Calvarium (Calvarium) superbum, Zwick, Peter, 2014

Zwick, Peter, 2014, Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 6. Genera Calvarium Pic, Papuacyphon Zwick, and Ypsiloncyphon Klausnitzer, Zootaxa 3846 (1), pp. 1-41 : 6-7

Calvarium (Calvarium) superbum , n. sp.

( Figures 14−17 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ “ 12.39S 133.26E Arnhem Land Escarpment “Podocarpus Canyon“ 13−14 June 1992 P.Gullan, P.Cranston ex Podocarpus sp. “ ( ANIC).

Diagnosis. A convex species distinguished by T8 ending in 4 acute lobes, the narrow spade-shaped T9, and the long strongly dorsoventrally curved parameres with a short medial finger.

Habitus. BL 3.2 mm, BL/BW 1.6. Structure of head, pronotum and lower face similar to C. australiense . The overall shape appears more slender, oval, elytra with almost parallel sides. In side view there is a small angle between the convex contour of the elytra and the less strongly arched pronotum. Head (except reddish brown labrum) blackish, pronotum and elytra reddish brown, scutellum black, base of elytra narrowly darkened, humeri light. Caudally fading dark stripes along suture and elytral side margins. Surface shining, pilosity fine. Punctation very dense, very fine on head and pronotum, much coarser on elytra. Appendages brown. Only segments 1−4 of left antenna remain. Scape large and wide, pedicel half as large, segment 3 again half as large, segment 4 elongate, as long as segments 2 and 3 together.

Male. T8 with short transverse plate ending in four points namely the prominent side corners and two long, keeled, asperous paramedian projections. Apodemes much longer than those of the narrow T9 which is spadeshaped, with distinct lateral edges ( Fig. 14 ). Tegmen ( Fig. 15 ) an anteriorly well delimited and sclerotized plate supporting a pair of hard paramedian knobs in front of the vaguely defined membranous caudal portion. Parameres long and slender, basolaterally inserted, with caudal half forming a high rising arch above the penis ( Fig. 17 ). Each paramere near its highest point with a short inner branch which is closely appressed to the downcurved main branch which ends in a long narrow tip ( Fig. 15 ). Penis flat, pala long, consisting of two narrowly separated plates, outer edges indistinct over much of the length. On the caudal hard cap articulate the knee-shaped bases of the curved caudally club-shaped flat parameroids. Each with a subterminal projecting small angle on its medial face and externo-distally a pair of short setae ( Fig. 16 ).

Female. Not known.

Notes and etymology. The Latin adjective superbum charaterizes this outstanding species which by the four caudal points of T9 is recognized at first glance. The other components of the terminal segments and genitalia are also distinctive.

Figures

FIGURES 14 − 17. Calvarium (Calvarium) superbum, n. sp., male: 14, superimposed T 8 and T 9; 15, tegmen and parameres; 16, penis; 14 – 16 are dorsal views, to the same scale. 17, slightly oblique lateral view of tegmen and parameres overlying the penis; after a photograph of the cleared, artificially everted genitalia, not to scale.