Notophanus Thomas, 2011

Thomas, Michael C., 2011, A new genus and species of brontine Silvanidae from Australia (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea), Insecta Mundi 2011 (154), pp. 1-8 : 1

Notophanus Thomas , new genus

Type species. Notophanus bellicilifer Thomas , new species, here designated.

Description. With characteristics of Brontinae : Brontini as described by Thomas (2004), plus: Surface without incrustation, distinctly pubescent. Head with frontoclypeal suture represented by a vague, transverse impression, with short, inconspicuous longitudinal grooves on each side of the clypeus ( Fig. 9 ); gular area arcuately impressed ( Fig. 15 ); mandibles without a prostheca, dorsally with large mycangium bounded anterolaterally with a tubercle ( Fig. 7 ); labial palps securiform ( Fig. 6 ); maxillary palps slender ( Fig. 8 ); temples very short, head abruptly constricted behind eyes ( Fig. 2 ); basal line distinct; eyes small, abruptly hemispherical ( Fig. 2-3 ); antennal scape shorter than head ( Fig. 2 ). Prothorax slightly transverse, anterior angles lobed, lateral margin denticulate, hind angles obtuse. Scutellum without posterior marginal groove ( Fig. 13 ). Elytra with a scutellary striole; in cross section evenly curved to the moderately explanate margin; striae with large shallow punctures; humerus rounded. Legs rather short, femora robust; tarsi “ Dendrophagus type ” ( Fig. 4-5 ). Prosternal process subequal in width to procoxal cavity, slightly expanded apically ( Fig. 16 ); intercoxal process of mesosternum narrow, measured at junction with metasternum about 0.5x width of mesocoxal cavity ( Fig. 17 ); metasternum, measured at midline, shorter than mesocoxal cavity ( Fig. 17 ); hind wings absent; epipleura broad and complete almost to apex.

Etymology. The genus name is composed from the Greek notos for “south” referring to the distribution in southern Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere, and phanos for “bright” to indicate its superficial resemblance to members of the Telephanini .

Figures

Figure 6-9. Notophanus bellicilifer Thomas. 6) Labium. 7) Right mandible. 8) Maxilla. 9) Clypeus.

Figure 14-17. Notophanus bellicilifer Thomas. 14) Male genitalia. 15) Head, ventral view. 16) Prosternum. 17) Meso- and metasternum.

Figure 2-5. Notophanus bellicilifer Thomas. 2) Head and pronotum. 3) Eye. 4) Front tarsus. 5) Hind tarsus

Figure 10-13. Notophanus bellicilifer Thomas. 10) Pronotum, anterior angle. 11) Pronotum, disc. 12) Head, surface sculpture. 13) Scutellum, oblique view.