Deretaphrus hoplites Lord and McHugh

Lord, Nathan P. & McHugh, Joseph V., 2013, A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Deretaphrus Newman, 1842 (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Bothrideridae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 12) 67, pp. 1-107 : 30-32

Deretaphrus hoplites Lord and McHugh , new species

(Frontispiece, Figs. 67 , 102–103 , 136 , 150 , 168 , 179 , 208–209 )

Diagnosis. This species can be readily distinguished from congeners by the posterior pronotal angles bearing a large, excised denticle (larger than any other Deretaphrus ), abdominal ventrite V bearing deep, setose punctures, the distinct sculpturing of the pronotal disc, and genitalic characters. It most closely resembles D. interruptus but can be distinguished from it by the parallel-sided posterior portion of the pronotal median longitudinal canal, the larger denticles on the posterior angles of the pronotum, the fully carinate (for entire length) elytral interstitial interval 3, the arcuate anterior margin of the submentum, the dark red color, and Australian distribution.

Description. Length 7.4–10.4 mm. Width 2.1–3.0 mm. Body elongate, parallel, dark red to black; dorsal surface glabrous, moderately shiny; ventral surface moderately shiny, glabrous except for minute setae that arise from punctures. Head: In dorsal view, slightly narrowed anteriorly; without laterally expanded supra-ocular ridges; eyes visible from above; punctures small and dense except sparse along posterior margin. Frontoclypeal suture not distinct, arcuate anteromedially. Clypeus distinctly narrower than head; with a medial depression; anterior margin of clypeus incised medially. Submentum shape similar to Fig. 52 ; narrowly separated from subgenal braces, without paired setose pits; anterior margin strongly produced anteroventrally over oral cavity, mentum completely concealed. Antennal groove well-developed, impunctate. Antenna densely setose; segments 2–8 with a single transverse row of long setae that extend beyond distal margin of antennal segment from which they arise. Antennal club segments with multiple transverse rows of long setae. Antennal club distinctly asymmetrical, leading edge of club segments much more inflated than trailing edge. Dorsal surface (external face) of mandible without median setose groove. Thorax ( Fig. 67 ): Pronotum elongate, widest near anterior ¼; dorsal surface impressed along longitudinal midline, convex laterally; anterior margin straight, slightly wider than head; anterior angles rounded; base slightly narrower than elytral bases; posterior margin sinuate; posterior angles with very prominent, large, excised denticle, bearing a single, small seta; lateral margin with incomplete sublateral carina, carina deeply grooved forming a distinct raised border in dorsal view. Pronotal disc with small to large oval punctures, punctures increasing in size laterally. Pronotal median longitudinal canal well-developed, interrupted to form a deeply impressed, anterior fovea and a posterior canal; raised interruption of the canal impunctate; anterior fovea narrows to a point anteriorly; posterior canal wide, deeply impressed, impunctate, broadly open at base; internal lateral margins of canal simple; base bordered by strongly raised portion of pronotal disc, raised portion delimited laterally by deep impressions, base of impression with a small tuberculate swelling ( Fig. 67 ). Hypomeron minutely punctate; strongly deflexed medially, walls subparallel. Prosternum flat medi- ally, strongly deflexed at lateral margin. Tergosternal suture slightly sinuate. Metaventrite with small punctures, punctures significantly larger anteriorly and at anterolateral corners. Elytra ( Figs. 102–103 ): Elytron convex; interstitial interval 3 feebly raised basally, strongly raised near apex; intervals 5, 7, and 9 strongly raised for entire length; intervals 3, 5, and 7 with micropunctures at crest. Basal elytral margin with intervals 3 and 5 ending in a knob-like protuberance; protuberance of interval 5 merges with finger-like callosity on the elytral shoulder; callosity strongly pronounced, distinctly forked. Legs: Base of femur and trochanter with long, sparse setae; inner face of tibia with a double fringe of long, dense setae. Tarsus densely setose with long setae that extend beyond the segment from which they arise. Abdomen: Ventrites with large punctures, ventrite V with deep punctures, each bearing a long seta. In females, ventrite V with a large depression on either side of midline ( Fig. 136 ), creating a median raised area (generally impunctate) that narrows apically. Males with ventrite V slightly depressed at apical margin. Aedeagus: Phallobase as in Fig. 150 . Tegmen consisting of small, paired, curved plates at base; plates narrowly touching medially. Basal piece without anterolateral struts; Parameres very large, broad, truncate apically, distinctly separated and individually articulated to phallobase, internal lateral margins arcuate; paramere sparsely setose with short setae at apical and lateral margin; paramere with external margin more heavily sclerotized, interior with a lighter and less-sclerotized, reniform area; dorsal surface of paramere with very small, short subtriangular process; process thickest at base, curved, less than 1/5 the length of the paramere, apex slightly swollen; processes moderately separated, parallel medially. Penis as in Fig. 168 ; short, moderately thick, more or less straight; slightly expanded apically, apex narrowed and pointed; base slightly expanded, bearing long, slender, paired anterior struts. Penis slightly lighter in color near basal end.

Variation. The color is variable within the species, ranging from light reddish brown to nearly black.

Distribution. Australia: New South Wales and Queensland ( Fig. 179 ).

Biology. One specimen was taken from dry sclerophyll [SAMA 193NL]. Three specimens were taken from Acacia sp. [ANIC 273–275NL]. Three specimens were taken by fogging trees with pyrethrum [QMBA 2NL, QMBA 9NL, and QMBA 12NL].

Etymology. The epithet hoplites (Greek, = armed, or a man in armor) refers to the heavily armored nature of Deretaphrus .

Remarks. A holotype is here designated and deposited in the SAMA. Twenty paratypes are

here designated and deposited in the AMSA, BMNH, MVMA, QMBA, SAMA, and UQIC.

Type Locality. McArthur’ s Clearing, near Kempsey , New South Wales .

Type Material Examined. H O L O T Y P E ( Figs. 208–209 ) ( SAMA, minuten-pinned into foam block) label data: “NSW McArthurs clearing nr. Kempsey. Dry sclerophyll. 4 Jan 1963 P. Aitken // S.A. Museum Specimen [red label]” [ SAMA 193 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( AMSA, card-mounted) label data: “Brooklana, E. Dorrigo, N.S.W. W. Heron May 1929 // K59342 [handwritten] // Deretaphrus piceus Germ Det. H.J Carter = bakewelli Pasc [handwritten] // Australian Museum K231642” [ AMSA 55 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( BMNH, cardmounted) label data: “NEW S. WALES [red underline] Dorrigo. W. Heron. B.M. 1935–46” [ BMNH 84 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( QMBA, pinned) label data: “SEQ: 26°08′Sx 151°58′E Nangur State For., 24Nov1995 G.Monteith Pyrethrum, trees, 320m ” [ QMBA 2 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( SAMA, card-mounted) label data: “Dorrigo N.S. Wales W. Heron // S.A. Museum Specimen [red label]” [ SAMA 208 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data: “Bunya Mts, S.E.Qld. 17–18.ix.1966. G. Monteith // UQIC Reg. #91682” [ UQIC 1 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data same as above, except label 2 reads “ UQIC Reg. #91684” [ UQIC 3 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data same as above, except label 2 reads “ UQIC Reg. #91685” [ UQIC 4 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data same as above, except label 2 reads “ UQIC Reg. #91686” [ UQIC 5 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data same as above, except label 2 reads “ UQIC Reg. #91688” [ UQIC 7 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data same as above, except label 2 reads “ UQIC Reg. #91690” [ UQIC 9 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( UQIC, minuten-pinned) label data same as above, except label 2 reads “ UQIC Reg. #91691” [ UQIC 10 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( BMNH, card-mounted) label data: “NEW S. WALES: [red underline] Dorrigo. W. Heron. B.M. 1935–46.” [ BMNH 83 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( SAMA, card-mounted) label data: “Dorrigo [handwritten] // From Carter [handwritten] // piceus Germ HJC [in Carter’ s hand] ( SAMA 114 NL, examined). Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( QMBA, pointed) label data: “SEQ: 27°14′Sx 152°15′E MtDeongwar, 3km S, RF 27Dec1998. Monteith pyr.trees. 450m. 7554” [ QMBA 9 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( QMBA, pointed) label data same as above [ QMBA 12 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( MVMA, card-mounted) label data: “ Bunya Mts. Queensland H.J. Carder // H.J. Carter Coll. P. 20.4.22 // D piceus Germ Id. by A.M. Lea very large [in Lea’ s hand] // D. ignarus Pasc HJC [in Carter’ s hand] // COL-71831” [ MVMA 111 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( ANIC, minuten-pinned) label data: “Armidale N.S.W. Sept. 1946 R. Millington [handwritten]” [ ANIC 110 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARATYPE ( ANIC, pointed) label data: “ Acacia Mtns. N.S.W. J. Armstrong ” [ ANIC 273 NL, examined]. Male , genitalia dissected and in glycerine in vial below specimen. PARATYPE ( ANIC, pointed) label data: “ Acacia Mtns. N.S.W. J. Armstrong ” [ ANIC 274 NL, examined]. Male, genitalia dissected and in glycerine in vial below specimen. PARATYPE ( ANIC, pinned) label data: “N.S. Wales // Armidale [handwritten] // On permanent loan from MALEAY MUSEUM University of Sydney” [ ANIC 78 NL, examined]. Sex not determined .

Additional Material Examined (2). AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES: Acacia Mountains ( ANIC 275 NL) . QUEENSLAND: Brisbane ( NZAC 1 NL). Note: These two specimens are not regarded as members of the type series due to their morphological variability that departs significantly from the remaining types. Therefore, these two specimens are tentatively listed under this species .

Figures

Figs. 66–74. Deretaphrus species, pronotum. 66) D. gracilis; 67) D. hoplites; 68) D. ignarus; 69) D. incultus;

Figs. 100–105. Deretaphrus species, elytra, dorsal and lateral views. 100–101) D. gracilis; 102–103) D. hoplites;

Figs. 132–139. Deretaphrus species, abdominal apex. 132) D. analis, ventral view (either sex); 133) D. piceus, ventral view (either sex); 134) D. erichsoni, female, ventral view; 135) D. erichsoni, female, oblique lateral view; 136) D. hoplites, female, ventral view; 137) D. xanthorrhoeae, male, ventral view; 138) D. xanthorrhoeae, female, ventral view; 139) D. xanthorrhoeae, female, posterior view.

Figs. 149–157. Deretaphrus species, phallobase. 149) D. gracilis; 150) D. hoplites; 151) D. ignarus; 152) D. incultus;

Figs. 165–172. Deretaphrus species, penis (left: dorsal view; right: lateral view; phallobase, to scale with penis). 165) D. boliviensis; 166) D. bucculentus; 167) D. gracilis; 168) D. hoplites; 169) D. ignarus; 170) D. oregonensis; 171) D. parviceps; 172) D. puncticollis.

Figs. 179–180. Distribution of Deretaphrus species. 179) D. analis, D. bucculentus, D. hoplites, and D. lateropunctatus;

Figs. 201–209. Primary type specimens and specimen labels of Deretaphrus species. 201) Presumed pin and label of the original type of D. fossus, BMNH; 202–203) D. fossus, neotype, SAMA; 204–205) D. cordicollis, lectotype, BMNH; 206–207) D. gracilis, lectotype, BMNH; 208–209) D. hoplites, holotype, SAMA.

Figs. 48–53. Deretaphrus species, head capsule, ventral view, showing setae and shape of submentum. 48) D. ignarus;