Pristoderus leai ( Carter & Zeck, 1937 ) Carter & Zeck, 1937

Turco, Federica, Ślipiński, Adam & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, Taxonomic revision of Australian Pristoderus Hope (Coleoptera, Zopheridae), Zootaxa 3239, pp. 1-34 : 12-13

Pristoderus leai ( Carter & Zeck, 1937) comb. n.

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

Sparactus leai Carter & Zeck, 1937: 187 .

Types. Holotype: Australia, NQ, Cairns Distr , A.M. Lea [Ga: 16.922S 145.776E] ( SAMA) .

Paratypes: same data as holotype (11, SAMA; 2, QMBA; 12, ANIC) .

Other specimens examined. Queensland: Cairns , x.70, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 16.922S 145.776E] (3, ANIC); c. 22 km of Cairns , Whitfield Rd. , 670m, 21.x.71, J.G. Brooks [GE: 16.900S 145.729E] (1, ANIC); Eubenangee, iii.50, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 17.413S 145.996E] (1, ANIC); Julatten, viii.53, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 16.577S 145.359E] (1, ANIC); Kirrama Range, 18 km NE Kennedy , 700 m, 29.xii.1986, H & A Howden [GE: 18.042S 146.009E] (1, CMNC); Kuranda , 10 Mar 1956, light trap, J.L. Gressitt [ Ga : 16.820S 145.637E] (1, BPBM); Lamb Ra., SE Kuranda , 23.v.70, at light, Q 835, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 16.820S 145.637E] (6, ANIC); Mossman Bluff Track, 5-10km W Mossman , 1180 m, 1-17.i.1989, Site 8, flt. intercept, Monteith , Thompson & ANZSES [GE: 16.459S 145.285E] (1, QMBA); Nipping Gully, Site 2, 25°40’S 151°26’E, 9 Oct–18 Dec 1998, 200m, RF, intercept, Monteith & Gough, 7399 (1, QMBA); Paluma , 2900’, 11.xi.1962, E.S. Ross & D. Q. Cavagnaro [ Ga : 19.010S 146.209E] (1, CAS); Paluma , 18.59S 146.09E, 12.i.70, at light, Britton & Misko (1, ANIC); 25 km S Ravenshoe Tully Falls Rd , 11.ix.1983, R.I. Storey [GE: 17.826S 145.520E] (1, DPIM); Mt. Spec, 5-7.i.65, J.G. Brooks [ Ga : 18.950S 146.183E] (1, ANIC); S.E. Border NSW-Qld, H. Davidson [GE: 28.243S 153.373E] (1, BPBM); Star Valley Lookout Paluma , 13.??.70, J.G. Brooks [GE: 19.008S 146.212E] (4, ANIC, label pinned through collection date); W shore of L. Tinaroo 2500', 7.xi.66, at light, E. Britton [GE: 17.160S 145.547E] (1, ANIC).

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. interruptus and P. b e l l u s, but distinct from the former in lateral margins of clypeus being obtusely angulate, 7th elytral interval irregularly tuberculate, and tubercles along 5th elytral interval regular and smaller than those along 3rd interval; from the latter in the short antennomere III (about as long as II), 3rd pair of tubercles on 3rd elytral interval less raised and 4th pair on same interval extremely low.

Redescription. Body length: 3.4–4.5 mm.

Body convex, elongate (ratio max length/max width: 2.62–2.65); colour dark brown; body vestiture consisting of very short, recumbent whitish setae; setae sparser and more erect on antennae, dense on club.

Head transverse; supraorbital carina raised, distinctly sinuate, posteriorly with a narrow and highly raised portion, right above the eye; supra-antennal carina slightly raised and 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; antennomeres I rounded; II and III subcylindrical, about the same length; IV–VIII very short and simple; IX–XI distinctly transverse to form a rather loose club.

Pronotum slightly transverse (pronotal length/width: 0.82–086), narrower than elytra, without prominent median process; margins denticulate; maximum width at anterior angles, with one angulate lobe, directed anteriorly; deep median impression in anterior half of disc, surrounded by three pairs of tubercles, and two posterior smaller and shallower admedian impressions.

Elytra at least 1.7 times as long as wide (elytral length/width: 1.76–1.85), with lateral margins straight and smooth; low tubercles on 3rd, 5th and 7th intervals; three long raised tubercles on 3rd interval, not joined, with middle shorter than others; apical tubercle distinctly raised, with edge entire; four short and subequal tubercles on 5th interval; tubercles on 7th interval low, only basal one (humeral) clearly visible.

Distribution and habitat occurrence. Queensland ( Fig. 9 b); upland tropical rainforest with one record of lowland tropical RF and only one record related to open forest (W shore of Tinaroo Lake).

The bulk of material available for this species is distributed in North Queensland and only two specimens are known from rainforest in South-East Queensland. Nonetheless the identification of these specimens is certain and this discontinuous distribution may be due to a lack of sampling, possibly associated with a relative rarity of populations in the southern portion of the range.

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.