Deretaphrus fossus Newman, 1842

Lord, Nathan P. & McHugh, Joseph V., 2013, A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Deretaphrus Newman, 1842 (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Bothrideridae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 12) 67, pp. 1-107 : 27-29

Deretaphrus fossus Newman, 1842

( Figs. 1–3 , 18–28 , 65 , 98–99 , 148 , 175 , 201–203 )

Deretaphrus fossus Newman, 1842: 403 . Erichson 1845: 288; Wollaston and Newman 1855: ccvii–ccxii; Pascoe 1862: 460–464; Masters 1871: 79; Horn 1878: 581; Lea 1898: 549–550; Blackburn 1903: 120–123, 125–128, 130; Carter and Zeck 1937: 199–201; Heinze 1943: 119.

Derataphrus fossus: Lacordaire 1854: 377–378 . Misspelling, no status.

Deretaphrus cordicollis Blackburn, 1903: 125 . Carter and Zeck 1937: 199–201. Synonymized by Carter and Zeck 1937: 200.

Diagnosis. This species can be readily distinguished from congeners by the strongly produced anterior pronotal angles, the sinuate lateral pronotal margin (when viewed from above), the distinctly interrupted pronotal median longitudinal canal, and elytral interstitial intervals 3, 5, and 7 carinate, with a portion of the sixth carinate for a short distance on apical half. It most closely resembles D. aequaliceps and D. ignarus . Deretaphrus fossus can be distinguished from D. aequaliceps by the sixth elytral interstitial interval being slightly raised to carinate for a short distance, the posterior portion of the median longitudinal canal being bordered on either side posteriorly by a slightly raised area of the pronotal disc, the pronotum with distinctly sinuate lateral margins and more strongly pronounced and angulate anterior pronotal angles, and by the generally larger size. For comments on similarities and differences in relation to D. ignarus , see the diagnosis under that species.

Redescription. Length 6.5–11.7 mm. Width 1.8–3.3 mm. Body elongate, parallel, dark red to black; dorsal surface glabrous, matte to slightly shiny; ventral surface moderately shiny, glabrous except for minute setae that arise from punctures. Head: In dorsal view, slightly narrowed anteriorly; without laterally expanded supra-ocular ridges; eyes visible from above; punctures small and dense except sparse along posterior margin. Frontoclypeal suture distinct, nearly straight. Anterior margin of clypeus broadly arcuate. Submentum shape as in Fig. 153 ; narrowly separated from subgenal braces, with large punctures, with paired, setose pits; anterior margin evenly arcuate, slightly inflexed, strongly produced anteroventrally over oral cavity, mentum concealed. Antennal groove well-developed, impunctate. Antenna sparsely setose, segments 3–7 with a single transverse row of short setae, setae about half as long as the segment from which they arise; setae on antennal club segments sparse, short, arising near apex of segments. Antennal club distinctly asymmetrical, leading edge of club segments much more inflated than trailing edge. Dorsal surface (external face) of mandible with median setose groove. Thorax ( Fig. 65 ): Pronotum elongate, tapering to base, widest near anterior; dorsal surface evenly convex; anterior margin straight; anterior angles strongly produced, nearly right angles; base narrower than elytral bases; posterior margin weakly sinuate; posterior angles depressed, with small denticle; lateral margin sinuate, with incomplete carina, forming a distinct raised margin in dorsal view, terminating anteriorly before the true anterior margin of the pronotum. Pronotal disc with large, dense, punctures. Pronotal median longitudinal canal well-developed; interrupted; anterior portion of canal a round depression, heavily punctate internally; posterior portion of canal narrow, parallel-sided, deeply impressed, impunctate internally, slightly expanding right at base; internal lateral margins of posterior canal grooved. Pronotal disc on either side of posterior canal with slightly raised portion. Hypomeron more sparsely punctate than pronotal disc; lateral walls nearly vertical. Prosternum flat medially, strongly deflexed at lateral margin. Prosternum depressed immediately anterior to procoxae. Tergosternal suture more or less straight. Elytra ( Figs. 98–99 ): Elytron evenly convex; interstitial intervals 3, 5, and 7 raised and shiny for entire length, becoming carinate near the apex; interval 6 raised for a short time near apical third, not reaching apex. Crest of raised intervals with punctures bearing minute setae. Basal elytral margin with intervals 3 and 5 each ending in a knob-like protuberance; fingerlike callosity on the elytral shoulder short and thick. Legs: Setation sparse; inner face of tibia with a prominent fringe of relatively short setae. Tarsus sparsely setose except for 2 pockets of dense setae on the ventral surface near apex of tarsomeres 1–3. Abdomen: Ventrite V simple. Aedeagus: Phallobase as in Fig. 148 . Tegmen consisting of paired, subtriangular plates at middle; plates narrowly touching medially. Basal piece with short anterolateral struts; struts slightly curved anteriorly. Parameres moderately short, broadly rounded, distinctly separated and individually articulated to phallobase, internal lateral margins arcuate; paramere sparsely setose with short setae at apical margin; dorsal surface of paramere with short subtriangular process; process thickest at base, narrowing apically, slightly shorter than half the length of the paramere, apex slightly swollen; processes moderately separated, parallel medially. Penis similar to Fig. 169 ; short, moderately thick, more or less straight; apex narrowed and pointed; base slightly expanded, bearing short, paired anterior struts. Penis unicolored.

Variation. The size and color vary strongly within the species. The amount of sinuation of the lateral margins of the pronotum, the convexity of the pronotal disc, and the degree of carination of the elytral interstitial intervals (especially the sixth) is slightly variable. In some, the anterior portion of the median longitudinal canal is more weakly developed.

Distribution. Australia: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria ( Fig. 175 ).

Biology. One specimen was taken at an outside light [ANIC 66NL]. Another specimen was taken at a mercury vapor light in an open forest [QMBA 4NL]. Several specimens were taken under the bark of Eucalyptus [ANIC 112NL, ANIC 249NL].

Taxonomic Notes. Deretaphrus cordicollis was synonymized under D. fossus by Carter and Zeck (1937). Although the type specimen of D. fossus is apparently lost, there is little doubt as to the identity of this species. Therefore, we continue to recognize D. cordicollis as a junior synonym of D. fossus .

Remarks. N e i t h e r N e w m a n (1 8 4 2) n o r Blackburn (1903) mentioned the number of specimens examined of D. fossus and D. cordicollis , respectively. The type of D. fossus was not located. The suspected original pin and labels ( Fig. 201 ) were found among Newman’ s material in the BMNH, but no specimen was associated. The label data of the suspected original type is as follows: “ Deretaphrus fossus Newm 1842 Sigerpes piceus Germ 1848 3.223 [in Newman’ s hand] // Label in E. Newman’ s handwriting, but no specimen found [handwritten] det. R.G. Booth 2006”. In order to stabilize these names, a neotype is here designated from the material of D. fossus and a lectotype is here designated from the syntype series of D. cordicollis . There is a specimen of D. cordicollis [SAMA, point-mounted, damaged] that bears the following label data: “Bous. [handwritten in red ink] // described as? cordicollis. [in Blackburn’ s hand] // co-type. [in Blackburn’ s hand] // Dividing Rge., V. Blackb’ s Coll. // I.8722 Deretaphrus cordicollis Bl Victoria Cotype [handwritten in black ink, “Cotype” written in red ink on right side of label] // S. Aust. Museum specimen [orange label]” [SAMA 272NL, examined]. Sex is not determined. Given the locality of the specimen and Blackburn labels, this is possibly the “much smaller specimen…” Blackburn “took near the summit of one of the higher Victorian mountains…” As Blackburn (1903) stated in his description of D. cordicollis , “It is probably a valid species, but more specimens of both forms ought to be examined before this Victorian insect is described as distinct.” Because this specimen does not bear the markings on the card-mount typical of Blackburn syntypes, we do not consider this a syntypic specimen.

Type Locality. Deretaphrus fossus: Port Philip , South Australia ; Deretaphrus cordicollis : Tasmania.

Type Material Examined. Deretaphrus fossus . NEOTYPE ( Figs. 202–203 ) ( SAMA, pointmounted) label data: “2619 [handwritten on blue label] // Tasmania A. Simson // S.A. Museum specimen [red label]” [ SAMA 285 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. This type was removed from the original card-mount and pointmounted. The original card-mount is pinned beneath the specimen.

Deretaphrus cordicollis . LECTOTYPE ( Figs. 204– 205 ) (♂, BMNH, point-mounted) label data: “7202 T. Tas [in Blackburn’ s hand at base of card-mount; “7202” and “Tas” written in red ink, “T.” written in black ink] // Type H.T. [round label with red border] // Australia. [red underline] Blackburn Coll. B.M.1910-236. // Deretaphrus cordicollis, Blackb [in Blackburn’ s hand]” [ BMNH 97 NL, examined]. This type was removed from the original card-mount and point-mounted. The original card-mount, abdomen [glued to a card, bearing a ♂ symbol], and genitalia [in glycerin in genitalia vial] are pinned beneath the specimen.

Additional Material Examined (171). AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TER- RITORY (A.C.T.): Canberra ( ANIC 96 NL, ANIC 295 NL); Canberra, Black Mountain ( ANIC 238 NL). NEW SOUTH WALES: 30 mi. SW of Canberra ( SAMA 184–186 NL); Armidale ( ANIC 119 NL); Black Bobs Creek, 11 km. SW of Moss Vale ( ANIC 112 NL, ANIC 249 NL); Blue Mountains ( ANIC 15 NL, ANIC 154 NL); Bogolong ( AMSA 46 NL, MAMU 23 NL, MAMU 35 NL); Copertree Valley ( AMSA 71 NL); Dorrigo ( ANIC 100 NL); Forest Reefs ( SAMA 38–39 NL); Goulburn ( ANIC 288 NL, SAMA 244 NL); Greta ( ANIC 296 NL); Hornsby ( AMSA 18 NL, ANIC 94 NL); Jenolan ( HNHM 9 NL); Jindabyne ( AMSA 76–77 NL); Lane Cove ( AMSA 73 NL); Matheson ( UQIC 20 NL); Mount Kosciuzko ( MCZ 37 NL); Mount Lofty Range ( BMNH 89 NL); Mount Tomah ( AMSA 24 NL); Orange ( ANIC 284 NL); Pipers Flat ( MAMU 24–25 NL); Ryde ( AMSA 7–8 NL, ANIC 109 NL, ANIC 225 NL); Sydney ( ANIC 101 NL, ANIC 160 NL, BMNH 85, BMNH 91 NL, USNM 63–64 NL); Sydney, Sandy Point ( ANIC 271–272 NL); Tumut Pond ( BPBM 27 NL); Tumut River ( AMNH 22 NL, BPBM 25–26 NL, BPBM 28–29 NL, CASC 130 NL); Wauchope ( QMBA 45 NL); Wingello (Manor Park) ( HNHM 5 NL); Yass, 16 km. NW ( ANIC 237 NL); no locality ( MAMU 3 NL, MAMU 36 NL). QUEENSLAND: Cape York ( MNHUB 41 NL, MNHUB 49 NL); Goomburra, Upper Dalrymple Creek ( QMBA 1 NL); Middle Ridge ( UQIC 21 NL); Mount Nebo Road ( QMBA 4 NL); Stanthorpe ( QMBA 18–19 NL, QMBA 23–24 NL, UQIC 47 NL); Warwick, 1.6 km. W of Wildash ( SAMA 169 NL); Wyberba ( ANIC 48 NL). SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Adelaide ( BMNH 1 NL); Kangaroo Island, Rocky River ( SAMA 202 NL); Enfield suburb ( AMSA 45 NL); Mount Lofty Ranges ( AMSA 21–23 NL, SAMA 63 NL, SAMA 82–84 NL, SAMA 255 NL). TASMANIA: Grantow ( HNHM 12 NL); Hobart ( BMNH 5–6 NL, BMNH 8 NL, BMNH 71–72 NL, BMNH 74 NL, SAMA 40–41 NL, SAMA 183 NL, SAMA 221 NL); Hobart, Sandy Bay ( ANIC 66 NL); Latrobe ( SAMA 196 NL); Launceston ( AMSA 26 NL); Mount

Wellington ( ANIC 92–93 NL, SAMA 1 NL); New Norfolk ( BMNH 70 NL); no locality ( AMSA 80–81 NL, BMNH 7 NL, SAMA 44 NL, SAMA 200 NL, SAMA 213 NL, SAMA 287 NL). VICTORIA: Dadenong Ranges ( HNHM 13 NL); Diamond Creek ( SAMA 223 NL); Eltham ( MVMA 33–35 NL); Gippsland ( MVMA 27–28 NL); Glenfyne ( AAIC 1–2 NL); Heywood, 18 km. NWN ( MVMA 39 NL); Killara ( MVMA 29 NL, MVMA 36–37 NL); Lakes Entrance ( ANIC 303 NL); Lilydale ( MVMA 25 NL); Melbourne ( AMSA 70 NL, HNHM 2 NL, SAMA 284 NL); North Melbourne ( MVMA 38 NL); Port Phillip ( MNHUB 2 NL); Stawell ( ANIC 175 NL); Tyres River ( ANIC 226 NL); Wallan ( MVMA 41–42 NL); Warragul ( ANIC 214 NL, ANIC 228–229 NL); Warrandyte ( ANIC 36 NL); Yarragon ( ANIC 121–123 NL, ANIC 222–224 NL); no locality ( ANIC 151–152 NL, BMNH 10 NL, MAMU 1–2 NL, MNHUB 7 NL, MNHUB 9 NL, MNHUB 10–12 NL, MNHUB 48 NL, UQIC 23 NL). STATE UNKNOWN: Broadwater ( QDPI 16 NL); Inverell, 30 km. E ( QDPI 18 NL); Portland ( MVMA 30–32 NL); no locality ( AMSA 27 NL, ANIC 14 NL, CASC 125–126 NL, MCZ 31–32 NL, MNHUB 47 NL, MVMA 40 NL, OUMNH 10– 13 NL, OUMNH 22 NL, SAMA 42 NL, BMNH 99 NL).

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Deretaphrus fossus, neotype. 1) Dorsal habitus; 2) Ventral habitus; 3) Lateral habitus.

Figs. 18–24. Deretaphrus fossus, head morphology. 18) Head, dorsal view; 19) Head, lateral view; 20) Head, ventral view; 21) Labrum, ventral view; 22) Maxilla, ventral view; 23) Left mandible, dorsal view; 24) Labium, ventral view.

Figs. 25–28. Deretaphrus fossus, thorax and abdomen morphology. 25) Metathoracic wing; 26) Metendosternite, ventral view; 27) Pterothorax, ventral view; 28) Abdominal ventrites I–V, ventral view.

Figs. 57–65. Deretaphrus species, pronotum. 57) D. aequaliceps; 58) D. alveolatus; 59) D. analis; 60) D. antennatus;

Figs. 94–99. Deretaphrus species, elytra, dorsal and lateral views. 94–95) D. carinatus; 96–97) D. erichsoni;

Figs. 140–148. Deretaphrus species, phallobase. 140) D. aequaliceps; 141) D. alveolatus; 142) D. analis;

Figs. 175–176. Distribution of Deretaphrus species. 175) D. fossus and D. ignarus; 176) D. piceus and D. viduatus.

Figs. 201–209. Primary type specimens and specimen labels of Deretaphrus species. 201) Presumed pin and label of the original type of D. fossus, BMNH; 202–203) D. fossus, neotype, SAMA; 204–205) D. cordicollis, lectotype, BMNH; 206–207) D. gracilis, lectotype, BMNH; 208–209) D. hoplites, holotype, SAMA.

Figs. 149–157. Deretaphrus species, phallobase. 149) D. gracilis; 150) D. hoplites; 151) D. ignarus; 152) D. incultus;

Figs. 165–172. Deretaphrus species, penis (left: dorsal view; right: lateral view; phallobase, to scale with penis). 165) D. boliviensis; 166) D. bucculentus; 167) D. gracilis; 168) D. hoplites; 169) D. ignarus; 170) D. oregonensis; 171) D. parviceps; 172) D. puncticollis.