Leaus tasmanicus Matthews & Lawrence, 1992

Matthews, Eric G. & Lawrence, John F., 2015, Trachelostenini sensu novo: redescriptions of Trachelostenus Solier, Myrmecodema Gebien and Leaus Matthews & Lawrence, based on adults and larvae, and descriptions of three new species of Leaus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Zootaxa 4020 (2), pp. 289-312 : 304

Leaus tasmanicus Matthews & Lawrence, 1992

( Figs 21 , 27 , 33 , 39, 40 , 44, 47, 48 , 54, 56 )

Redescription. Adult. With the characteristics of the genus. Length 6.5–8.4 mm. Maximum width of prothorax 1.5–1.6 mm, width at elytral bases 2.0– 2.1 mm. Prothorax subquadrate, lateral margins entire, disc with a pair of low median tumosities followed by shallow transverse basal depression. Pterothorax: Elytral disc with pair of low basal tumosities followed by shallow depressions. Abdomen: Ovipositor with terminal gonostyli ( Matthews & Lawrence, 1992, fig.7). Vaginal sclerite with lateral wings straight. Aedeagal parameres with minute spinules ( Matthews & Lawrence, 1992, fig. 4).

Description. Larva. See generic description above.

Distribution. Western Tasmania in temperate rainforest. The only known additional collection localities since those listed in Matthews & Lawrence (1992) are Lake Dobson 2003, J. Balderson (ANIC) and the locality for the larva cited above.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 23. Leaus vaginal sclerites (vs): 20, L. tropicalis, sclerite in situ; 21, L. tasmanicus; 22, L. monteithi; 23, L. sp.

FIGURES 27 – 32. Leaus habitus, dorsal except 29: 27, L. tasmanicus paratype ♀ (SAMA); 28, L. tropicalis holotype ♀ (QMBA); 29, L. tropicalis paratype ♂ (ANIC); 30, L. monteithi holotype ♀ (QMBA); 31, L. elusus holotype ♂ (QMBA); 32, L. sp. ♀ (ANIC). Scale bars 1 mm.

FIGURES 33 – 36. Leaus habitus, lateral: 33, L. tasmanicus holotype ♂ (SAMA); 34, L. monteithi sex not determined, paratype (QMBA); 35, L. tropicalis holotype ♀ (QMBA); 36, L. elusus holotype ♂ (QMBA). Scale bars 1 mm.

FIGURES 37 – 41. Trachelostenine larvae: 37 – 39, head and prothorax, dorsal; 37, Myrmecodema nycterinoides; 38, Trachelostenus inaequalis; 39, Leaus tasmanicus; 40, L. tasmanicus, larval head, dorsal; 41, T. inaequalis, larval head, lateral.

FIGURES 42 – 48. Trachelostenine larvae: 42 – 44: abdominal apex, lateral: 42, Trachelostenus inaequalis; 43, Myrmecodema nycterinoides, 44, Leaus tasmanicus; 45 – 48: abdominal apex, dorsal: 45, Trachelostenus inaequalis; 46, Myrmecodema nycterinoides; 47 – 48, Leaus tasmanicus.

FIGURES 49 – 56. Trachelostenine larvae: 49, Trachelostenus inaequalis, ventral mouthparts and hypopharynx, dorsal. 50 – 51, Leaus tasmanicus, mandibles: 50, right, dorsal; 51, left, dorsal. 52 – 54: labrum-epipharynx, ventral: 52, Trachelostenus inaequalis, 53, Myrmecodema nycterinoides, 54, Leaus tasmanicus. 55 – 56, abdominal spiracle: 55, Myrmecodema nycterinoides. 56, Leaus tasmanicus.