Myopagyrtes tasmanicus, Ashman & Seago & Leschen, 2024

Ashman, Lauren G., Seago, Ainsley E. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2024, A new genus of Australian Agyrtodini from Tasmania (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Camiarinae), Zootaxa 5453 (3), pp. 403-410 : 406-407

Myopagyrtes tasmanicus sp. nov.

Holotype. Male , labeled “ AUSTRALIA, TAS, Milkshake Hills, Forest Reserve, 41°05’S, 145°09’E, 10 February 1992 / Tom Gush, In leaf litter, Tom Gush, Collection 3417” (ANIC).

Paratypes. 113 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Cradle Mountain National Park, Waldheim Forest on Hougen Track, 3500 ft 1068m,3, February, 1977, J. Kethley, Ber. conc. Nothofagus litter, Nothofagus forest, (FMNH); 166 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Cradle Mt.-L.St.Clair N.P.,Waldheim, Weindorfers Forest 940m, 41°38’ S, 145°57’ E, 14, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,leaf & log litter Athrotaxis selag.-Noth. cunn. forest w/dense Leptospermum & Richea, (FMNH); 16 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Hellyer Gorge (N side), 8 km N Parrawe 280m, 41°16.5’ S, 145°36.5’ E, 18, February, 1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,litter Noth. cunn.- Acacia melan.-Ather. mosch.-tree fern for., (FMNH); 4 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, King William Range (2 km NW), 10, December, 1986, D. Burckhardt, tamisage,extraction Berlese forêt de Nothofagus et Eucalyptus, (FMNH); 333 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Lake Chisholm Forest Res., 180m, 41°8’ S, 145°4’ E, 12, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,leaf & log litter Euc. obliqua forest w/Eucryphia, Noth. cunn.,Blechnum ground ferns (FMNH); 44 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Murchison Highway St. Res.,Murchison Hwy at Que River Mine Rd. 680m, 41°36’ S, 145°41’ E, 11, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,leaf & log litter Noth. cunn. rainforest w/Atherosperma, Eucalyptus, tree ferns (FMNH); 10 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Newall Creek at Mt. Jukes Rd.,Queenstown (11.3 km S) 80m, 42°10’ S, 145°32’ E, 10, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, carrion trap (squid), riverine rainforest w/Eucryphia, Noth. cunn., Richea,few tree ferns (FMNH); 1177 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Newall Creek at Mt. Jukes Rd.,Queenstown (11.3 km S) 80m, 42°10’ S, 145°32’ E, 27, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,leaf & log litter riverine rainforest w/Eucryphia, Noth. cunn.,Richea,few tree ferns (FMNH); 2 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Newall Creek at Mt. Jukes Rd.,Queenstown (11.3 km S) 80m, 42°10’ S, 145°32’ E, 27, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, in herbivore dung, riverine rainforest w/Eucryphia,Noth. cunn., Richea, few tree ferns (FMNH); 1 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Newall Creek at Mt. Jukes Rd.,Queenstown (11.3 km S) 80m, 42°10’ S, 145°32’ E, 27, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, in human dung, riverine rainforest w/Eucryphia, Noth. cunn., Richea, few tree ferns (FMNH); 1 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Newall Creek at Mt. Jukes Rd.,Queenstown (11.3 km S) 80m, 42°10’ S, 145°32’ E, 27, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, on white-gilled mushrooms, riverine rainforest w/Eucryphia,Noth. cunn., Richea, few tree ferns (FMNH); 8 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Newall Creek at Mt. Jukes Rd.,Queenstown (11.3 km S) 80m, 42°10’ S, 145°32’ E, 27, January, 1993, A. Newton & M. Thayer, pyr.- fogging large old logs, riverine rainforest w/Eucryphia, Noth. cunn.,Richea,few tree ferns (FMNH); 8 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Renison Bell (2 km S), 9, December, 1986, D. Burckhardt, tamisage, Nothofagus, Leptospermum, Acacia (FMNH); 2 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Rufus Canal, 13.5 km WNW Derwent Bridge 800m, 42°10’ S, 146°7’ E, 26, January, 1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, carrion traps (fish), Nothofagus cunninghamii rainforest, (FMNH); 250 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Rufus Canal, 13.5 km WNW Derwent Bridge 800m, 42°10’ S, 146°7’ E, 28, January, 1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,litter Nothofagus cunninghamii rainforest, (FMNH); 3 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Strahan, 25, December, 1953, C. Oke, (MVMA); 6 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, The Gap, Florentine Rd., 15 km WNW Maydena 600m, 42°43’ S, 146°29’ E, 1, February, 1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,litter Noth. cunn. & Atherospermum mosch. etc. forest, (FMNH); 200 specimens: AUSTRALIA: Tasmania, Zeehan-Renison Bell State Res., Scenic Drive 250m, 41°49’ S, 145°24’ E, 18, February, 1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berl.,leaf and log litter Noth. cunn.-Ather. mosch.-Anodopet. bigland.- tree fern forest, (FMNH); 4 specimens: 41.30S 145.20E TAS, Savage R. Pipeline Rd., 20 Apr. 1989 Tube 17, pyrethirin knockdown, Nothofagus, P Greenslade , (ANIC); 18 specimens: 41.50S 145.37E TAS, Mt. Murchison, 21 Apr. 1989 Tube 132, rainf. leaf litter, J. Diggle, (16 ANIC, 2 NZAC); 1 specimen: 41.50S 145.37E TAS, Mt. Murchison, rainf., 21 Apr. 1989 Tube 133, sweeping & beating, J. Diggle, H. Mitchell, (ANIC); 9 specimens: 41.50S 145.37E TAS, Mt. Murchison, 21 Apr. 1989 Tube 125, rainf. leaf litter, J. Diggle, (ANIC); 1 specimen: SW Tasmania, Lower Gordon R., 42.31S 145.45E, 42.32S 145.47E, Howard, Hill …/ H.E.C. Survey, 3L. 300, Jan 1978, litter, (ANIC); 2 specimens: SW Tasmania, Lower Gordon R., 42.42S 145.48E, 42.41S 145.49E, Howard, Hill …/ H.E.C. Survey, 1R. 50, Feb 1976, moss, (ANIC); 2 specimens: SW Tasmania, Lower Gordon R., 42.43S 145.45E, 42.43S 145.50E, Howard, Hill …/ H.E.C. Survey, 2R. 70, Feb 1977, litter, (ANIC); 2 specimens: SW Tasmania, Lower Gordon R., 42.43S 145.45E, 42.43S 145.50E, Howard, Hill …/ H.E.C. Survey, 2R. 860, 12R. 850, Feb 1977, litter, (ANIC); 5 specimens: The Gap 9km, NE Mayena, Florentine Rd., TAS 28 Feb. 80, 520m L. Hill, (3 ANIC, 2 NZAC); 6 specimens: 41.35S 145.56E TAS, Cradle Mtn. Camp Ground, 880m, 18 Nov. 1989, Site 1, Tube 310, litter, R. Coy, (ANIC); 6 specimens: 41.35S 145.56E TAS, Cradle Mtn. Camp Ground, 880m, 13-18 Nov. 1989, Site 1, Tube 311, pitfalls, R. Coy, (ANIC); 2 specimens: 41.35S 145.56E TAS, Cradle Mtn. Camp Ground, 880m, 17 Nov. 1989, Site 1, Tube 308, moss on ground, R. Coy, (ANIC); 1 specimen: 41.35S 145.56E TAS, Cradle Mtn. Camp Ground, 880m, 18 Nov. 1989, Site 1, Tube 306, moss on logs, R. Coy, (ANIC); 3 specimens: 41.35S 145.56E TAS, Cradle Mtn. Camp Ground, 880m, 15 Nov. 1989, pyrethrin knockdown, Tube 326, tree 3, R. Coy, (ANIC); 1 specimen: 41.35S 145.56E TAS, Cradle Mtn. Camp Ground, 880m, 18 Nov. 1989, Site 2, Tube 236, litter, H. Mitchell, (ANIC); 6 specimens: AUSTRALIA, TAS, Tullah, 13 km W, 41°44’S, 145°28’E, 7 February 1992 / Tom Gush, In leaf litter, Tom Gush, Collection 3376, (ANIC); 2 specimens: AUSTRALIA, TAS, Lake Chisholm, Forest Reserve, 41°08’S, 145°03’E, 9 February 1992 / Tom Gush, In leaf litter, Tom Gush, Collection 3404, (ANIC); 24 specimens: AUSTRALIA, TAS, Milkshake Hills, Forest Reserve, 41°05’S, 145°09’E, 10 February 1992 / Tom Gush, In leaf litter, Tom Gush, Collection 3417, (ANIC); 3 specimens: Hellyer Gorge, 15 m., N. of Waratah, N.W. Tas., 2–4.ii.1967, G. Monteith, (QMBA); 6 specimens: Waldheim, Cradle Mtn., Tas., 12–14.ii.1967., G. Monteith, (QMBA); 1 specimen: Cynthia Bay, Lake, St. Clair, Tas., 7–8.ii.1967., G. Monteith, (QMBA).

Description. As in genus description. TBL = 1.38–1.44 mm, TBW = 0.88–1.00 mm, EL = 0.81–1.00 mm, HW = 0.25–0.31 mm (n=5).

Colour pale brown to piceous, pronotum usually same colour as elytra, sometimes paler. Row of dark spots visible on posterior margin of pronotum, presumably corresponding to glandular openings but not apparently associated with external punctures.

Male genital segment ( Fig. 2f ) slightly elongate, with long, slender anterior apophysis not expanded at the apex. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2e ) with median lobe simple, slender, abruptly narrowing to point at apex; basal piece short. Parameres slender, barely extending past apex of median lobe, not apically expanded or noticeably setose. Endophallus with two slender sclerites fused and rounded basally. Female terminalia largely unsclerotised, spiculum ventral membranous; ovipositor with coxites long, incurved, with three external and one internal setae; styli extremely reduced, tapered, with long terminal setae.

Etymology: the specific epithet refers to this species’ geographic distribution in Tasmania, Australia.

Distribution: Myopagyrtes tasmanicus is locally abundant but appears to be restricted to the cool, moist forests of northwestern and western Tasmania ( Fig. 3 ); it has not been found in the eastern or far southwestern regions of the island (Newton, pers. comm).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Myopagyrtes tasmanicus, new species male: (a) Right mandible, dorsal view. (b) Right maxilla, dorsal view. Female: (c) Lateral view of head showing reduced compound eye. Male: (d) Front leg with expanded protarsi bearing tenant setae. (e) Aedeagus, ventral view. (f) Male genital segment, ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Myopagyrtes tasmanicus, showing collection localities of type specimens in Tasmania, Australia. The holotype locality is coloured red, and paratype localities are coloured blue.