Austrocyphon charon, Zwick, Peter, 2013

Zwick, Peter, 2013, Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) 4. Two new genera, Austrocyphon and Tasmanocyphon, Zootaxa 3706 (1), pp. 1-74 : 18-19

Austrocyphon charon , sp. n.

(Figs. 32–37)

Type material. Holotype ♂, 3♂ paratypes: Australia, VIC, Acheron R. at Narbethong, reared from larvae collected in late September 1972, P.Zwick ( ANIC).

Additional material studied. Three females and several larval and one pupal exuviae on slides with the same data have no type status (PZ).

Habitus. BL ♂ 2.6–2.8, ♀ 2.7–2.9 mm. Oval, BL/BW 1.6–1.7. Uniformly brown or the periphery of pronotum and shoulders diffusely yellow, rest of elytra ochre (juvenile specimens).

Male. T9 plate divided into two narrow flat spikes. The caudolateral corners are gently curved claws. S9 spatulate, barely sclerotized, soft, with sparse fine pilosity in caudal third.

Penis: pala and the widely flanged distal part of approximately equal length. The foramen almost reaches the penis tip. Trigonium wide, parallel, tip abruptly narrowed to claw-shaped centema which is below a subterminal sclerotized knob. Spinules indistinct.

Parameres (not shown) slender, straight acutely pointed struts as long as penis.

Female. At the level of segment 8 the ovipositor shows some faint sclerotization and pigmentation in the shape of two caudally converging bands which merge and then separate again.

Pupa, larva. See generic description, p. 11.

Etymology. In Greek mythology Charon is the boatman taking the deceased into Hades, across the River Acheron. Acheron River happens to be the name of the type locality. A noun in apposition.