Lepidiota species

Allsopp, Peter G., 2022, Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae): reclassification of eight species to Antitrogus Burmeister, 1855 and Barryfilius new genus, Zootaxa 5213 (5), pp. 513-545 : 533-535

Key to Australian Lepidiota species

1 Pronotum with a narrow anterior margin defined by a groove or ridge and continuous from side to side, or with the groove briefly interrupted in the middle......................................................................... 2

- Pronotum without a defined anterior margin, or at the most with a trace of a margin close to each anterior angle, the limiting groove or declivity absent in the middle or obliterated by punctures............................................ 22

2 Metasternum largely covered with broad, adpressed, white scales, with long, semierect setae in addition................ 3

- Metasternum clothed with long, fine, dense, semierect setae, without scales, or at the most with a patch of elongate, adpressed scales close to the mid-posterior edge and the posterolateral angles............................................. 4

3 Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 151–153); surface of the apical ventrite in females convex in lateral profile........................................................................................ L. perkinsi Blackburn, 1912

- Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 156–158); female not known........................... L. argentea Britton, 1978

- Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 161–163); surface of the apical ventrite in females with a median concavity............................................................................................ L. sparsa Britton, 1978

- Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 154–155); surface of the apical ventrite in females with a median concavity.............................................................................................. L. oryx Britton, 1959

- Aedeagus as in Allsopp (1989: figs. 2–3); surface of apical ventrite in females with a median concavity that is bare except for a few scattered setae............................................................ L. alticalceus Allsopp, 1989

- Aedeagus as in Allsopp (1989: figs. 5–6); posterior half of apical ventrite with a median anteriorly-directed semicircular concavity with a few scattered scales and setae........................................ L. bidentata Allsopp, 1989

4 Scales on the propygidium sparse (100 mm-²), or elongate and pointed, or absent, or dense only close to the posterior edge and without scales on the anterior half; apices of the parameres rounded, not produced into long, fine, contorted processes..... 5

- Scales on the propygidium dense (> 150 per mm²), rounded and extending onto the anterior half; apices of the parameres produced into long, fine, contorted processes.............................................................. 20

5 Scales on the pronotum more densely crowded close to the posterior margin, visible to the naked eye as a white band; pronotum with a narrow defined posterior margin in the middle only; scales in the posterolateral angles circular or very nearly so.... 6

- Scales on the pronotum not more densely crowded close to the posterior margin than on the disc; scales in the posterolateral angles usually elongate, but if the scales are circular then the narrow defined posterior margin is complete from angle to angle .................................................................................................. 10

6 Apices of the elytra with a fringe of white setae that extends beyond the edge of the elytra, setae 2–3x long as the width of the margin; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 164–165)..................................... L. laciniata Britton, 1978

- Apices of the elytra with a narrow, brown, membranous margin; white setae, if present on the apical margin, not longer than the width of the margin................................................................................... 7

7 Propygidium without a ridge above each posterior angle, the scales on the posterior third of the propygidium small, circular, fairly uniform in size and separated, usually, by their own diameter or more...................................... 8

- Propygidium with a low ridge above the posterior angle on each side, the ridge continuous with the posterior margin; scales posterior to the ridge much larger than those anterior to the ridge; scales densely crowded, almost in contact along the posterior margin............................................................................................. 9

8 Pygidium with dense scales, circular laterally but become more elongate medially and towards the apex; parameres without processes on the apex; aedeagus as in Allsopp (1999: fig. 2)................................ L. clareae Allsopp, 1999

- Pygidium with sparse scattered, rounded scales; parameres each with a curved process on the apex; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 166–167).......................................................... L. negatoria Blackburn, 1912

9 Pronotum with a narrow, median, longitudinal area devoid of punctures or scales; the transverse band of white scales on abdominal sternites 2–4 less than 0.5x long as in the middle of the sternite; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 168–169)................................................................................. L. consobrina Girault, 1918

- Pronotum with scales fairly uniformly distributed across the middle; the transverse band of white scales on abdominal sternites 2–4 more than 0.5x long as the sternite; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 170–171).......... L. frenchi Blackburn, 1912

10 Posterior half of the metepisterna, metepimera and anterior and outer parts of the metacoxae bearing elongate white scales in addition to white setae; lamella of antennomere 8 in males short, about as long as antennomeres 3–7 together........... 11

- Metepisterna, metepimera, and metacoxae clothed with white or yellow setae and without scales; lamella of antennomere 8 in males usually longer than antennomeres 2–7 together....................................................... 16

11 Body 14–16 mm long; anterior edge of clypeus, as seen from above, uniformly convex; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 172–173).......................................................................... L. weiri Britton, 1978

- Body 20–34 mm long; anterior edge of clypeus as seen from above with a median concavity........................ 12

12 Angle between the lateral edge of the clypeus and the ocular canthus square..................................... 13

- Angle between the lateral edge of the clypeus and the ocular canthus obviously obtuse............................. 15

13 Surface of frons strongly convex, with a marked anterior declivity; females with a sharply-defined declivity at the apex of the terminal ventrite; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 174–175)............................ L. gibbifrons Britton, 1978

- Surface of frons less strongly convex, without a marked declivity; females with the apex of the terminal ventrite with at the most a slight indentation.............................................................................. 14

14 Scales of pygidium denser, in males 50–60 mm-2, in females 40–50 mm-2; female with a slight indentation of the apex of the terminal ventrite; aedeagus as in Allsopp & Watkins (1995: figs. 1–2)............... L. brittoni Allsopp & Watkins, 1995

- Scales of the pygidium sparser, 35 mm-2; female without any indentation at the apex of the terminal ventrite; aedeagus as in Britton (1985: figs. 3–4).............................................................. L. noxia Britton, 1985

15 Terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp elongate and pointed, ratio of the length:width> 4:1; scales on the elytra of about same diameter as those on the pronotum; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 177–178)........ L. caudata Blackburn, 1890

- Terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp less elongate, ratio of the length:width about 2.6:1; scales on the elytra about half the diameter of those on the pronotum; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 180–181)............... L. yorkensis Britton, 1978

16 Terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp broad (about 2.6:1.0), with a deep elliptical cavity on the upper side.......... 17

- Terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp elongate, narrow (> 2.6:1.0), with at most a flat, elliptical, dull-surfaced area on the upper side.......................................................................................... 19

17 Punctures on the pronotum very dense with adjacent punctures almost in contact, density in middle of each half of pronotum about 65 mm-2; pronotum with narrow, unpunctured, median longitudinal zone; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 182–183)............................................................................... L. gilesi Blackburn, 1912

- Punctures on pronotum sparse, adjacent punctures widely separated, density of punctures in middle of each half of the pronotum about 12 mm-2; pronotum with or without a broad, unpunctured, median longitudinal zone.......................... 18

18 Body about 17 mm long; ratio of the greatest width to mid length of the pronotum about 1.4:1; lateral edges of the pronotum not angulate in the middle; aedeagus thinner in the middle ( Britton 1978: figs. 186–187)............ L. salax Britton, 1978

- Body about 20 mm long; ratio of the greatest width to mid length of the pronotum about 1.5:1; lateral edges of the pronotum slightly angulate in the middle; aedeagus thicker at the apex ( Britton, 1978: figs. 184–185)................................................................................................... L. townsvillensis Blackburn, 1912

- Body about 25 mm long; ratio of the greatest width to mid length of the pronotum about 1.75:1.00; lateral edges of the pronotum strongly angulate in the middle; aedeagus thicker at the apex and the parameres diverging widely; aedeagus as in Allsopp (1990: figs. 3–4)..................................................................... L. trihomines Allsopp, 1990

19 Pronotal and elytral punctures each with an adpressed, elliptical, white scale; pygidium with punctures of two sizes, larger sparse punctures (30 mm-2) each with a white scale, and dense (300 mm-2), minute punctures without scales on the spaces between; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 188–189)..................................... L. aspera Britton, 1978

- Pronotal and elytral punctures each with a minute, linear, white scale (0.04 mm long), which is wholly contained within the puncture; pygidium with sparse (25 mm- ²), large, shallow, annular punctures without scales, surface between the punctures dull, with strong reticulate microsculpture and without small punctures; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 190–192)............................................................................................ L. comes Britton, 1978

20 Lamella of antennomere 8 in males longer than antennomeres 1–7 together; scales on the disc of the elytra smaller, about 0.04 by 0.03 mm; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 206–207)................................. L. draconis Britton, 1978

- Lamella of antennomere 8 in males shorter than antennomeres 1–7 together; scales on the disc of the elytra larger, about 0.11 by 0.08 mm ........................................................................................ 21

21 Posterior angles of the pronotum more rounded; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 208–209)..... L. podicalis Moser, 1913

- Posterior angles of the pronotum less rounded; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 210–211)....... L. sororia Moser, 1913

22 Metasternum with scales only; body colour very dark brown................................................. 23

- Metasternum with long setae in addition to scales, or with setae only; body usually red-brown or yellow-brown......... 31

23 Antennae with 9 antennomeres; body length 12–15 mm ..................................................... 24

- Antennae with 10 antennomeres; body length usually> 15 mm ............................................... 26

24 Lamella of antennomere 7 of males as long as antennomeres 2–6 together; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 212–214)..................................................................................... L. minuta Moser, 1913

- Lamella of antennomere 7 of males 1.3–1.9x long as antennomeres 2–6 together.................................. 25

25 Lamella of antennomere 7 of males about 1.85 mm long; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 215–216)................................................................................................. L. lepidosterna Lea, 1926

- Lamella of antennomere 7 of males about 1.2 mm long; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 217–218).. L. hilli Britton, 1978

26 At least the upper edge of the labrum visible from above in or in front of the emargination of the clypeus, which is usually deep and wide........................................................................................... 27

- Labrum not visible from above, the emargination of the clypeus shallow........................................ 30

27 Lobes of the clypeus not uniformly rounded; lateral edges of the pronotum distinctly concave behind the middle; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 219–220).................................................... L. rubrior Blackburn, 1912

- Lobes of the clypeus more uniformly rounded; lateral edges of the pronotum straight or slightly concave behind the middle. .................................................................................................. 28

28 Body about 14 mm long; scales on elytra elongate, 3x long as wide, parallel-sided, rounded at end; pronotum without a trace of a well-defined, raised anterior margin close to anterolateral angles; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 221–222)....................................................................................... L. degener Blackburn, 1888

- Body 17–22 mm long; scales on elytra ovoid; pronotum sometimes with a short, narrow raised anterior margin close to anterolateral angles.................................................................................. 29

29 Clypeus less transverse, with a deeper, rounded emargination; ratio of the greatest width to mid length of the pronotum about 1.45:1.00, with a narrow raised anterior margin on each side towards the angle; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 225–226)................................................................................ L. grata Blackburn, 1890

- Clypeus more transverse, with a shallow, obtusely angulate emargination; ratio of the greatest width to mid length of the pronotum about 1.65:1, without a trace of a narrow raised anterior margin; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 223–224)................................................................................... L. rothei Blackburn, 1888

30 Scales on dorsal surface linear, parallel-sided and about 2x long as their punctures; lateral edges of pronotum behind the middle straight or slightly concave; body 12–15 mm long; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 227–228)... L. rufa Blackburn, 1888

- Scales on dorsal surface broadly ovoid, only slightly longer than their punctures; lateral edges of pronotum behind the middle obviously concave; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 223–224)........................... L. rothei Blackburn, 1888

31 Antennae with 9 antennomeres; head without a transverse band of very dense scales; scales on the clypeus and frons elongate and pointed; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 229–230).................................... L. sticta Britton, 1978

- Antennae with 10 antennomeres; head usually with a transverse band of very dense, white scales extending inwards from each eye; scales on the clypeus and frons circular or oval, not pointed at the distal end................................. 32

32 Pronotal hypomera shiny and without scales or punctures in a broad band between the outer edge of the coxal cavity and the lateral edge of the pronotum; anterior and posterior third of the hypomera clothed with white scales.................. 33

- Pronotal hypomera clothed with white scales continuously from anterior to posterior margin, at least along the outer margin. .................................................................................................. 37

33 Body 28–33 mm long; clypeus, as viewed from above, with a very obvious angular emargination in the middle of the anterior edge and labrum not visible; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 231–232)..................... L. amitina Britton, 1978

- Body <25 mm long; clypeus, as viewed from above, with a rounded emargination or without an anterior emargination and the labrum visible, projecting beyond the anterior edge of the clypeus............................................. 34

34 Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 233–234); terminal ventrite in female with an obvious midventral protuberance......................................................................................... L. cabala Britton, 1978

- Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 235–240); terminal ventrite in female without an obvious midventral protuberance... 35

35 Clypeus, as viewed from above, with a rounded emargination in the middle of the anterior edge; lamellae of male club about 1.7 mm long, female club about 1.1 mm; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 235–236)............ L. uptoni Britton, 1978

- Clypeus, as viewed from above, without an emargination; lamellae of male club 1.0– 1.2 mm long, female club about 0.9 mm .................................................................................................. 36

36 Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 237–238); body 17–21 mm long......................... L. flavipennis Lea, 1926

- Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 239–240); body about 23 mm long....................... L. condita Britton, 1978

37 Terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp with a small, dull flat area on the upper side; antennal club of males 2 mm long, as long as antennomeres 1–7 together; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 241–242)............... L. clypealis Moser, 1913

- Terminal palpomere of the maxillary palp with an obvious concavity on the upper side; antennal club of males 1.6 mm or less .................................................................................................. 38

38 Body 22–32 mm long................................................................................ 39

- Body <22 mm long.................................................................................. 40

39 Scales on the elytra about 0.1 mm long and nearly circular; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 243–244)................................................................................................. L. grisea Britton, 1959

- Scales on the elytra 0.15 mm or longer and more ovoid; aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 245–246)............................................................................................ L. squamulata Waterhouse, 1875

40 Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 247–248); lamellae of male antennal club 1.6 mm long... L. delicatula Blackburn, 1888

- Aedeagus as in Britton (1978: figs. 249–250), lamellae of male antennal club about 1.3 mm long.................................................................................................. L. arnhemensis Britton, 1978

- Aedeagus as in Allsopp (1999: fig. 1); lamellae of male antennal club about 1.3 mm long......... L. bakkeri Allsopp, 1999