Pristoderus bellus Turco & Ślipiński, 2012

Turco, Federica, Ślipiński, Adam & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, Taxonomic revision of Australian Pristoderus Hope (Coleoptera, Zopheridae), Zootaxa 3239, pp. 1-34 : 5-6

Pristoderus bellus Turco & Ślipiński sp. n.

( Figs 2 a, 4a, 6a, 8a)

Types. Holotype: Australia, Queensland: Mt. Baldy nr Atherton c. 4000', 5.xii.1968, Forest Reserve No 194 , rainforest, Britton & Misko [Ga: 17.283S 145.450E] ( ANIC).

Paratypes: Queensland: Cairns Dist., A.M. Lea [ Ga : 16.922S 145.776] (7, SAMA); Lamb Range, Kuranda , 23.v.70, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 16.820S 145.637E] (4, ANIC); 16.32S 145.16E, 7 km before end Mt Lewis Rd , 1050 m, 13.xi.1992, beating bushes trees, C. Reid (1, ANIC; QM photo PS 1835); 2 miles W of Paluma , 2800 ft, 14 Apr 1969, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton [GE: 19.011S 146.156E] (1, ANIC); Paluma, 8.i.69, Q 585, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 19.010S 146.209E] (6, ANIC); Mt. Spec, Paluma , 10.i.68, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 19.010S 146.209E] (7, ANIC); Mt. Spec, 2.i.68, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 18.950S 146.183E] (1, ANIC); Whitfield, Cairns 1700', 14.xii.70, J.G. Brooks [16.900S 145.729E] (1, ANIC).

Other specimens examined. Queensland: Baldy Mt. Road , 6 mls. SW Atherton , 1100 m, 27.xii.1972, B. Cantrell [GE: 17.315S 145.398E] (1, UQIC); Cairns dist., A.M. Lea [ Ga : 16.922S 145.776E] (8, SAMA); 17°54’S 145°41’E, Mt Kooroomool, summit, 7 km S, 4 Dec 1998, 1050m, G.B. Monteith , Pyrethrum , trees & logs, 2011 (1, QMBA); Kuranda, 200m, 12 Mar 1956, J.L. Gressitt [ Ga : 16.820S 145.637E] (1, BPBM); Mt. Lewis, 3.500' via Julatten , 28.xii.1972, B. Cantrell [ Ga : 16.583S 145.283E] (1, UQIC); 18.55S 146.10E, Mt. Spec, S 2, 880m, 5 Jun– 3 Jul 1995, M. Cermak, Flight Intercept Trap (1, ANIC); Mt Spec, 3.1.67, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 18.950S 146.183E] (3, ANIC); 17.111S 145.566E, Lamb Range, 6 km NNE Tinaroo Falls , 1159m, Malaise , 16–24 Nov 0 9, G.B. Monteith & F. Turco, 18612 (2, QMBA ethanol coll.).

Diagnosis. Among the species with pronotum narrowing posteriorly and elytral costae interrupted, this species is similar to P. interruptus and P. l e a i, but distinct in antennomere III much longer than II, 3rd elytral interval with 3rd pair of tubercles from the base distinctly raised and angulate apically and 4th pair on same interval short, raised and pointed.

Description. Body length: 4.0– 5.4 mm.

Body flattened, elongate (ratio max length/max width: 2.35–2.70); colour brown with dark tubercles on elytra; body vestiture consisting of short, recumbent, white setae; setae sparser on legs, head and antennae, except club.

Head transverse with two admedian low tubercles on vertex; supraorbital carina raised and distinctly sinuate, a portion narrow and distinctly raised posteriorly right above the eye; supra-antennal carina slightly raised, edge entire, not indented; eyes protruding, with short, squamiform interfacetal setae; angulate protrusion between antennal insertion and eye, visible in lateral view; antennal insertion ventral, just below the edge of supra-antennal carina; antennae 11-segmented with a distinct 3-segmented club; antennomere I rounded and 1.5 times as long as II; II subcylindrical; III cylindrical and distinctly longer than II; IV–VIII very short and simple; IX–XI distinctly transverse, forming a rather loose club.

Pronotum narrower than elytra, without prominent median process, distinctly wider at anterior angles, acute and forwardly directed; about as long as maximum pronotal width (pronotal length/width: 0.75–1); lateral margins distinctly denticulate; pronotal disc with three pairs of admedian low tubercles (the anterior particularly weak), indistinctly joined; with median triangular costa (about 90° angle) at posterior margin of pronotum; sculpture of pronotal disc as in Fig. 2 a.

Elytra at least 1.5 times as long as wide (elytral length/width: 1.59–1.85), with lateral margins straight, smooth, narrowly explanate; low and elongate tubercles on 3rd, 5th and 7th intervals; 3rd interval with four tubercles, not joined and variable in size and shape, first and third tubercles distinctly long, third raised and posteriorly angulate, fourth short and pointed; 5th interval with five tubercles, subequal in size (fifth distinctly smaller); 7th interval, with four tubercles, first and second long and separated, third and fourth very short and narrowly separated.

Etymology. From Latin masculine adjective bellus = beautiful. The name refers to the pattern of tubercles and dark areas, especially on elytra.

Distribution and habitat occurrence. NE Queensland ( Fig. 9 c); upland tropical rainforest.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Group of P. interruptus, habitus dorsal: a. P. bellus; b. P. elongatus; c. P. interruptus; d. P. l e a i; e. P. occidentalis; f. P. productus; g. P. pustulosus; h. P. queenslandicus; i. P. repandus.

FIGURE 9. Distribution maps: a. P. pustulosus; b. P. l e a i; c. P. bellus.