Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903

Karner, Michael, 2020, Taxonomic Studies on Australian Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera, Silvanidae, Brontinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 723, pp. 135-158 : 140-142

Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903

Fig. 2

Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903: 154 .

Psammoecus incertior – Hetschko 1930: 83.

Diagnosis

The following combination of character states distinguishes this species: body elongate-oval ( Fig. 2A ), length 2.86–3.30 mm; eyes large ( Fig. 2B ), unevenly rounded with distinctly stronger curvature posteriorly; temples very short; frontal of moderate length, diverging anteriorly, almost parallel posteriorly, reaching anterior ²⁄5 of eyes; antennae somewhat short ( Fig. 2D ), stout, antennomere 8 castaneous, antennomeres 9–10 piceous; antennomere 11 yellowish brown; punctation on vertex moderate ( Fig. 2B ), punctures strongly elongate, almost twice as long as eye facet diameter, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate; pronotum widest at anterior third ( Fig. 2C ), lateral pronotal margins with six small but distinct teeth; teeth II, V, and VI somewhat larger than others, anterior denticles small, posterior denticles very small; pronotal punctation moderate, punctures distinctly widened, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate, setae directed medially; elytra widest just in front of middle ( Fig. 2A ), with large brown medio-lateral maculae and small darkened area at posterior third of suture, striae as wide as interstices, pubescence moderate, microsculpture absent; male genitalia strongly sclerotised ( Fig. 2 E–H), median lobe slender, evenly narrowed towards apex, tip blunt in dorsal view; curved ventrally with sharp tip in lateral view; parameres short, wide, with short protrusion at postero-lateral margin, two long setae near protrusion and few short setae along inner margins.

Material examined

Holotype

AUSTRALIA • ♂; “ Type | H.T.” [round label with red border]; “Australia. | Blackburn Coll. | B.M.1910- 236.”; “ Psammoecus | incertior Blackb. ”; NHMUK.

Other material

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 spec.; Cairns ; 16°55′ S, 145°46′ E; May1947; ANIC • 2 specs; Cassowary Coast Region, Palmerston National Park , 1 mi. E of Crawford’s Lookout; 17°36′ S, 145°48′ E; 6 Nov. 1966; Britton leg.; under bark; ANIC • 2 specs; Shire of Mareeba, Kuranda ; 16°49′ S, 145°38′ E; Oct. 1950; ANIC • 6 specs; same locality; 16°49′ S, 145°38′ E; Feb. 1950; ANIC • 3 specs; same locality; Feb. 1909; Bryant leg.; NHMUK • 1 spec.; same data as for preceding; MKF • 1 spec.; Shire of Mareeba, 6 km NE of Kuranda, Black Mt Road ; 16°46′ S, 145°40′ E; 21 May 1976; Britton leg.; MKF • 2 specs; Tablelands, 6.8 km W of Atherton, Russel River Crossing ; 17°26′ S, 145°54′ E; 11 Jun. 1992; Reid leg.; rainforest, beaten; ANIC • 1 spec.; Townsville Regional City, Magnetic Island ; 19°8′ S, 146°50′ E; Jul. 1921; Carter leg.; ANIC .

Distribution

Australia (Queensland).

Remarks

The colouration of this species is rather variable, but the general pattern remains constant. A very distinct character is the peculiar shape of the male parameres, which differs considerably from all other known species of Psammoecus .

Figures

Fig. 2. Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903, ♂♂. A–C. Holotype (NHMUK). A. Habitus. B. Head. C. Pronotum. D–H. Specimen from Queensland (ANIC). D. Left antenna. E. Aedeagus, ventral view. F. Aedeagus, lateral view. G. Parameres, ventral view. H. Median lobe and parameres, lateral view. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; B–F = 0.5 mm; G–H = 0.2 mm.