterious”, “a riddle.”

FIGURES 233–236. Austrocyphon enigmaticus sp. n., male. 233, T9; 234, T8 and S8; 235, penis; 236, S9, tegmen, and parameres. All to the same scale.