Eunatalis titana (Thomson, 1860)

Gerstmeier, Roland & Seitner, Martin, 2013, Revision of the checkered beetle genus Eunatalis Schenkling, 1909 (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Zootaxa 3698 (1), pp. 1-77 : 66-69

Eunatalis titana (Thomson, 1860)

( Figures 51–52 , 58 C)

Natalis titana Thomson, 1860: 56 ; Blackburn 1899: 29; Schenkling, 1903: t3, f3.

Specimens examined: Holotype: Titana , Thoms. Mus.Sci. II 60.56, Typus, Nov. Hollan.; ex Museo James Thomson; Type (MNHN).

Comment on the type specimen: In stating "Spec. unie. in mus. nostro", (i.e. one specimen in my collection) Thomson (1860: 56) indicated that the nominal species-group taxon, Natalis titana , was based a single specimen. The 'type' located in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) is therefore considered the holotype, fixed by monotypy (ICZN 1999: Article 73.1.2).

Others: Macedon, Vic., C. Oke; Col-114653 (NMV). Newstead, Victoria; Col-65765 (NMV). League Scrub FR., SE sect. Oakes SF., NSW, 20 Dec. 1998, G. and B. Williams; ex subtropical rainforest, at u/v light; K 324502 (AM). Launching Place, Vic., C. Oke; Eunatalis titana Thoms ; (MZM). Wide Bay; K 34051 ; Australian Museum, K 324410 (AM). NSW: Helensburgh, Railway Stn. at light, Nov. 2011, C. Reid; Australian Museum, K 324414 (AM). 159, Dawson; Museum Paris, (coll. C.-H. Schill), H. Donckier 1909, 2 ex. (MNHN). Warragul, Victoria; F.E. Wilson Collection; Col-65768 (NMV). Emerald, Vic., C. Oke; Col-65767 (NMV). Macksville, N.S.W. 12.85, Australia (RGCM). Australia Q, Main Range, Mt. Steamers, leg. Wachtel 1.95 (RGCM). Richmond R., N.S. Wales; F.E. Wilson Collection, Col-65761 (NMV). Richmond R., N.S. Wales; 1909-174; Natalis titana Thoms. , 3 ex. (BMNH). N. Galles du Sud, Richmond Riv.; Museum Paris, ex coll. R. Oberthur (MNHN). Richmond R., N.S. Wales, W:W: Froggatt; Natalis titana Thoms. (HEC). 18.55S 149.09E QLD, Mt. Spec 53 880m, 6 Dec. 1994 – 10 Jan. 1995 M. Cermak, FI Trap JCU 5m (ANIC). 19.00S 146.11E QLD, Mt. Spec St 875m, 6 Dec. 1994 – 10 Jan. 1995, M. Cermak, FI Trap JCU 10m (ANIC). SEQ 25°12'Sx 149°11'E, Expedition Ra. NP 0II Bose, Rd. 520m, Open forest, 17 Dec 1997, D.&I. Cook 5061 (QM). NSW: Dorrigo NP, 18 Feb. 1981, ex pupa; R.H.Mulder collection, Australian Museum K 324481 (AM). Dorrigo, NSW (SAMA). Dorrigo, 10.10.1981, N.S.W., K-324413 (AM). Dorrigo, 14.(?)4.11, R.J.T.; H.J. Carter Col, P. 20.4.22; Col-65759 (NMV). Brisbane, Q., 17.XII.1969, I. Naumann; ex UQIC (QM). Brisbane, Q., 4.2.62, V. Cribb (QM). Brisbane, 26.4.59, A. Brimbler; Under bark of Eucalypt sp., From Pupa; QDPC 166564 (QDPC). Woori Yallock, Dec 52. V, R.Ls.Rossignot; F.E. Wilson collection; Col-65764 (NMV). Landing Place, V., C. Oke; Col-65769 (NMV). QLD: 26°04'Sx 150°49'E, Wonga Hills, site 3, 520m, Monteith, Cook & Wright (QM). VIC, Tennyson Creek, 5 km NW of Buldah, 37°14'S 149°07'E, 10–16 Jan. 1982, ANZSES Expedition; Natalis titana Thoms. ; Lot 108 (NMV). Mordialloc, Vic. 21.05. J.C.G., Lot 108 (NMV). VIC., Black Soll Gully., 18 km NW of Licola, 1 Dec. 1976, A.A. Calder, Lot 108 (NMV). Moorilla, 1.(?). 0 8, Young, N.S.W. (ANIC). Botany Bay, N.S. Wales (BMNH). Drouin V., Nov. 8th 1961, R. Dawson (ANIC). Mizpah Rd., Shady Creek V., Dec. 8-1969, C. Elton (ANIC). Ferntree Gull., V., 21.10.27, A.H. Westley (QM). S.Aust., Abminga WH, 26°08'S 134°51'E, at light, 17 March 1993, J.A. Forrest, D. Hirst; Sama Database No. 25-035908 (SAMA). S.QLD.: 25°14'Sx 153°10'E, Fraser Is. Coomboo Lake, Nov 1992, ANZSES Exped., Rainforest (QM). SEQ: 25°40'Sx 151°26'E, Nipping Gully, Site 2, 9 Oct. 1998, G.B.&S.R. Monteith, 200m, 7276 (QM). Mt. Glorious, S.E.Q., 21.xii.70, A. Hiller (QM). Bowen, Queensland, A. Simson; SAMA Database 25- 0 35897 (SAMA). Duaringo, Queensland; K 34051 ; K324409 (AM). Forest Reefs, N.S.W. Lea (SAMA). New South Wales (MNHN). Ex Museo, Mniszech (MNHN). Australia, 2 ex. (MNHN). NSW; (Barnard coll.)(MNHN). Natalis laevis Wat. ; Natalis titana Thoms, P. Lesne vid. 09; Museum Paris, Collection Leon Fairmaire 1906 (MNHN). N. Holl., Q'land; Ex coll., Janson (MNHN). Australia; 75466 (ZMB). Ex Museo James Thomson (MNHN). N Queensland, E. Weiske; 14898 (MTI). N.S. Wales (MTI). N.S. Wales; laevis Waterh. (ZMB). N.S. Wales; E. titana (MNHN). Nat. Mus. Victoria, N.S. Wales; 3 ex. Col-65762, Col-65760, Col-65763 (NMV). Nat. Mus. Victoria, C. French's Coll., 5.11.08; Col-65771 (NMV). Queensland, 85.44; 2 ex. (BMNH). VIC.; Lot 108 (NMV). Australien, Lina Rasim ded., 15.VII.1927, 2 ex. (SMNS).

Diagnosis: E. titana is a larger species. The pronotal disc is characterized by isolated fine punctation, the pronotum is coarsely wrinkled laterally and the procoxal cavities are mostly open. The phallus is triangular, with a rounded tip.

Length: (94 specimens measured) Total length: 24–46mm.

Head: Black, with isolated pilosity and weak punctation, with fine wrinkles; epistomal suture distinct; interocular space about one eye width (or smaller).

Thorax: Pronotal length to width ratio 1.00:1; pronotum black, with isolated pilosity and weak punctation, sides with strongly protruding wrinkles (some specimens also dorsally, behind the middle, strongly wrinkled); strongly convergent towards apex; longitudinal groove weak; grooves of sub-basal collar indistinct, fused. Scutellum dark brown to black, with weak punctation.

Elytra: Elytral length to width ratio 2.53:1; elytra dark brown to black, basal half darker than apical half (one specimen with a light transverse fascia in the middle), with isolated pilosity; elytra subparallel to broader behind middle, apex partly conspicuously bevelled to slightly emarginate; elytral punctation strongly oblong, in basal half as wide as interstices, decreasing behind the middle, punctations of tenth stria conspicuous behind middle; punctations of ninth stria vestigial; elytral punctation with two laterally conspicuously protruding nodules; interstices 2, 4 and 6 slightly ridged, the other interstices flattened, with distinct microsculpture.

Lower surface: Dark brown to black, with dense pilosity, mesoventrite with distinct transverse convexity; metaventrite with dense pilosity and wrinkles; posterior part of mesepisternum not depressed; procoxal cavities slightly opened posteriorly.

Legs: Black, especially tibiae and inner edges of femora with dense pilosity, with dense punctation and wrinkles; mesotibiae bent.

Abdomen: Aedeagus, spicular fork, pygidium and sixth ventrite relatively large and deeply emarginate triangularly; tegmen ventrally closed, dorsally only base closed; phallus triangular with rounded tip; spicular fork fused to one-third.

Distribution: Mainly in eastern part of Australia and South Australia.

Seasonal occurrence: Collected from November to April.

Figures

FIGURE 51. Eunatalis titana: (A) Phallus lateral, (B) Phallus ventral, (C) Tegmen ventral, (D) Spicular fork, (E) Pygidium, (F) Ventrite VI.

FIGURE 52. Distribution of Eunatalis titana.

FIGURE 58. (A) Eunatalis spadicea n. sp., (B) Eunatalis spinicornis, (C) Eunatalis titana, (D) Eunatalis villosa n. sp.