Deretaphrus incultus Carter and Zeck, 1937

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 : 34-36

Deretaphrus incultus Carter and Zeck, 1937

( Figs. 37 , 69 , 106–107 , 152 , 174 , 214–215 )

Deretaphrus incultus Carter and Zeck, 1937: 201 . Heinze 1943: 119.

Diagnosis. This species can be readily distinguished from congeners by the pronotal disc lacking a median longitudinal depression or groove (represented at most by a weak depression at the base), the nearly glabrous antennae, elytral interstitial intervals 3, 5, and 7 being weakly carinate, not meeting near apex, and a distribution restricted to Western Australia. It most closely resembles D. parviceps but can be distinguished by the well-developed, laterally expanded, angulate supra-ocular ridges of head (eyes mostly concealed from dorsal view), the evenly arcuate, slightly protuberant eyes, and the raised elytral interstitial intervals being straight and separate from one another for their entire length.

Redescription. Length 6.5–8.6 mm. Width 2–2.8 mm. Body elongate, parallel, dark red to black; dorsal surface glabrous, moderately shiny; ventral surface moderately shiny, glabrous except for minute setae that arise from punctures. Head ( Fig. 37 ): In dorsal view, slightly narrowed anteriorly, subtriangular; with laterally expanded supraocular ridges; eyes partially concealed from above; punctures small and dense except sparse along posterior margin. Frontoclypeal suture not distinct, arcuate anteromedially, with a weak median impression. Clypeus distinctly narrower than head. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly arcuate medially. Submentum shape as in Fig. 52 ; triangular, fused to subgenal braces, without paired setose pits; anterior margin arcuate, strongly produced anteroventrally over oral cavity, mentum completely concealed. Antennal groove well-developed, punctate internally. Antenna minutely setose, appearing glabrous except under high magnification, segments 3–8 with a single transverse row of minute setae. Antennal club segments with minute setae. Antennal club distinctly asymmetrical, leading edge of club segments much more inflated than trailing edge. Dorsal surface (external face) of mandible without median setose groove. Thorax ( Fig. 69 ): Pronotum quadrate, tapering to base and slightly flattened basally, widest near anterior margin; dorsal surface weakly convex, more strongly deflexed near anterior angles; anterior margin straight; anterior angles rounded but pronounced; base narrower than elytral bases; posterior margin weakly sinuate; posterior angles with small denticle; lateral margin with incomplete carina, forming a distinct raised border in dorsal view. Pronotal disc with medium sized, ovoid punctures, each bearing a minute seta. Pronotal median longitudinal depression absent. Hypomeron sparsely punctate, punctures large and shallow, each bearing a seta; lateral walls strongly deflexed. Prosternum flat medially, strongly deflexed at lateral margin. Tergosternal suture more or less straight. Elytra ( Figs. 106–107 ): Elytron flat, not evenly convex; interstitial intervals 3, 5, 7, and 9 weakly raised, more pronounced near apex. Basal elytral margin with intervals 3 and 5 each ending in a knob-like protuberance; callosity on elytral shoulder long and projecting dorsolaterally. Legs: Femur and tibia with short, sparse setae; inner face of tibia with small fringe of setae. Tarsus sparsely setose except for 2 pockets of dense setae on the ventral surface at the apex of tarsomeres 1–3. Abdomen: Ventrite V simple in males, apex slightly depressed (appearing subtly truncate) in females. Aedeagus: Phallobase as in Fig. 152 . Tegmen consisting of paired, slender transverse plates at middle; plates narrowly touching medially. Basal piece with short anterolateral struts; struts slightly curved anteriorly. Parameres moderately short, broadly rounded, widely separated and individually articulated to phallobase, internal lateral margins arcuate; paramere sparsely setose with short setae at apical margin; dorsal surface of paramere with well-developed, transverse, curved process; process thickest at base, narrowing apically, shorter than half the length of the paramere, apex pointed; processes narrowly separated medially. Penis similar to Fig. 169 ; short, moderately thick, slightly curved; apex narrowed and pointed; base slightly expanded, bearing moderately long, paired anterior struts. Penis unicolored.

Variation. The color and size are variable within the species. In one specimen, a small area in the center of the pronotal disc is impunctate.

Distribution. Australia: South Australia and Western Australia ( Fig. 174 ).

Biology. One specimen was taken at a light [ SAMA 231 NL], and one specimen was taken under the bark of Eucalyptus sp. [ WAMP 66 NL] .

Remarks. Carter and Zeck (1937) mentioned “four examples” from Coolgardie and Beverley (in the collections of du Boulay and H.J. Carter) and Kellerberrin (in S. Australia Museum). Three specimens were located that matched these localities/ collections. A fourth specimen from Kalgoorlie was located in the ANIC. Since the specimen labels were consistent with syntype material, and due to the close proximity of Kalgoorlie to Coolgardie, we also consider this part of the syntypic series. In order to stabilize this name, a lectotype and three paralectotypes are here designated from the syntype series of D. incultus .

Type Locality. Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, Beverley , and Kellerberrin , Western Australia .

Type Material Examined. L E C T O T Y P E ( Figs. 214–215 ) ( AMSA, point-mounted above card) label data: “Coolgardie W.A [in Carter’ s hand] // Holotype [red label] // Deretaphrus incultus C & Z. [in Carter’ s hand] Det. H.J. Carter // HOLO- TYPE [red label] // Australian Museum K231597” [ AMSA 2 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARALECTOTYPE ( ANIC, card-mounted) label data: “Kalgoorlie W.A. H.J.C. [in Carter’ s hand]// Lea [red label] // PARATYPE [blue label] // Deretaphrus incultus Cart [in Carter’ s hand] // PARATYPE [blue label]” [ ANIC 1 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARALECTOTYPE ( SAMA, card-mounted) label data: “Kellerberrin WA [handwritten] // Paratype [blue label] // Deretaphrus incultus Cart. [in Carter’ s hand] // S. Aust. Museum specimen [orange label]” [ SAMA 273 NL, examined]. Sex not determined. PARALECTOTYPE ( BMNH) label data: “Beverley, W.A. F. H. du Boulay // PARATYPE [blue label] // Deretaphrus

incultus Cart [in Carter’ s hand] // 1936 389 [handwritten]” [ BMNH 87 NL].

Additional Material Examined (5). AUSTRALIA: SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Kimba ( SAMA 231 NL). WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Hamel ( UQIC 30 NL); Mundrabilla ( WAMP 66 NL); Norseman, 15 mi. NW by W ( ANIC 216 NL); Officer Basin, NE of Streich Mount, Great Victorian Desert ( WAMP 56 NL).

Figures

Figs. 35–41. Deretaphrus species, head. 35) D. bucculentus, dorsal view; 36) D. carinatus, dorsal view; 37) D. incultus, dorsal view; 38) D. parviceps, dorsal view; 39) D. rodmani, dorsal view; 40) D. ocularis, dorsal view; 41) D. ocularis, lateral view.

Figs. 66–74. Deretaphrus species, pronotum. 66) D. gracilis; 67) D. hoplites; 68) D. ignarus; 69) D. incultus;

Figs. 106–111. Deretaphrus species, elytra, dorsal and lateral views. 106–107) D. incultus; 108–109) D. interruptus;

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

Figs. 173–174. Distribution of Deretaphrus species. 173) D. alveolatus, D. antennatus, D. parviceps, and D. rodmani;

Figs. 210–218. Primary type specimens and specimen labels of Deretaphrus species. 210–211) D. ignarus, lectotype, BMNH; 212–213) D. pascoei, lectotype, ANIC; 214–215) D. incultus, lectotype, AMSA; 216–217) D. interruptus, lectotype, MNHUB; 218) D. iridescens, lectotype, BMNH.

Figs. 48–53. Deretaphrus species, head capsule, ventral view, showing setae and shape of submentum. 48) D. ignarus;

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.