Leaus tropicalis, Matthews, Eric G. & Lawrence, John F., 2015

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 : 310

Leaus tropicalis sp. n.

( Figs 10 , 20 , 24 , 28, 29 , 35 )

Description. With the characteristics of the genus. Length 4.0– 4.5 mm, maximum width of prothorax 1.0– 1.2 mm, width at humeri 1.2–1.6 mm. Prothorax with sides evenly convex and lateral carinae strongly irregularly dentate, disc evenly convex. Pterothorax. Elytra slightly tumescent at bases. Abdomen: Ovipositor with terminal gonostyli. Vaginal sclerite with central keel partly divided into two blades, and lateral halberd-shaped wings separated from central keel by narrow membranes. Aedeagal parameres simple. Larva unknown.

Distribution. L. tropicalis is found in three of the 17 generally recognised montane blocks in the Queensland Wet Tropics: the Carbine Tableland (A4), Atherton Tableland (A9) and Mount Bellenden Ker (A10) at altitudes of 1150–1500m. A4 and A10 are the areas of highest diversity and endemism, which have served as stable refugia for a long geological period ( Bouchard et al. 2005).

Type specimens. Holotype ♀: NE Q: 16o24’S x 145o13’E 3.5 km NNE Mt Spurgeon 16 Oct 1991 1330 m Monteith & Janetzki Pyrethrum, trees & rocks ( QMBA T 228900). Paratypes: ♂, 17.28S 145.29E QLD, Longlands Gap BS1 1150m 1 Sept-2 Oct. 1995 L. Umback Malaise trap ( ANIC); ♀ NEQ: 17o24’Sx 145o49’E, Bartle Frere top camp 1500m 29 Nov 1998 G. Monteith Pyrethrum trees, R.F.1978 ( QMBA); ♀, 17.06S 145.36E QLD, Mt Haig GS1 1150m, 3 Jan.-4 Feb.1995, P. Zborowski, Malaise traps ( ANIC).

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 10. Inside of abdominal ventrites. 8, Trachelostenus inaequalis; 9, Myrmecodema michelbacheri; 10, Leaus tropicalis. Scale bars 1 mm.

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

FIGURES 24 – 26. Leaus ovipositors: 24, L. tropicalis; 25, L. monteithi; 26, L. sp. cb—baculus of coxite 1; pb—baculus of paraproct. Scale bars 1 mm.

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.