Lepanus villosus, Matthews, 1974

Gunter, Nicole L. & Weir, Thomas A., 2019, Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): description of 10 new species from the L. australis, L. monteithi, and L. villosus species groups, Zootaxa 4695 (3), pp. 201-252 : 239

Key to species Lepanus villosus species group

1. Elytra with stria 8 ending in a deep pit basally and lateral carina indented at this point ( Fig. 16A )...................... 2

- Elytra with stria 8 not ending in a deep pit basally and lateral carina not indented at this point ( Fig. 16B )................ 3

2. Elytra with a well-developed humeral callus basally between striae 6 and 7 and a distinct depression basally between striae 4 and 5 ( Fig. 16C ); pygidium flat throughout ( Fig. 19D ); mesepimeron punctate; hind wings fully developed; male metatibiae with a notch on inner edge; aedeagus as in Fig 22D; northern Queensland, Wet Tropics... Lepanus villosus Matthews, 1974

- Elytra without a well-developed humeral callus basally between striae 6 and 7 or a distinct depression basally between striae 4 and 5; pygidium with a raised shiny knob apically – more so in males than females ( Fig. 19A ); mesepimeron impunctate; hind wings vestigial; male metatibiae gently curved on inner edge; aedeagus as in Fig. 18A ; northern Queensland, Wet Tropics........................................................... Lepanus pseudovillosus Gunter & Weir , new species

3. Larger species, about 3.5 mm in length; clypeal teeth large and markedly upturned; reticulation strongly developed on all elytral intervals, consisting of dense, short, longitudinally aligned striae ( Fig. 16F ); mesoventrite punctate; pygidium somewhat convex, with an indication of a raised longitudinal midline ( Fig. 19B ); hind wings vestigial; male metatibiae with inner edge virtually straight; aedeagus as in Fig. 18B ; northern Queensland, Mount Lewis area.............................................................................................. Lepanus reticulatus Gunter & Weir , new species

- Smaller species, less than 3.0 mm in length; clypeal teeth small and not markedly upturned; reticulation on elytral intervals less strongly developed and often confined to apical and lateral areas of elytra, consisting of meshes ( Fig. 16G ); mesoventrite impunctate; pygidium virtually flat throughout ( Fig. 19C ); hind wings fully developed; male metatibiae with a notch on inner edge ( Fig. 16D ); aedeagus as in Fig. 18C ; central Queensland, Eungella area........... Lepanus vestitus Matthews, 1974

Figures

FIGURE 16. Some diagnostic characters of the Lepanus villosus species group. A, lateral view of elytron of Lepanus villosus, white arrow points to deep pit at the base of stria 8; B, lateral view of elytron of Lepanus vestitus, note the absence of any deep pit; C, elytron of Lepanus villosus dotted line showing humeral callus between striae 6 and 7 and white arrow showing depression at base of striae 4 and 5; D, male metatibiae of Lepanus vestitus, notch on inner edge; E, male protibia of Lepanus pseudovillosus, showing typical configuration for the species group including the small comb of setae (grey arrow); F, close up of elytral interval surface of Lepanus reticulatus, showing reticulation of short longitudinal striations; G, close up of elytral interval surface of Lepanus vestitus showing reticulations of fine meshes.

FIGURE 18. Left, dorsal, and right view of aedeagi of species within the Lepanus villosus species group. A, Lepanus pseudovillosus; B, Lepanus reticulatus; C, Lepanus vestitus; D, Lepanus villosus. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 19. Pygidial configuration of species within the Lepanus villosus species group. A, Lepanus pseudovillosus; B, Lepanus reticulatus; C, Lepanus vestitus; D, Lepanus villosus. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 1 mm.