Ulobostrichus monteithi Leschen and Escalona

Leschen, Richard A. B., Escalona, Hermes E. & Elgueta, Mario, 2016, Phylogeny of the Gondwanan beetle family Ulodidae (Tenebrionoidea), Zootaxa 4138 (3), pp. 441-473 : 451-452

Ulobostrichus monteithi Leschen and Escalona , sp. n.

( Figs 4E–G , 5F–I , 8E, 8N–P )

Description. Total length 4.5–7.2 mm. Body about 2.2 times as long as wide. Vestiture consisting of yellowish uniform scales, arising from small tubercles, in some regions finer and setae-like, e.g., antennomeres 4–11, labrum, ligula, last maxillary and labial palps, and ventral areas of tibiae and tarsi. Antenna ( Fig. 4E ) not reaching posterior edge of pronotum, length of antennomere 3 greater than 1 and 2 combined. Eye in lateral view suboval small and protuberant and moderately coarsely faceted; greatest width shorter than antennomeres 1–2. Frons wider than the distance between the antennal insertions; frontoclypeus slightly raised to the apex. Labrum transverse, apex broadly rounded. Submentum smooth to apex and slightly raised antero-medially. Pronotum about 0.9 times as long as wide, strongly convex; medially convex with small tubercles forming two separated parallel rows; lateral margins flattened (narrowly explanate) with carinae bearing well separated irregular tubercles, anterior angles projected. Prosternum in front of coxae convex. Scutellum strongly reduced, triangular, 3 times as broad as long. Elytra 1.7 times as long as combined width and 1.8 times as long as pronotum, from apical third to apex the surface declines abruptly; each elytron with 5 tuberculate carinae that ends in a rounded tubercle; striae 1, 2 and 5 reaching apex, striae 3–4 incomplete. Abdomen with intercoxal process subacute; surfaces of ventrites smooth with disperse setae concentrated medially; ventrite V apex broadly rounded; relative ratios of ventrites (measured at the middle): V1 / V2: 1.08; V2 / V3: 1.09; V3 / V4: 1.1; V4 / V5: 1.0. Male genitalia with basal piece of tegmen slightly longer that apicale, tegmen with lateral setae gradually lengthening towards the apex, apicale about equal to phallobase. Parameres very short. Female genitalia with well developed apically inserted gonostyle; spermatheca membranous.

Comments. Specimens of U. monteithi are relatively rare. One specimen collected by HE was removed from the entrance of a borer in an upright log. A single male specimen contained fungal hyphae, spores, and wood fibers in the gut.

Etymology. Dedicated to our friend and colleague, legendary Australian entomologist Geoff Monteith based in Brisbane, Queensland.

Type material examined. Holotype ( ANIC): male, “Dorrigo NP, via Dorrigo, NSW, 10–11-Apr-1966, B.

Cantrell”. Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 1 (male), NSW, 30º29’34”S, 152 º24’17”E, New England NP, Nothofagus, 1450 m , 12–13-Nov-2008, G. Monteith, moss berlesate ( ANIC); 1, New England Nat. Pk, via Ebor, N.S.W., 8– 9.vi.1966, 1450 m, 12–13-Nov-2008, G. Monteith (QM); 1, Dorrigo NP, via Dorrigo, NSW, 10-Apr-1966, B. Cantrell (QM); 1 (male), Nothofagus Mtn. , via Woondenbong, NSW, 4–6-Feb-1982, 1100–1280m, G. Monteith & D. Yates (QM); 1, Nothofagus Mtn. , via Woondenbong, NSW, 4–6-Feb.1982, G. Monteith & D. Yates, Q. M. Berlesate No. 380, 1100–1280m, Nothophagus forest, Stick brushing (QM); 1, Dorrigo NP, NSW, 1-Oct-1987, M. M. Stevens ( ANIC); 1, same data as holotype ( NZAC); 1, Dorrigo Nat. Pk., via Dorrigo, N.S.W., 21.i.1966., B. Cantrell ( NZAC); 1 (female), QLD, Lamington NP, Green Mountains, Toolona Falls, 1000m, 22-Nov-2011, H. Escalona, pyrethrin spray on logs ( ANIC).

Figures

FIGURES 4 A – J. A, Trachyderas costulatum Fairmaire & Germain, length 7.3 mm; B, Trachyderastes dipsaconiae Kaszab, length 7.5 mm; C, Ulodes sp., length 4.8 mm (Australia, Queensland); D, Ulodes hispidus Pascoe, length 7.2 mm. E – G, Ulobostrichus monteithi sp. n., dorsal, lateral and anterior view, length 7.0 mm; H – J, Waitomophylax worthyi (Leschen & Rhode), head, dorsal, lateral and ventral.

FIGURES 5 A – J. A – D, Head and prothorax, ventral view: A, Ulocyphaleus valdivianus (Philippi & Philippi); B, Trachyderas costulatum Fairmaire & Germain; C, Syrphetodes marginatus Pascoe; D, Arthopus brouni Sharp. E, Trachyderastes dipsaconiae Kaszab, antenna detail; F – I, Ulobostrichus monteithi sp. n. F, antenna, G, elytral apex, H, body lateral view, I, body latero-ventral view; J, Meryx rugosa Latreille, wing.

FIGURES 8 A – P. A – B, Exohadrus volutithorax (Broun), prothorax, dorsal and ventral; C, Ulodes hispidus Pascoe, pronotum; D, Trachyderastes dipsaconiae Kaszab, abdomen; E, Ulobostrichus monteithi sp. n., female reproductive track; F – I, Arthopus brouni Sharp, F – G, tegmen, H – I penis, lateral view and apex detail; J, Dipsaconia sp., K – M, Ulocyphaleus valdivianus (Philippi & Philippi), penis, ventral, dorsal and lateral; N – P, Ulobostrichus monteithi sp. n., N – O, genitalia (N, penis, lateral view; O, ventral view of tegmen); P, female genitalia.