Taxonomic Studies on Australian Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera, Silvanidae, Brontinae)
Author
Karner, Michael
48E64F07-CDD3-4B4B-9C9A-24CBFCBBCB3D
Voluntary Scientist, Sektion Entomologie I, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D- 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
michael.karner@senckenberg.de
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2020
2020-11-12
723
135
158
journal article
10.5852/ejt.2020.723.1149
2118-9773
4271752
9EF35D01-815A-4DD0-8AC2-CC65E19B81B4
Psammoecus venustus
sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:
2453FD2F-D632-4915-9692-ACFF3FE346B9
Fig. 7
Diagnosis
The following combination of character states distinguishes this species: body length
2.32–3.14 mm
; eyes moderately sized, evenly rounded; temples well developed, evenly rounded; frontal grooves parallel posteriorly, almost reaching middle of eyes; punctation on vertex sparse; pronotal punctation moderate; pronotal teeth short; lateral pronotal margin ridged; lateral elytral interstices with very long setae; median lobe slender, lancet-shaped; parameres slender, parallel-sided, curved.
Etymology
The specific epithet was chosen in reference to the beautiful habitus of this species.
Material examined
Holotype
AUSTRALIA
•
♂
;
New South Wales
,
City of Shoalhaven
,
Kioloa State Forest
;
4–5 Mar. 1986
;
Lawrence
leg.;
rainforest, leaf and log litter
;
ANIC
.
Paratypes
AUSTRALIA
–
New South Wales
•
2 specs
;
Canberra
,
3.5 km
E of Piccadilly Circus ACT
,
Blundells Creek Road
;
850 m
a.s.l.
;
27 Jan. 1982
;
Lawrence
leg.;
leaf and log litter
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Sydney
;
ANIC
•
10 specs
;
Armidale Dumaresq Council
,
Kookaburra
,
Carrai National Park
;
943 m
a.s.l.
;
31°01′434″ S
,
152°20′288″ E
;
27–28 Oct. 2000
;
Podlussány
leg.;
HNHM
•
1 spec.
;
Bellingen Shire
,
6 km
NNE of Raleigh
,
Pine Creek State Forest
;
30°24′ S
,
153°01′ E
;
16 Nov. 1976
;
Common
and
Edwards
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Blue Mountains
,
Mount Wilson
;
14 Mar. 1978
;
HNHM
•
1 spec.
;
Bombala
Council,
4 km
NE of Wog Wog
,
17 km
SE of Bombala
;
31°04′30″ S
,
149°28′00″ E
;
Oct. 1995
;
Milkovits
leg.;
pitfall trap
;
HNHM
•
4 specs
;
Central Coast Council
,
5 km
N Somersby
;
33°19′ S
,
151°18′ E
;
12 May 1991
;
Gush
leg.;
leaf litter
;
ANIC
•
3 specs
;
Central Coast Council
,
Strickland State Forest
;
33°23′ S
,
151°19′ E
;
26 May 1991
;
Gush
leg.;
leaf litter
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Blue Mountains
,
Wentworth Falls
;
16 Jan. 1909
;
Bryant
leg.;
NHMUK
•
1 spec.
;
City of Coffs Harbour
,
Bruxner Park
,
Park Creek
Picknick site;
30°14′ S
,
153°06′ E
;
6 Apr. 1993
;
Reid
leg.;
rainforest, beaten from vegetation
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Coffs Harbour
,
Bruxner Park
,
Park Creek
Picknick site;
30°14′ S
,
153°05′ E
;
8 Apr. 1993
;
Reid
leg.;
rainforest, beaten from vegetation
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Maitland
,
Brown Mountain
,
Rutherford Creek
;
15 Jan. 1969
;
Curtis
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Shoalhaven
,
Barrengarry Mountain
;
460 m
a.s.l.
;
28 Dec. 1966
;
rainforest, leaf mould
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Shoalhaven
,
Barrengarry Mountain
,
24 km
SE of Mossvale
;
600 m
a.s.l.
;
29 Aug. 1982
;
S and J Peck
leg.;
rainforest, log and leaf litter
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Shoalhaven
,
Bawley Point
;
35°30′ S
,
150°24′ E
;
14 Nov. 1993
;
Rentz
and
MacCarron
leg.; at light;
MKF
•
1 spec.
;
Dungog Shire
,
Upper Allyn Road
;
22 Apr. 1970
;
Colless
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Dungog Shire
,
Upper Williams River
;
Oct. 1926
;
Lea
and
Wilson
leg.;
ANIC
•
3 specs
;
Eurobodalla Shire
,
Buckenbowra State Forest
;
33°33′ S
,
159°57′ E
;
22 Dec. 1991
;
Gush
leg.;
moist debris in creek
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Illawarra
;
13 Sep. 1908
;
Bryant
leg.;
NHMUK
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
27 Sep. 1908
;
Bryant
leg.;
NHMUK
•
2 specs
; same locality;
2 Oct. 1908
;
Bryant
leg.;
NHMUK
,
1 spm
; same data as for preceding;
MKF
•
4 specs
; same locality;
Oct. 1908
;
Bryant
leg.;
NHMUK
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
Nov. 1908
;
Bryant
leg.;
NHMUK
•
3 specs
;
Kyogle Council
,
Acacia Plateau
;
Armstrong
leg.;
ANIC
•
4 specs
; Mid
North Coast
,
Kerewong
;
21 Dec. 1978
;
HNHM
•
2 specs
;
Mid-Coast Council
,
3 km
NE of Wootton
;
32°16′ S
,
152°19′ E
;
22 Sep. 1991
;
Gush
leg.;
leaf litter at edge of river
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Mid-Coast Council
,
Landsdowne State Forest
;
31°44′ S
,
152°31′ E
;
22 May 1992
;
Gush
leg.; creek debris;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Mid-Coast Council
,
Taree
,
3 km
N of Landsdowne
;
19–26 Sep. 1992
;
Williams
leg.;
riparian rainforest
,
Malaise trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Mid-Coast Council
,
Lorien Wildlife Refuge
,
Landsdowne
,
Taree
;
Dec. 1986
;
H. and A. Howden
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Mid-Coast Council
,
Wang Wauk State Forest
;
32°20′ S
,
152°15′ E
;
22 Sep. 1991
;
Gush
leg.;
leaf litter in creek bed
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Municipality of Kiama
,
13 km
W of Kiama
,
Jamberoo Pass
;
27 Feb. 1969
;
Britton
,
Upton
and
Misko
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
,
Clyde Mountain
;
750 m
a.s.l.
;
4 Dec. 1967
;
Taylor
and
Brooks
leg.;
wet sclerophyll
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
,
6 km
SSE of Monga
;
Oct. 1989
;
Reid
leg.; beating
RF bushes;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Queanbeyan-Palerang
,
4 km
N of Mongarlowe
;
25 May 1991
;
Reid
leg.; on shrubs by river;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Southern Tablelands Region
,
Clyde Mountain
;
16 Mar. 1977
;
Moore
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Southern Tablelands Region
,
Clyde Mountain
,
Cabbage Tree Creek
;
27 Sep. 1979
;
Naumann
and
Cardale
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tenterfield Shire Council
,
Unumgar S. F.
,
Grevillia
,
Coxs Road
;
580 m
a.s.l.
;
28°27′ S
,
152°45′ E
;
2–11 Jan. 1987
;
Newton
and
Thayer
leg.; subtropical rainforest,
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tenterfield Shire Council
,
Unumgar S. F.
, near
Woodenbong
,
Pole Bridge Road
;
430 m
a.s.l.
;
28°24′ S
,
152°40′ E
;
2–11 Jan. 1987
;
Newton
and
Thayer
leg.; dry rainforest (
Araucaria
,
Eucalyptus
),
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
. –
Queensland
•
1 spec.
;
Atherton
Tableland,
Eacham National Park
;
760 m
a.s.l.
;
17°18′ S
,
145°37′ E
;
20 Feb. 1973
;
Taylor
leg.; rainforest;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Cairns Region
,
22 km
from Cairns
,
Whitfield Road
;
670 m
a.s.l.
;
21 Oct. 1971
;
Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Cassowary Coast Region
,
Cardstone
;
10 Dec. 1966
;
Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
2 specs
;
Cassowary Coast Region
,
Tully Falls
;
15 Dec. 1976
;
Walford-Huggins
leg.;
NHMUK
•
1 spec.
;
Charters Towers Region
,
19 km
W of Paluma
,
Ewan Road
;
6 Jan. 1966
;
J.G. and J.A.G. Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Charters Towers Region
,
Mount Spec
;
880 m
a.s.l.
;
18°55 S
,
146°09′ E
;
8 May–5 Jun. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
5 Jun.–3 Jul. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
4 Sep.–1 Oct. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
1 Oct.–4 Nov. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
MKF
•
3 specs
; same locality;
4 Nov.–1 Dec. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Charters Towers Region
,
Mount Spec
;
880 m
a.s.l.
;
18°55 S
,
146°10′ E
;
9 Mar.–6 Apr. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
3 specs
; same locality;
4 Nov.–1 Dec. 1995
;
Cermak
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Townsville
,
Townsville
;
Jul. 1921
;
Carter
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
City of Townsville
,
6 km
WNW of Paluma
,
Birthday Creek
;
18°59′ S
,
146°10′ E
;
25 Sep. 1980
;
Weir
leg.;
leaf and log litter
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Hichinbrook Shire Council
,
Ingham
;
22–28 Mar. 1965
;
Balogh
leg.;
HNHM
•
1 spec.
;
Mackay Region
,
Eungella
;
Naumann
and
Cardale
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Moreton Bay Region
,
Miala National Park
;
27°20′ S
,
152°46′ E
;
13 Mar. 1973
;
rainforest
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Moreton Bay Region
,
Mount Glorious
;
630 m
a.s.l.
;
14 Nov. 1986
–
30 Jan. 1987
;
Hiller
leg.;
rainforest
,
flight intercept trough trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Scenic Rim Region
,
Joalah National Park
,
Tamborine Mountain
;
23 Jul. 1976
;
Lawrence
leg.;
litter and flood debris
;
ANIC
•
2 specs
;
Shire of Mareeba
,
Kuranda
;
May 1970
;
Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Shire of Mareeba
,
Massey Creek
;
1000 m
a.s.l.
;
17°37′ S
,
135°34′ E
;
2 Jun.–4 Jul. 1995
;
Zborowski
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
4 Jul.–2Aug. 1995
;
Zborowski
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
; same locality;
2–30 Nov. 1995
;
Umback
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
3 specs
;
Shire of Mareeba
,
Kuranda
,
Lamb Range
;
23 May 1970
;
Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Shire of Mareeba
,
Windsor Tableland
,
Mt Carbine
;
9 Sep.–4 Nov. 1976
;
Storey
leg.;
rainforest
,
pitfall trap
;
NHMUK
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Evelyn
;
May 1954
;
Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Hugh Nelson Range
;
17°27′ S
,
145°29′ E
;
30 Nov. 1993
;
Umback
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Wongabel S.F.
,
6 km
S of Atherton
;
1 Dec. 1983
–
9 Jan. 1984
;
Storey
and
Brown
leg.;
flight intercept trap
;
NHMUK
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Barrine National Park
;
760 m
a.s.l.
;
21 Mar. 1975
;
Taylor
leg.;
ANIC
•
2 specs
;
Tablelands Region
,
8 km
N of Gillies Highway
,
Boar Pocket Road
;
13 Dec. 1969
;
Brooks
leg.;
leaf litter
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Danbulla
,
Cathedral Fig
;
17°10′ S
,
145°39′ E
;
25 Jun. 1992
;
Reid
leg.;
beaten from rainforest trees and vines
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Sm. Tinaroo Falls
,
Danbulla Road
;
26 Apr. 1967
;
Colless
leg.; at light;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Mount Baldy near Atherton
,
Forest Reserve No.
194;
1200 m
a.s.l.
;
5 Dec. 1968
;
Britton
and
Misko
leg.; rainforest;
MKF
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Lake Barrine
;
720 m
a.s.l.
;
25 Feb. 1970
;
Brooks
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Wongabel State Forest
, via
Atherton
;
19–20 May 1970
;
Naumann
and
Cardale
leg.;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Tablelands Region
,
Alberton
,
Wongabel State Forest
;
19–20 May 1980
;
Naumann
and
Cardale
leg.;
MKF
•
7 specs
;
Townsville City
,
Townsville
;
16–22 Mar. 1965
;
Balogh
leg.;
HNHM
. –
Victoria
•
1 spec.
;
Shire of East Gippsland
,
Croajingolong National Park
,
South-West Arm Road
,
11 km
NW of Mallacoota
;
20 m
a.s.l.
;
37°31′ S
,
149°41′ E
;
10–23 Feb. 1993
;
Newton
and
Thayer
leg.;
Banksia
woodland,
window trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Shire of East Gippsland
,
Lind National Park
,
Euchre Valley
,
Olive Branch Creek
;
140 m
a.s.l.
;
37°34′ S
,
148°57′ E
;
10–23 Feb. 1993
;
Newton
and
Thayer
leg.;
riparian forest
,
window trap
;
ANIC
•
1 spec.
;
Shire of East Gippsland
,
12 km
N of Orbost
,
Bonang Highway
,
Young’s Creek
;
9 Nov. 1976
;
Colless
and
Liepa
leg.;
ANIC
•
2 specs
;
South Gippsland Shire
,
Wilson’s Promontory National Park
,
Lilly Pilly Tr.
VIC;
14 May 1978
;
S. and J. Peck
leg.;
ANIC
.
Fig. 7.
Psammoecus venustus
sp. nov.
, ♂♂.
A–C
. Holotype (ANIC).
A
. Habitus.
B
. Head.
C
. Pronotum.
D
. Right antenna.
E–G
. Paratype spec. from Queensland (ANIC).
E
. Aedeagus, ventral view.
F
. Parameres, ventral view.
G
. Parameres and median lobe, lateral view. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; B–E = 0.5 mm; F–G = 0.2 mm.
Description of
holotype
Body (
Fig. 7A
) elongate, length
2.71 mm
; yellowish brown; head piceous, pronotum piceous, narrow region at anterior margin lighter brown, wider, distinctly yellowish brown region across posterior margin, elytra with piceous maculae: humeral area, irregular maculae near middle, and apex dark, scutellar shield piceous, antennomeres 8–10 darkened, antennomere 11 lighter; middle of tibiae slightly darkened. Head (
Fig. 7B
)
0.4 mm
long,
0.64 mm
wide; frontal grooves distinct, deep, converging anteriorly, parallel posteriorly, almost reaching middle of eyes; vertex with sparse punctation; punctures distinctly smaller than eye facet diameter,somewhat longitudinally stretched;setae of variable length, mostly about
1/3
as long as eyes, directed anteromedially; microsculpture absent; eyes of moderate size, evenly rounded,
0.18 mm
long, eye distance
0.4 mm
; temples distinct, long, well rounded, temple angle 55°; antennae (
Fig. 7D
) long, slender,
1.69 mm
long, antennomere proportions 2.9: 1.0: 1.4:1.5: 1.6: 1.4: 1.4: 1.2: 1.1: 1.1:2.3. Pronotum (
Fig. 7C
) 1.1 × as wide as long, widest at anterior quarter; at anterior denticles 1.3 × as wide as at posterior denticles; lateral margin almost straight along posterior
¾
, with ridge between anterior and posterior denticles; anterior end of ridge curved medially,
0.63 mm
wide,
0.57 mm
long, with group of three anterior denticles, lateral margin with distinct, short teeth, I slightly larger than II–IV, posterior denticle very distinct, almost as large as I, punctation on pronotal disc moderate, punctures slightly larger and denser, as on vertex; slightly stretched longitudinally; setae as on vertex, directed anteromedially; microsculpture absent. Elytra (
Fig. 7A
) elongate oval, widest at middle,
1.60 mm
long,
1.04 mm
wide, striae about as wide as interstices, pubescence strial setae
1/3
to
1/2
as long as interstrial setae; lateral insterstices with very long, erect setae; microsculpture absent. Male genitalia (
Fig. 7
E–G) with slender, lancet shaped median lobe, internal sac with numerous small denticles and long, curved ductus; parameres long, slender, parallel-sided, slightly curved medially, with two large apical setae and numerous setae along the inner margins.
Variation
Paratypes
range in length from
2.32 mm
to
3.14 mm
. The elytral colouration varies considerably in the size of the dark maculae, but with the general pattern of colouration present in all specimens. The colour of head and pronotum ranges from entirely testaceous to piceous. The 10
th
antennomere is often whitish, like the 11
th
.
Distribution
Australia
(Canberra,
New South Wales
,
Queensland
,
Victoria
).
Biology
The species was found on plants, in plant detritus, in flight intercept and pitfall traps and and only once at light.
Remarks
This species somewhat resembles
Psammoecus felix
(
Waterhouse, 1876
)
, described from
Sri Lanka
.
Psammoecus venustus
differs distinctly in colouration, in the shape of the male genitalia, and in the structure of the frontal grooves.