Saprinodes distinctus Degallier , 1993

Lackner, Tomas & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2017, A monograph of the Australopacific Saprininae (Coleoptera, Histeridae), ZooKeys 689, pp. 1-263 : 60-63

Saprinodes distinctus Degallier, 1993 Figs 263, 264-269, 270-278, 759

Saprinodes distinctus Dégallier, 1993: 49, figs 6-11.

Type locality.

Australia: Queensland: Danbulla S.F.

Type material examined.

Saprinodes distinctus Dégallier, 1993: holotype, ♂, genitalia glued to the same mounting card as the specimen, with the following labels: "AUSTRALIA: n. Qld. / Danbulla S.F., 13 km / NE of Yungaburra / 28.VII - 3.IX. 1987 / Storey & De Faveri" (printed-written); followed by: "MDPI Intercept / Trap Site No. 27" (printed-written); followed by: " Saprinodes / distinctus / HOLOTYPE / N. DEGALLIER / T. 13244" (red label, written) (QM). Allotype, ♀, ditto, but 20.XII.[19]86 - 13.I.[19]87, and Trap Site No. 21 (QM). Paratype, ♀, with genitalia glued to the same mounting card as the specimen, with the following labels: "The Crater, near / Herberton, N. Qld. / 16 dec. 1961 / McAlpine + Lossin" (written); followed by: " Saprinodes / distinctus / DEGALLIER / PARATYPE" (red label, written); followed by: "K 204388" (printed); followed by: “10-114” (yellow label, pencil-written, added by the senior author) (AMS).

Additional material examined.

AUSTRALIA. Queensland: 1 spec., Wongabel S.F., 5 km S Atherton, 800 m, 5.-14.xii.1988, Monteith & Thompson (FIT) (QM); 1 ♂ & 2 specs., Batavia Downs, 12.41S 142.41E, 22.vi.-23.viii.1992, P. Zborowski & J. Cardale (FIT) (ANIC).

Biology.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Endemic to Australia: Queensland (Fig. 759).

Remarks.

S. distinctus is rather similar to S. falcifer . Characters that best separate the two species are mentioned in the above key. The males of the two species differ only in the structure of eighth abdominal ventrite (compare Figs 270-271 with 292-293). Since we provide the type species of the genus, S. falcifer , with a full re-description we give for S. distinctus only a brief diagnostic description.

Diagnostic description.

Body length: PEL: 2.50-2.80 mm; APW: 0.75-0.85 mm; PPW: 1.75-2.00 mm; EL: 1.50-1.80 mm; EW: 2.00-2.25 mm. Body (Fig. 263) generally similar to S. falcifer , but elytral ‘mirror’ (=polished area) slightly larger, punctures slightly larger than in S. falcifer (compare Figs 263 and 279); legs, antennae and mouthparts similarly coloured between the two species. Antennal scape (Fig. 264) as well as antennal club (Fig. 265) almost identical to S. falcifer ; sensory structures of antennal club not examined. Mandibles with rounded outer margin, acutely pointed, sub-apical tooth on inner margin of left mandible moderately large, rounded; labrum faintly convex dorsally, knobby, otherwise completely agrees with that of S. falcifer ; mentum (Fig. 266) very similar to that of S. falcifer , but anterior margin slightly bisinuate and median emargination less deep than in following species (compare Figs 266 and 282); other mouthparts not examined.

Clypeus (Fig. 264) also similar between two species, but more constricted laterally (compare Figs 264 and 280), and more coarsely punctuate, margined laterally by prolonged divided frontal striae; supra-orbital striae well developed, carinate; frontal stria (Fig. 264) widely separated medially, continuous even further on clypeus than in S. falcifer ; frontal disc (Fig. 264) more coarsely punctuate than that of S. falcifer , otherwise very similar to it; eyes convex, well visible from above.

Pronotal sides (Fig. 263) strongly convergent apically, stronger so than in following species, rest of pronotum extremely similar to S. falcifer with exception of small angulate projection of frontal stria medially behind head which is absent in S. distinctus and present in S. falcifer ; scutellum very small. Elytral striae striae 1-4 faintly recognizable. Entire elytral disc very coarsely and densely punctuate, punctation rugulose-lacunose, even coarser than that of S. falcifer , punctures on apical half confluent, aciculate and striolate (Fig. 263) on apical third punctures disappear, forming deep elongate wrinkles; basally between fourth dorsal elytral and sutural stria a small (however, slightly larger than that of S. falcifer ) round ‘mirror’ (=polished area) present, its surface glabrous. Propygidium and pygidium very similar between the two species. Prosterna of the two species almost identical, curious projection near basal ends of lateral prosternal striae of S. distinctus (Fig. 267) even more prominent than in following species (Fig. 284). Mesoventrites (Fig. 268) as well as metaventrites of the two closely related species very similar; metepisterna also very similar. Intercoxal disc of first abdominal ventrite very similar in both species. Legs of both species (compare e.g. Figs 269 and 287) almost identical. Male genitalia (Figs 270-278) of S. distinctus differ basically only in the structure of eighth abdominal ventrite that is in S. distinctus fused medially (separated in S. falcifer ) and vela that is in the case of S. distinctus almost asetose; apices of eighth sternite are with few setae in S. distinctus whereas they are without setae in S. falcifer (compare Figs 270-271 with Figs 292-293). Eighth abdominal tergite is medially deeply inwardly arcuate in S. distinctus whereas it is less so in S. falcifer .