Lepanus nitidus Matthews, 1974

Gunter, Nicole L. & Weir, Thomas A., 2021, Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): review of the L. ustulatus, L. storeyi, and L. nitidus species groups and description of eight new species, Zootaxa 4923 (1), pp. 1-66 : 46-50

Lepanus nitidus Matthews, 1974

( Figs. 13 A–B, G, I, M; 14D; 15D; 16D; 18A, C)

Lepanus nitidus Matthews, 1974: 110 .

Type material examined. Holotype: ♂ “The Boulders” via Babinda , Q. 4.iv.68 E. Matthews ” [17°20’00”S, 145°51’00”E] / “ Lepanus nitidus Det 1972 M, E.G. Matthews HOLOTYPE ” / “ ANIC Database No. 25 057920” (25-057920 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Paratypes: “The Boulders” via Babinda , Q. 4.iv.68 E. Matthews ” [17°20’00”S, 145°51’00”E] / “ Lepanus nitidus Det 1972 M, E.G. Matthews PARATYPE ” or “ Lepanus nitidus Matth. PARATYPE” (25-057921 23 specimens in ANIC); “ Daintree , N.Q. Upper Stewart Ck. 9.x.1969 R.J. Huppatz ”[16°17’00”S, 145°19’00”E], / “ Lepanus nitidus Matth . PARATYPE ” (25-057923 1 specimen in ANIC); “ Kuranda N.Q. 1/71 GB; Black Mt. Rd. Kuranda NQ. 15.1.1971 GJ Brooks, leaf litter” [16°46’00”S, 145°36’00”E], / “ PARATYPE ” / “EM. 152” (25-057925 1 specimen in ANIC); “ Cairns N. Queensl ” [16°55’00”S, 145°46’00”E], / “ ( RIGHT) Lepanus nitidus ♀ Det 1971 M, E.G. Matthews PARATYPE ” / “ Lectotype of Lepanus globulus (Macl.) on same card removed T. Weir 1977” / “On permanent loan from MACLEAY MUSEUM University of Sydney” (25-057926 1 specimen in ANIC); “ Gillies H’way, N.Q. Heales Lookout 7.v.1969, Bournemissza–Ferrar” [17°13’00”S, 145°42’00”E], / “ Lepanus nitidus Matth . PARATYPE ” (25-057922 3 specimens in ANIC); “ Forest, Innisfail 7/9/65” [17°31’00”S, 146°02’00”E] / “ Lepanus nitidus Matth . PARATYPE ” (25-057924 1 specimen in ANIC) .

Other material examined: Over 800 specimens from over 120 localities were also examined.

Queensland: Big Tableland , NE corner, 15°42’39”S, 145°17’12”E, 20.xii.1990 – 8.i.1991 (T55764–T55767 4 specimens in QM) ; Big Tableland , 15°43’05”S, 145°16’41”E, 21.xii.1990 – 9.i.1991 (T55768–T55771 4 specimens in QM) ; Big Tableland , 15°43’05”S, 145°16’41”E, 20.xii.1990 (T55772 1 specimen in QM) ; Big Tableland , 15°43’05”S, 145°16’41”E, 20.xii.1990 – 8.i.1991 (T55773–T55776 4 specimens in QM) ; Mount Hartley , summit, 15°46’28”S, 145°19’24”E, 8.xi.1995 – 16.i.1996 (T55669–T55714 46 specimens in QM) ; Mount Hartley , summit, 15°46’28”S, 145°19’24”E, 8.xi.1995 (T55715–T55719 5 specimens in QM) ; Moses Creek, 4 km N by E Mount Finnigan [15°47’00”S, 145°17’00”E], 14–16.x.1980, T.A. Weir (25-058229 6 specimens in ANIC) ; Shiptons Flat [15°47’00”S, 145°14’00”E], 16–18.v.1981, J.E. Feehan (25-058227 1specimen in ANIC) ; Shiptons Flat [15°47’00”S, 145°14’00”E], 17–19.x.1980, T.A. Weir (25-058231 1 specimen in ANIC, 25-058232 4 specimens in ANIC) ; Shiptons Flat [15°47’00”S, 145°14’00”E], 16–18.v.1981, A. Calder & J.E. Feehan (25-058228, 25-058302 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Shiptons Flat , 15°47’28”S, 145°13’59”E, 275 m, 29–30.i.2012, G.B. Monteith (25-053899 8 specimens in ANIC also as COL2394 and COL2395) ; Shiptons Flat [15°47’33”S, 145°13’51”E], 22.iv.1982 (T55782–T55787 6 specimens in QM) ; Shiptons Flat [15°47’33”S, 145°13’51”E], 20–27.vii.1974 (T49938–T50008, T50080–T50100 92 specimens in QM) ; Bloomfield Road, via Helensvale, ABRS Camp , 15°47’45”S, 145°18’17”E, 2.x.1974 (T50074–T50079 6 specimens in QM) ; Bloomfield Road, via Helensvale, ABRS Camp , 15°47’45”S, 145°18’17”E, 20–27.vii.1974 (T50012–T50073 62 specimens in QM) ; Mount Hartley , 2.5 km SW, 15°47’49”S, 145°19’34”E, 8.xii.1993 – 2.ii.1994 (T55720–T55724 5 specimens in QM) ; Mount Hartley , 2.5 km SW, 15°47’49”S, 145°19’34”E, 1.i–5.iii.1994 (T55725–T55734 10 specimens in QM) ; Mount Sampson , 600–790 m, 15°48’31”S, 145°11’20”E, 27.xii.1990 – 18.i.1991 (T55788–T55802 15 specimens in QM) ; Mount Sampson , 600–790 m, 15°48’31”S, 145°11’20”E, 27.xii.1990 – 19.i.1991 (T55827 specimens in QM) ; Mount Finnigan , camp, 15°48’53”S, 145°16’28”E, 20–27.vii.1974 (T50010–T50011 2 specimens in QM) ; Mount Finnigan S1, 30km S of Cooktown [15°49’00”S, 145°17’00”E], 400 m, 2.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058221 2 specimens in ANIC, 25-058220 5 specimens in ANIC) ; Mount Finnigan S1, 30 km S of Cooktown [15°49’00”S, 145°17’00”E], 400 m, 1.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058219 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Annan River at The Little Forks [15°49’00”S, 145°14’00”E], 17–19.x.1980, T.A. Weir (25-058230 6 specimens in ANIC) ; Mount Misery , ascent road, 15°52’39”S, 145°12’58”E, 6.xii.1990 – 17.i.1991 (T60076–T60081 6 specimens in QM) ; Mount Misery summit, 15 °52’46”S, 145°13’32”E, 6.xii.1990 – 17.i.1991 (T55777–T55781, T60088 6 specimens in QM) ; Mount Boolbun South (summit), 15°56’50”S, 145°08’14”E, 5.xi.1995 – 11.i.1996 (T55484–T55505 22 specimens in QM) ; Mount Boolbun South (camp), 15°57’10”S, 145°08’23”E, 4–6.xi.1995 (T55506–T55527 22 specimens in QM) ; Mount Boolbun South , 15°57’10”S, 145°08’17”E, 5.xi.1995 – 11.i.1996 (T55528–T55564 37 specimens in QM) ; Emmagen Creek , 16°02’24”S, 145°27’32”E, 10 m, 29–30.v.2012, G.B. Monteith (25-057627 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Cape Tribulation area [16°04’00”S, 145°28’00”E], 21–28.iii.1984, A. Calder & T.A. Weir (25-058233–25-058234 2 specimen in ANIC) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 1, 16°04’12”S, 145°27’54”E, 20–23.iv.1983 (T55604–T55607 4 specimens in QM) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 2, 16°04’28”S, 145°27’33”E, 20–23.iv.1983 (T55598–T55603 6 specimens in QM) ; Mount Sorrow track, 16°04’37”S, 145°27’58”E, 30 m, 28–30.v.2012, G.B. Monteith (25-057630 3 specimens, 25- 057631 1 specimen, 25-057632 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 5, 16°04’41”S, 145°27’13”E, 1–31.i.1983 (T55565 1 specimen in QM) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 5, 16°04’41”S, 145°27’13”E, 5–9.i.1983 (T55566–T55572 7 specimens in QM) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 5, 16°04’41”S, 145°27’13”E, 20–23.iv.1983 (T55578–T55588 11 specimens in QM) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 5A, 16°04’41”S, 145°27’0”E, 20–23.iv.1983 (T55589–T55591 3 specimens in QM) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 4, 16°04’45”S, 145°27’20”E, 20–23.iv.1983 (T55592 1 specimen in QM) ; Cape Tribulation transect Site 3, 16°04’45”S, 145°27’33”E, 20–23.iv.1983 (T55593– T55597 5 specimens in QM) ; Cape Tribulation , [16°05’00”S, 145°29’00”E], 10 m, 15.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058212 1 specimen, 25-058213 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Cape Tribulation [16°05’00”S, 145°29’00”E], 10 m, 7.i.1982, A. Walford-Huggins & M. Walford-Huggins (CMNEN-00030215 1 specimen in CMNC) ; Cape Tribulation , 40 km N of Daintree [16°05’00”S, 145°29’00”E], 10 m, 12–15.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck, (25-058214 2 specimens, 25-058223 4 specimens, 25-058211 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Cape Tribulation [16°05’00”S, 145°27’00”E], 20 m, 9.v.1997, C. Reid (25-058252 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 5.0 km W of Cape Tribulation [16°05’00”S, 145°26’00”E], 780 m, 20–23.iv.1983, G.B Monteith & D.K. Yeates (25-058266 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Thompson Creek , 16°06’31”S, 145°26’25”E, 11.ix–25.x.1998, (T88756 1 specimen in QM) ; Thompson Creek , 16°06’31”S, 145°26’25”E, 15.iii–07.v.1998, (T88757 1 specimen in QM) ; Noah Creek , 7 km ENE Thornton Peak [16°08’00”S, 145°26’00”E], 27.iii.1984, A. Calder & T.A. Weir (25-058235 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Oliver Creek , 16°08’10”S, 145°26’28”E, 15 m, 29–30.v.2012, G.B. Monteith (25-057628 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Oliver Creek via Daintree [16°08’19”S, 145°26’25”E], 6.iv–6.vi.1974, D. Cook (CMNEN-00030351 1 specimen in CMNC) ; Oliver Creek, via Daintree [16°08’22”S, 145°26’24”E], 4–7.vi.1974 (T50009 1 specimen in QM) ; Cooper Creek , 16°09’10”S, 145°24’19”E, 16.iii–7.v.1998 (T88767–T88768 2 specimens in QM) ; Cooper Creek , 16°09’10”S, 145°24’19”E, 10.ii–16.iii.1998 (T85685, T85688 2 specimens in QM) ; 1.5 km SE Mount Emmett [16°10’00”S, 145°26’00”E], 23–24.iv.1999, C.Reid (25-058241 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Candlenut Road, Daintree area , 16°11’02”S, 145°24’54”E, 20 m, 5.xii.2012, T.A. Weir (25-057666 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Daintree–section Cape Tribulation [16°12’127”S, 145°04’124”E], 85 m, 29.xii.2004 – 7.i.2005, V. Maly (CMNEN-00030219 1 specimen in CMNC) ; Alexandra Bay , [16°12’00”S, 145°26’00”E], 50 m, 24.vi.1971, R.W. Taylor & J.E. Feehan (25-023717 specimens in ANIC) ; Lync–Haven, Daintree area , 16°12’07”S, 145°24’32”E, 35 m, 6–9.xii.2012, G.B. Monteith, (25-057650 4, 25-057651 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Lync–Haven, Daintree area , 16°12’07”S, 145°24’32”E, 35 m, 2–10.xii.2012, Weir & Monteith (25-057657 1, 25-057659 5, 25-057660 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Windsor Tableland , 46 km from main road [Mount Windsor Tableland] [16°13’00”S, 145°00’00”E], 28.xi–20.xii.1985, R.I. Storey & Brown (25-032653 1 specimen in QDPC) ; Windsor Tableland , 46 km from main road [Mount Windsor Tableland] [16°13’00”S, 145°00’00”E], 20.xii.1985 – 15.i.1986, R.I. Storey & Brown, (25-058267 3 specimens in ANIC) ; Windsor Tableland , 46 km from main road [Mount Windsor Tableland] [16°13’00”S, 145°00’00”E], 15.i–5.iii.1986, R.I. Storey & Brown (25- 058268 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Thornton Range near Daintree [16°14’00”S, 145°24’00”E], 200 m, 12–18.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058222 4 specimens in ANIC) ; Alexandra Range top, 16°14’46”S, 145°26’10”E, 200 m, 28–30.v.2012, G.B. Monteith (25-057629 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Windsor Tableland via Mount Carbine [Mount Windsor Tableland] [16°15’00”S, 145°02’00”E], 25.xi.1976, R.I. Storey (25-032654 3 specimens in QDPC) ; Windsor Tableland [Mount Windsor Tableland] [16°15’00”S, 145°02’00”E], 27.xii.1976, A. Walford–Huggins &. M. Walford–Huggins (25-032655 1 specimen in QDPC) ; Mount Windsor Tableland [16°17’00”S, 145°05’00”E], 900 m, 5.xi.1976, R.W. Taylor & T.A. Weir (25-058236 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Rex Range , 16°32’02”S, 145°23’13”E, 430 m, 20–21.ix.2010, G.B. Monteith (25-060863 2 specimens in ANIC also as COL1111) ; Rex Range , 12 km S Mossman [16°34’00”S, 145°22’00”E], 400 m, 10–18.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058216 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 7.5 km NNW of Kuranda [16°46’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.ii–20.iii.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-032652 1 specimen in QDPC) ; Kuranda, Black Mount Road [16°46’00”S, 145°36’00”E], 390 m, 22.vi.1971, R.W. Taylor, & J.E. Feehan (25-058239 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Black Mountain Road, 6 miles N Kuranda [16°45’22”S, 145°36’45”E], 10.ii.1971, A. Walford–Huggins & M. Walford–Huggins (CMNEN–00030213 1 specimen in CMNC) ; 7.5 km NNW of Kuranda [16°46’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 15.i–20.ii.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25- 058253 5 specimens in ANIC) ; 7.5 km NNW of Kuranda [16°46’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.iii–1.v.1985, R.I. Storey & Titmarsh (25-058255 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 7.5 km NNW of Kuranda [16°46’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.xii.1984 – 15.i.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058256 4 specimens in ANIC) ; 7.5 km NNW of Kuranda [16°46’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.ii–20.iii.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058254 2 specimens in ANIC) ; 4 km NNW of Kuranda [16°47’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 1.v–14.vi.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058263 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 4 km NNW of Kuranda [16°47’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 10.xii.1984 – 15.i.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058264 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 4 km NNW of Kuranda [16°47’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.ix–6.xi.1984, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058265 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 4 km NNW of Kuranda [16°47’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 6.xi– 10.xii.1984, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058261 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 4 km NNW of Kuranda [16°47’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.ii–20.iii.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058262 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Kuranda State Forest , 3 km N Kuranda [16°49’00”S, 145°38’00”E], 360 m, 25.vi–3.viii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058218 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 6 km NW of Kuranda [16°49’00”S, 145°34’00”E], 6.xi–10.xii.1984, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058258 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Kuranda State Forest [16°49’00”S, 145°38’00”E], 360 m, 27–31.vii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058215 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Windy Hollow Road [16°51’00”S, 145°36’00”E], 500 m, 19–21.iv.1999, C. Reid & I. Reid (25-058242 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 6 km SW of Kuranda [16°52’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 10.xii.1984 – 15.i.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-032656 1 specimen in QDPC) ; 6 km SW of Kuranda [16°52’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 15.i–20.ii.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058257 2 specimens in ANIC) ; 6 km SW of Kuranda [16°52’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 20.ii–20.iii.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058259 1 specimen in ANIC) ; 6 km SW of Kuranda [16°52’00”S, 145°37’00”E], 10.xii.1984 – 15.i.1985, R.I. Storey & K.H. Halfpapp (25-058260 3 specimens in ANIC) ; Reids Pocket [16°55’00”S, 145°36’00”E], 420 m, 17–19.iv.1999, C. Reid & I. Reid (25-058243 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Mount Murray Prior [16°56’00”S, 145°51’00”E], 7–8.xii.1998, G.B. Monteith (25-060907 3 specimens in ANIC) ; 3 mi. SW Gordonvale [17°08’00”S, 145°45’43”E], 18.viii.1974, J.G. Brooks (CMNEN-00030216–00030217 2 specimens in CMNC) ; Pimm’s Block , 16°11’20”S, 145°24’18”E, 8–9. ii.1998, S. Grove (T73132 1 specimen in QM) ; Pimm’s Block , 16°11’20”S, 145°24’18”E, 13.iii–8.v.1998, S. Grove (T88750, T88752,T88754–T88755 4specimens in QM) ; Pimm’s Block , 16°11’20”S, 145°24’18”E, 10.ix–24.x.1998, S. Grove (T88751, T88753 2 specimens in QM) ; Pimm’s Block , 16°11’20”S, 145°24’18”E, 9.ii–13.iii.1998, S. Grove (T85684 1 specimen in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , NW open forest 1, 16°12’47”S, 144°59’05”E, 9.ii–17.v.1998 (T70773, T66788–T66799 13 specimens in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , NW open forest 1, 11.4 km past barracks, 16°12’47”S, 144°59’05”E, 24.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T57484–T57491, T60059, T60418 10 specimens in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , NW open forest 1, 11.4 km past barracks, 16°12’47”S, 144°59’05”E, 7–9.ii.1998 (T60001–T60009, T60434–T60438, T60053, T60054 16 specimens in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , NW open forest 2, 10.9 km past barracks, 16°12’54”S, 144°59’24”E, 24.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T60035–T60037 3 specimens in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , NW open forest 2, 10.9 km past barracks, 16°12’54”S, 144°59’24”E 7–9.ii.1998 (T60419–T60424 6 specimens in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , NW open forest 2, 10.9 km past barracks, 16°12’54”S, 144°59’24”E, 9.ii–17.v.1998 (T66781–T66786 6 specimens in QM) ; Gillies Road, Heales Monument [17°13’00”S, 145°42’00”E], 7.v.1969, G. Bornemissza & Ferrar ( SAMA25-027759 1 specimen in SAMA) ; Hutchinson Creek , 16°13’04”S, 145°23’57”E, 13.i–11.ii.1998, S. Grove (T73128–T73131 4 specimens in QM) ; Hutchinson Creek , 16°13’04”S, 145°23’57”E, 12.ix–23.x.1998, S. Grove (T88758–T88760, T88762 4 specimens in QM) ; Hutchinson Creek , 16°13’04”S, 145°23’57”E, 14.iii–8.v.1998, S. Grove (T88761, T88763–T88766 5 specimens in QM) ; Fairy Creek , 16°14’16”S, 145°24’57”E, 13.iii–8.v.1998, S. Grove (T88771–T88773 3 specimens in QM) ; Fairy Creek , 16°14’16”S, 145°24’57”E, 11.ii–13.iii.1998, S. Grove (T85687 1 specimen in QM) ; Buchanan Creek , 16°14’39”S, 145°25’54”E, 12.iii–8.v.1998, S. Grove (T88769 1 specimen in QM) ; Buchanan Creek , 16°14’39”S, 145°25’54”E, 12.ix– 23.x.1998, S. Grove (T88770 1 specimen in QM) ; Alexandra Range , road at summit, 16°14’46”S, 145°25’51”E, 13.x.1980 (T55621 1 specimen in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , barracks, 16°15’46”S, 145°02’31”E, 17–19.xi.2001 (T111985–T111988 4 specimens in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , barracks, 16°15’46”S, 145°02’31”E, 23–25.xi.1997 (T60000 1 specimen in QM) ; Windsor Tableland , barracks, 16°15’46”S, 145°02’31”E, 8–9.ii.1998 (T60042 1 specimen in QM) ; Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Station [17°16’00”S, 145°54’00”E], 100 m, Earthwatch , Queensland Museum (25-032810 1 specimen in QDPC) ; Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Station [17°16’00”S, 145°54’00”E], 100 m, Earthwatch , Queensland Museum , 17.x–9.xi.1981 (25-058224 10 specimens in ANIC, 25- 058225 1 specimen in ANIC, 25-058226 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Windsor Tableland ANZSES Site 9, 16°16’55”S, 145°03’56”E, 27.xii.1988 – 8.i.1989 (T55803 1 specimen in QM) ; The Boulders via Babinda [17°20’00”S, 145°51’00”E], 11.iv.1973, R.I. Storey (25-032649 2 specimens in QDPC, CMNEN-00030218 1 specimen in CMNC) ; The Boulders via Babinda [17°20’00”S, 145°51’00”E], 4.iv.1968, E. Matthews ( SAMA25-027757 6 specimens in SAMA) ; The Boulders via Babinda [17°20’00”S, 145°51’00”E], 11.iv.1973, R.I. Storey (25-058515 3 specimens in QM) ; The Boulders , 7 km W of Babinda [17°20’00”S, 145°51’00”E], 7.vii.1984, R.B. Halliday (25- 058238 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Devils Thumb transect Site 4, 16°23’39”S, 145°19’02”E, 26.xii.1989 – 15.i.1990, (T55467 1 specimen in QM) ; High Falls , 16°24’18”S, 145°18’35”E, 25.i–12.ii.1996, (T55626 1 specimen in QM) ; Mount Spurgeon open forest, trap 4, 16°27’17”S, 145°11’33”E, 19.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998, (T60043–T60044, T60057 3 specimens in QM) ; Mount Spurgeon open forest, trap 5, 16°27’25”S, 145°11’37”E, 19.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T60030, T60058 2 specimens in QM) ; Polly Creek Garradunga, 17°27’22”S, 146°01’12”E, 52 m, 13.i–4.ii.2010, J. Hasenpusch (25-060862 1 specimen in ANIC also as COL1110) ; Polly Creek Garradunga, 17°27’32”S, 146°01’08”E, 40 m, 16–17.ix.2010, G.B. Monteith (25-060858 1 specimen in ANIC also as COL1109) ; Mount Spurgeon open forest, trap 7, 16°27’37”S, 145°11’45”E, 20.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T60039–T60041 3 specimens in QM) ; Mount Spurgeon open forest, trap 8, 16°27’40”S, 145°11’54”E, 20.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T60010–T60012 3 specimens in QM) ; Mount Spurgeon open forest, trap 9, 16°27’50”S, 145°11’58”E, 20.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T60013–T60016 4 specimens in QM) ; Mount Spurgeon , 3 km S, open forest, trap 10, 16°27’59”S, 145°12’02”E, 20.xi.1997 – 7.ii.1998 (T60052 1 specimen in QM) ; Mossman Bluff Site 5, 16°28’25”S, 145°17’49”E, 20.xii.1989 – 15.i.1990 (T55461–T55465 5 specimens in QM) ; Mossman Bluff Site 5, 16°28’25”S, 145°17’49”E, 16–30.xii.1988 (T55473–T55479 7 specimens in QM) ; Mossman Bluff Site 4, 16°28’29”S, 145°18’09”E, 20.xii.1989 – 15.i.1990 (T55460 1 specimen in QM) ; Mossman Bluff Site 4, 16°28’29”S, 145°18’09”E, 1–16.i.1989 (T55480–T55482 3 specimens in QM) ; Rex Range , summit, 16°32’12”S, 145°22’44”E, 35930 (T66787 1 specimen in QM) ; Kingfisher Park 16°35’31”S, 145°20’27”E, 6–9.ii.1998 (T57492–T57494, T60045–T60051 10 specimens in QM) ; Black Mountain , lower slopes, 16°39’52”S, 145°30’04”E, 2.xii.1997 – 6.ii.1998 (T60031–T60034 4 specimens in QM) ; Mount Formartine South , 16°43’48”S, 145°36’45”E, 23–24.xi.1990 (T55345–T55346 2 specimens in QM) ; Saddle Mountain , summit, 16°49’11”S, 145°39’42”E, 10.xii.1995 – 2.ii.1996 (T55348–T55367 20 specimens in QM) ; Saddle Mountain , summit, 16°49’11”S, 145°39’42”E, 3.xi–10.xii.1995 (T55368–T55377 10 specimens in QM) ; Mount Murray Prior , 16°55’59”S, 145°50’59”E, 7.xii.1995 (T55436 1 specimen in QM) ; Mount Murray Prior , 16°55’59”S, 145°50’59”E, 31.x–8.xii.1995 (T55437–T55445, T70911–T70923 22 specimens in QM) ; Pine Creek Tower, 16°59’36”S, 145°50’07”E, 12.ix–20.x.1991 (T55446–T55447 2 specimens in QM) ; Bones Knob , 3 km W, 17°13’55”S, 145°25’05”E (T55347 1 specimen in QM) ; Bellenden Ker Base Station , 17°16’36”S, 145°53’54”E, 30.xi–2.xii.1998 (T70878–T70885 8 specimens in QM) ; Graham Range , 350 m, 17°16’37”S, 145°57’48”E, 1.xi–8.xii.1995 (T55310– T55313 4 specimens in QM) ; Graham Range, W. Base , 17°17’13”S, 145°57’47”E, 9.iv.1979 (T55314 1 specimen in QM) ; Stone Creek , 17°27’40”S, 146°01’04”E, 1.xi.1995 – 6.ii.1966, J. Hasenpusch (T55315 1 specimen in QM) ; Stone creek , 17°27’40”S, 146°01’04”E, 1.x–1.xi.1995, J. Hasenpusch (T55829 1 specimen in QM) ; Bramston Beach , 5 km SW, 17°22’57”S, 145°59’06”E, 5–11.ii.1998 (T60027–T60029 3 specimens in QM) ; Henrietta Creek, Palmerstone National Park [17°34’00”S, 145°45’00”E], 22–24.iv.1973, R.I. Storey (25-032811 1 specimen in QDPC) ; South Johnstone Research Station [17°36’00”S, 145°58’00”E], 29.xi.1989 – 14.i.1990, K.H. Halfpapp (25- 032645 1 specimen in QDPC) ; South Johnstone Research Station [17°36’00”S, 145°58’00”E], vi–xi.1990, K.H. Halfpapp (25-032646 1 specimen in QDPC) ; South Johnstone Research Station [17°36’00”S, 145°58’00”E], 12.ix– 11.x.1990, K.H. Halfpapp (25-032647 3 specimens, 25-032648 1 specimen in QDPC) ; Wooroonooran National Park, Patterson Sector, Henrietta Creek Campground, 17°35’56”S, 145°45’32”E, 550 m, 22.i.2000, R.A. Anderson (CMNEN-00030212 1 specimen in CMNC) ; Wooroonooran National Park , 17°36’17”S, 145°45’38”E, 400 m, 8– 9.ix.2004, L. Masner (CMNEN-00030214 1 specimen in CMNC) ; Palmerston National Park , E margin, 17°36’40”S, 145°45’48”E, 2.xi–10.xii.1995 (T55187–T55188 2 specimens in QM) ; Palmerston National Park , E margin, 17°36’40”S, 145°45’48”E, 10.xii.1995 – 7.ii.1996 (T55189–T55209 21 specimens in QM) ; Palmerston National Park , E margin, 17°36’40”S, 145°45’48”E, 1.xii.1993 – 25.ii.1994 (T55210–T55219 10 specimens in QM) ; Wooroonooran National Park, Patterson Sector, Crawfords Lookout , 17°36’46”S, 145°46’36”E, 550 m, 22.i.2000, R.A. Anderson (CMNEN-00030211 1 specimen in CMNC) ; Palmerston National Park [17°37’00”S, 145°47’00”E], 1.iv.1968, E. Matthews ( SAMA25-027760 1 specimen in SAMA) ; McNamee National Park [17°39’00”S, 145°51’00”E], 250 m, 16–18.iv.1999, C. Reid & I. Reid (25-058244 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Laceys Creek, via Mission Beach [17°49’00”S, 146°04’00”E], 14.v.1975, R.I. Storey (25-058516 3 specimens in QM) ; S3 Mission Beach 17°50’00”S, 146°06’00”E], 10 m, 4.iii–1.iv.1996, M. Cermak (25-058245 1 specimen in ANIC) ; S3 Mission Beach [17°50’00”S, 146°06’00”E], 10 m, 1–29.iv.1996, M. Cermak (25-058246 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Lacey’s Creek, via El Arish , 17°51’10”S, 146°03’17”E, 19–20.vi.1974 (T55294–T55295, T60082–T60083 4 specimens in QM) ; Mission Beach , [17°52’00”S, 146°06’00”E], 9–10.v.1974, R.I. Storey (25-032651 1 specimen in QDPC) ; S1 Mission Beach , [17°52’00”S, 146°04’00”E], 40 m, 29.i–4.iii.1996, M. Cermak (25-058237 1 specimen, 25-058249 2 specimens in ANIC) ; S1 Mission Beach [17°52’00”S, 146°04’00”E], 40 m, 2–29.i.1996, M. Cermak (25-058247 1 specimen in ANIC) ; S1 Mission Beach [17°52’00”S, 146°04’00”E], 40 m, 4.xii.1995 – 2.i.1996, M. Cermak (25- 058248 1, 25-058250 1 specimen in ANIC) ; S1 Mission Beach [17°52’00”S, 146°04’00”E], 40 m, 4.iii–1.iv.1996, M. Cermak (25-058251 1 specimen in ANIC) ; Laceys Creek , 10 km SE El Arish [17°53’00”S, 146°04’00”E], 40 m, 23.vi–5.viii.1982, S. Peck & J. Peck (25-058217 4 specimens in ANIC) ; 7 km ENE Tully [17°55’00”S, 145°59’00”E], 50 m, 16–25.iv.1999, C. Reid & I. Reid (25-058240 2 specimens in ANIC) ; Cardwell Gap , 18°32’0”S, 146°11’08”E, 4–12.ii.1998 (T60038 1 specimen in ANIC) .

Description. Holotype uniformly light brown in colour. Other specimens range from light brown to dark brown verging on black; sometimes with paler humeri. Antennal clubs with apical antennomere (3rd) yellowish white and basal 2 antennomeres (1 st, 2 nd) grey.

Total length: 3.6–4.4 mm. Holotype measurements: total length 4.2 mm elytral width 2.8 mm.

Male. Head: Width to length ratio 36: 25. Almost V–shape between clypeal teeth. Surface finely punctate with very fine setae. Dorsal part of eyes moderate, separated by an interocular space approximately 13 times eye width (26: 2).

Prothorax: Pronotum smooth, nitid, with very fine punctation towards the anterior and finely punctate posteriorly. Hypomeral surface finely reticulate. Hypomeral stria absent. Pronotum width to length ratio 54: 38.

Elytra: Smooth and nitid. Intervals finely punctate and with extremely fine setae. Ratio of length of the elytra along suture to maximum elytral width 70: 75.

Legs: As per L. nitidus species group. Ridge on ventral side of protibia apically more-or-less joined to the second tooth by a fine carina.

Abdomen: Rest of pygidium surrounding central disc is finely punctate and setose with fine reticulations basally.

Pterothorax: Lateral lobe of metaventrite finely reticulate and punctate, inner border beside mesocoxa anteriorly widened. Medial lobe of metaventrite very finely punctate. Metaventrite with very small tubercle located approximately halfway between mesocoxae and metacoxae (slightly more anterior than in L. dichrous (see Fig. 13 I–J)).

Male genitalia: Aedeagus with left paramere excised apically. As in Fig. 16D

Female. Metaventral tubercle absent.

Distribution. Known from rainforest in Wet Tropics (WET) IBRA bioregion [Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13] from Rossville to Cardwell ( Fig. 18A ). Almost all specimens have been collected at elevations below 500 m. Species distribution estimates from BIOCLIM models shown in Fig. 18C .

Comments. Lepanus nitidus is a generalist species and has been collected at pitfall traps baited with macropod, cow or human feces, mushrooms, vertebrate carrion, and invertebrate carrion (shrimp, earthworm, cricket and mealworm). It has also been collected using a variety of other methods including flight intercept and malaise traps and in berlesed leaf and log litter.

A specimen of L. nitidus from Shiptons Flat (25-053899) was included in the phylogeny of Gunter et al. (2019). Here, additional specimens from this locality, Rex Range and Polly Creek were sequenced (see Fig. 1 ). In both analyses, L. nitidus was recovered as sister to L. kulki within a larger clade containing all five species within the Lepanus nitidus species group. This molecular relationship is strongly supported and congruent with the morphological similarity between the two species.

In the altitudinal transect study of Monteith (1985a, 1985b) along 11 sites from sea level to 780 m at Cape Tribulation L. nitidus was taken only at sites below 400 m. Matthews (1974) lists specimens from high elevations (Mount Haig, 1220 m (25-058517, 25-058518) and Tully Falls, 760 m (25-058505–08)), however these are the morphologically similar species Lepanus vangerweni and L. dichrous respectively. The elevational survey of Aristophanous (2014) collected 557 speciemens in the L. nitidus species group within the Atherton, Carbine and Windsor transects, however did not identify them beyond “ Lepanus nitidus / dichrous ”. Given the broad and often overlapping distribution of species within the group, we refrain from making inferences from this data.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Phylogenetic estimate of relationships among described species in the genus Lepanus. Consensus topology generated from Bayesian analysis (BA) with node values for posterior probability BA and bootstrap values of clades also supported in maximum-likelihood analysis. Strongly supported nodes are indicated by coloured circles at base of nodes, while other support values are listed in full. Species groups revised here are highlighted by the grey boxes and IBRA regions for these specimens are also listed following the general locality in bold. Abbreviations for localities are as follows CMC: Central Mackay Coast; CYP: Cape York Peninsula; NNC: NSW North Coast; NSW: New South Wales; NT: Northern Territory; QLD: Queensland; SEQ: South Eastern Queensland; SYB: Sydney Basin; TS: Torres Strait; WA: Western Australia; WET: Wet Tropics.

FIGURE 13. Some diagnostic characters of the Lepanus nitidus species group. A, Dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus nitidus; B, dorsal view of female protibia of Lepanus nitidus; C, dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus kulki; D, dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus dichrous; E, dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus vangerweni; F, dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus carbinensis; G, ventral view of male protibia of Lepanus nitidus, grey arrow points to diagnostic carina; H, ventral view of male protibia of Lepanus dichrous showing lack of carina; I, ventral view of metaventrite of Lepanus nitidus, showing tubercle (grey arrow); J, ventral view of metaventrite of Lepanus dichrous, showing tubercle (grey arrow); K, ventrolateral view of metaventrite of Lepanus vangerweni, showing medial longitudinal depression; L, apical view of elytra of Lepanus dichrous, showing stria 1 appearing superficial towards the apex (grey arrow); M, lateral lobe of metaventrite of Lepanus nitidus, grey arrow points to apically widened inner border; N, lateral lobe of metaventrite of Lepanus kulki; O, apical view of elytra of Lepanus carbinensis, showing stria 1 visibly impressed towards the apex (grey arrow); P, metaventrite of Lepanus vangerweni showing punctures on medial lobe much smaller than those on lateral lobe; Q, metaventrite of Lepanus carbinensis showing punctures on medial lobe same size as those on lateral lobe.

FIGURE 16. Left, dorsal and right view of aedeagi of species within the Lepanus nitidus species group. A, Lepanus carbinensis; B, Lepanus dichrous; C, Lepanus kulki; D, Lepanus nitidus; E, Lepanus vangerweni. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 18. A, Map of known records of Lepanus kulki and Lepanus nitidus with the zones of insect endemism of the Wet Tropics sensu Yeates & Montieth (2008) numbered and indicated by dashed lines. Zone numbers are as follows: 1 Mount Finnigan; 2 Thornton Peak; 3 Windsor Tableland; 4 Carbine Tableland; 5 Hann Tableland; 6 Black Mountain; 7 Lamb Range; 8 Walsh/Hugh Nelson Range; 9 Atherton Tableland; 10 Bellenden Ker; 11 Malbon Thompson Range; 12 Walter Hill Range; 13 Kirrama/Cardwell Ranges; 14 Seaview Range; 15 Hinchinbrook Island, B, predicted distribution of Lepanus kulki; C, predicted distribution of Lepanus nitidus.