Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): review of the L. ustulatus, L. storeyi, and L. nitidus species groups and description of eight new species
Author
Gunter, Nicole L.
0000-0002-8355-0862
ngunter@cmnh.org
Author
Weir, Thomas A.
0000-0002-8355-0862
ngunter@cmnh.org
text
Zootaxa
2021
2021-02-03
4923
1
1
66
journal article
8243
10.11646/zootaxa.4923.1.1
0a027439-c601-4533-bd03-f0e5d4442801
1175-5326
4496757
41D057A7-F855-47C2-A598-8000CFD83A5B
Lepanus dichrous
(
Gillet, 1925
)
(
Figs. 13D, H, J, L
;
14B
;
15B
;
16B
;
17A, C
)
Panelus dichrous
Gillet, 1925: 4
;
Paulian 1935: 119
,
1939: 70
.
Lepanus dichrous
:
Matthews 1974: 111
.
Type material digitally examined.
Holotype
: “Queensl.
Mjöberg”
(printed) / “Ma– landa” (printed) / “Typ.” (printed) /
“
dichrous Gillet
type
.” (handwritten in black, with “
type
” in red ink) / “
Typus
” (printed) / “261 68” (“261” printed, “68” handwritten) / “3555 E92 +” (printed) / “
NHRS
_
JLKB 000027315
” (printed) [
17°21’00”S
,
145°35’00”E
]
.
Other material examined.
831 specimens
from over 50 localities were also examined.
Queensland
:
North Bell Peak
summit,
17°05’19”S
,
145°52’44”E
,
15–16.ix.1981
(T55406–T55421
16 specimens
in
QM
)
;
North Bell Peak
summit,
17°05’19”S
,
145°52’44”E
,
16.ix.1981
(T55422
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
North Bell Peak
summit,
17°05’19”S
,
145°52’44”E
,
19–22.xi.1990
(T55423–T55435, T55835
14 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Robson Creek
,
Atherton
[
17°07’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
17.i.1996
,
R.L. Kitching
(25-058288
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Robson Creek
,
Atherton
[
17°07’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
18.i.1996
,
R.J. Kitching
&
H. Mitchell
(25-058287
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Robson Creek
[
17°08’00”S
,
145°38’00”E
] (25-065483
1 specimen
also as COL3003, 25-065484
1 specimen
also as COL3004 specimens in
ANIC
)
;
Danbulla Forestry Reserve
,
13 km
NE of Yungaburra
[
17°10’00”S
,
145°38’00”E
],
13.ii–6.iii.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
De Faveri
(25-032545
1 specimen
in
QDPC
)
;
Danbulla Forestry Reserve
,
13 km
NE of Yungaburra
[
17°10’00”S
,
145°38’00”E
],
13.i–13.ii.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
De Faveri
, (25-058283
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Danbulla Forestry Reserve
,
13 km
NE of Yungaburra
[
17°10’00”S
,
145°38’00”E
],
26.iii– 23.iv.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
De Faveri
, (25-058285
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Danbulla Forestry Reserve
,
13 km
NE of Yungaburra
[
17°10’00”S
,
145°38’00”E
],
28.vii–3.ix.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
De Faveri
, (25-058284
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Danbulla Forestry Reserve
,
13 km
NE of Yungaburra
[
17°10’00”S
,
145°38’00”E
],
6–26.iii.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
De Faveri
(25-058286
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Danbulla Scientific Reserve
,
17°11’09”S
,
145°39’36”E
,
10.xii.1995
–
7.ii.1996
(T55306 specimen in
QM
)
;
Malanda Falls
,
17°21’22”S
,
145°35’13”E
,
750 m
,
23–24.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053935
17 specimens
, 25-053936
24 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Bartle Frere
,
Gourka
road,
17°22’38”S
,
145°44’34”E
,
28–30.xi.1998
(T70869–T70877
9 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Bartle Frere
, west base,
17°22’47”S
,
145°45’51”E
,
19–20.xi.2001
(T111969–T111984
16 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Bartle Frere
, west base,
17°22’47”S
,
145°45’51”E
,
25.xi.1994
–
10.i.1995
(T55845–T55857
13 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Bartle Frere
, west base,
17°22’47”S
,
145°45’51”E
,
10.i–31.iii.1995
(T55858–T55864
7 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Bartle Frere
, west base,
17°22’47”S
,
145°45’51”E
,
7.iii–15.v.1995
(T55865–T55889
25 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Bartle Frere
, west base,
17°22’47”S
,
145°45’51”E
,
28–30.xi.1998
(T70860–T70868
9 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Bartle Frere
west base [
17°23’00”S
,
145°46’00”E
],
750 m
,
28.xi.1998
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-060847
7 specimens
also as COL587–
589 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Bartle Frere
west base [
17°23’00”S
,
145°46’00”E
],
750 m
,
28–29.xi.1998
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-060850
2 specimens
also as COL616–
17 in
ANIC
)
;
Malanda
,
3.5 km
S,
17°23’27”S
,
145°35’46”E
,
6–9.ii.1999
(T75465– T75470, T75485
7 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Topaz
,
Pei Road
(
Frith
house in
QM
)
,
17°24’23”S
,
145°41’05”E
,
6.xii.1993
–
25.ii.1994
(T55220–T55226
7 specimens
in
QM
)
;
The Crater National Park
,
17°25’48”S
,
145°29’24”E
,
980 m
,
18–19.ix.2010
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053860
1 specimen
also as COL1613, 25-059235
2 specimens
, 25-060796
1 specimen
, 25-060886
15 specimens
also as COL1160 and COL1161, 25-053932
11 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
The Crater National Park
,
17°25’48”S
,
145°29’24”E
,
980 m
,
22–23.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053933
20 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Thiaki
, main rainforest,
17°25’55”S
,
145°30’58”E
,
990 m
,
21–23.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053849
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Thiaki
cottage,
17°26’02”S
,
145°30’40”E
,
1000 m
,
19–23.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053843
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Topaz National Park
,
SE of Malanda
[
17°26’00”S
,
145°43’00”E
],
720 m
,
28.vii.1982
,
S. Peck
&
J. Peck
(25-058290
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Hugh
Nelson
Range
,
17°27’00”S
,
145°29’00”E
],
1150 m
,
6.iii–4.iv.1995
,
P. Zborowski
(25-058292
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Longlands Gap
, 3 ways road junction,
17°27’56”S
,
145°28’30”E
,
3–6.ii.1999
(T75487 specimens in
QM
)
;
BS1
Longlands Gap
[
17°28’00”S
,
145°29’00”E
],
1150 m
,
1.xii.1994
–
3.i.1995
,
P. Zborowski
(25-058291
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
BS1
Longlands Gap
[
17°28’00”S
,
145°29’00”E
],
1150 m
,
27.ii–26.iii.1996
,
P. Zborowski
(25-058293
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Kenny Road
,
Atherton Tablelands
,
17°28’13”S
,
145°32’04”E
,
25.xi.1994
–
10.i.1995
(T55296 specimens in
QM
)
;
Kenny Road
,
Atherton Tablelands
,
17°28’13”S
,
145°32’04”E
,
10.i–31.iii.1995
(T55297–T55301
5 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Kenny Road
,
Atherton Tablelands
,
17°28’13”S
,
145°32’04”E
,
7.iii–15.v.1995
(T55302–T55303
2 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Tumoulin Road
,
Evelyn
,
17°29’52”S
,
145°28’32”E
,
5–11.ii.1998
(T57499
1 specimen
, T60022–T60026
5 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
,
17°29’53”S
,
145°36’32”E
,
5.v.1983
(T55230
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
,
17°29’53”S
,
145°36’32”E
,
8–10.xii.2000
(T105998
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
,
17°29’53”S
,
145°36’32”E
,
6– 9.ii.1999
(T75457–T75464
8 specimens
in
QM
)
;
above
Millaa Millaa Falls
,
17°29’53”S
,
145°36’47”E
,
830 m
,
23–25.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053937
32 specimens
, 25-053938
41 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
above
Millaa Millaa Falls
,
17°29’56”S
,
145°36’50”E
,
830 m
,
23–25.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053939
52 specimens
, 25-053940
23 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
(above) [
17°30’00”S
,
145°36’00”E
],
800 m
,
18–20.iv.1999
,
C. Reid
&
I. Reid
(25-058295
4 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°36’00”E
],
780 m
,
11.v.1974
,
R.I. Storey
(25-058513
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°36’00”E
],
780 m
,
23–25.i.2012
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-053934
25 specimens
in
ANIC
, 25-055612
6 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
21–22.iv.1973
,
R.I. Storey
(25-032538
2 specimens
in
QDPC
, 25-058514
5 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
830 m
,
15–16.ix.2010
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-059233
2 specimens
, 25-060794
35 specimens
, 25-060857
5 specimens
in
ANIC
also as COL1104– 1108)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
760 m
,
10.iv–4.v.1990
,
R.I. Storey
&
K.H. Halfpapp
(25-032548
2 specimens
in
QDPC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
760 m
,
13.iii–10.iv.1990
,
R.I. Storey
&
K.H. Halfpapp
(25-032541
1 specimen
in
QDPC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
760 m
,
15.viii–12.ix.1990
,
R.I. Storey
&
K.H. Halfpapp
(25-032544
3 specimens
in
QDPC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
760 m
,
4.i–7.ii.1990
,
R.I. Storey
&
K.H. Halfpapp
(25-032540
2 specimens
in
QDPC
)
;
Millaa Millaa Falls
via
Millaa Millaa
[
17°30’00”S
,
145°37’00”E
],
760 m
,
7.ii–13.iii.1990
,
R.I. Storey
&
K.H. Halfpapp
(25-032539
3 specimens
in
QDPC
)
;
Kjellberg Road
turnoff,
17°31’57”S
,
145°36’27”E
,
25.xi.1994
–
10.i.1995
(T55317
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Kjellberg Road
turnoff,
17°31’57”S
,
145°36’27”E
,
7.iii–15.v.1995
(T55318–T55328
11 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Kjellberg Road
turnoff,
17°31’57”S
,
145°36’27”E
,
10.i–31.iii.1995
(T55329–T55338
10 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Kjellberg Road
turnoff,
17°31’57”S
,
145°36’27”E
,
6–9.ii.1999
(T75443–T75446, T75451–T75456
10 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Kjellberg Road
,
State Forest
, boundary [
17°32’00”S
,
145°35’00”E
],
920 m
,
6–9.ii.1999
,
G.B. Monteith
&
D. Cook
(25-060841
11 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Mount Fisher
,
Kjellberg Road
,
17°32’34”S
,
145°33’31”E
,
1.xii.1993
–
25.ii.1994
(T55339– T55340
2 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Kjellberg Road
,
State Forest
boundary,
17°32’09”S
,
145°34’39”E
,
6–9.ii.1999
(T75436–T75442, T75447–T75450
11 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Wooroonooran National Park
,
17°34’06”S
,
145°42’21”E
,
500 m
,
9–14.ix.2004
,
L. Masner
(CMNEN-00030220–000030221
2 specimens
in
CMNC
)
;
Henrietta Creek
,
Palmerston National Park
[
17°34’00”S
,
145°45’00”E
],
22–24.iv.1973
,
R.I. Storey
(25-058512
4 specimens
in
QM
, CMNEN-00030222
1 specimen
in
CMNC
)
;
Beatrice River
,
2 km
S,
17°34’35”S
,
145°41’25”E
,
1.xii.1993
–
25.ii.1994
(T55304–T55305
2 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Palmerston
,
Scenic Road
,
17°34’44”S
,
145°41’53”E
,
650 m
,
15–16.ix.2010
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-060795
15 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Palmerston
Forestry turnoff,
17°35’20”S
,
145°42’14”E
,
700 m
,
15–16.ix.2010
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-059234
1 specimen
, 25-060885
15 specimens
in
ANIC
also as COL1157, COL1159)
;
Maalan State Forest
,
Ravenshoe
Road,
17°35’23”S
,
145°35’40”E
,
7.iii–15.v.1995
(T55104–T55133
30 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Maalan State Forest
,
Ravenshoe
Road,
17°35’23”S
,
145°35’40”E
,
10.i–31.iii.1995
(T55134– T55152
19 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Maalan State Forest
,
Ravenshoe
Road,
17°35’23”S
,
145°35’40”E
,
25.xi.1994
–
10.i.1995
(T55153–T55186
34 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Maalan State Forest
,
Ravenshoe
Road,
17°35’23”S
,
145°35’40”E
,
6–9.ii.1999
(T75471–T75484
14 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Maalan Road
,
2 km
S Palmerston Highway
,
17°35’56”S
,
145°41’58”E
,
7.iii–15.v.1995
(T55079–T55089 11, T55103 specimens in
QM
)
;
Maalan Road
,
2 km
S Palmerston Highway
,
17°35’56”S
,
145°41’58”E
, 10.i.
1–7.iii.1995
(T55090–T55092
3 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Maalan Road
,
2 km
S Palmerston Highway
,
17°35’56”S
,
145°41’58”E
,
26.xi.1994
–
10.i.1995
(T55093–T55102
10 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Henrietta Creek
,
Palmerston National Park
,
17°35’58”S
,
145°45’28”E
,
30.xi.1992
–
15.iv.1993
(T111989
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Palmerston National Park
, west boundary,
17°33’36”S
,
145°41’15”E
,
1.xii.1993
–
25.ii.1994
(T55836– T55839
4 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Mount Father Clancy
,
800 m
,
17°35’58”S
,
145°38’04”E
,
6–14.xii.1988
(T55840– T55844
5 specimens
in
QM
)
;
road to
Maalan Palmerston National Park
[
17°36’00”S
,
145°40’00”E
],
23–24.iv.1978
,
R.I. Storey
(25-058511
17 specimens
in
QM
, CMNEN–00030223
1 specimen
in
CMNC
)
;
Rosina Creek
,
14 km
SE
Millaa Millaa
[
17°36’00”S
,
145°43’00”E
],
720 m
,
24.vi–2.viii.1982
,
S. Peck
&
J. Peck
(25-058289
4 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Palmerston National Park
[
17°37’00”S
,
145°47’00”E
],
1.iv.1968
,
E. Matthews
(25-057885
4 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
South Johnstone Forestry Camp
,
5 km
W,
17°38’12”S
,
145°40’15”E
,
1.xii.1993
–
25.ii.1994
(T55214– T55217
4 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Vine Creek
,
Majors Mountain
,
17°40’58”S
,
145°32’02”E
,
4–6.ii.1999
(T75494, T76145, T76152
3 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Vine Creek
,
Majors Mountain
,
17°40’58”S
,
145°32’02”E
,
15–18.iv.1999
(T79112
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Charmillin Creek
crossing,
17°42’03”S
,
145°31’21”E
,
2–5.xii.1998
(T70886–T70888
3 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Charmillin Creek
crossing,
17°42’03”S
,
145°31’21”E
,
5–11.ii.1998
(T60017–T60021, T60425–T60433
14 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Charmillin Creek
,
17°42’54”S
,
145°31’34”E
,
880 m
,
18–19.ix.2010
,
G.B. Monteith
(25-060856
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Ravenshoe State Forest
,
Tully Falls
Road [
17°43’00”S
,
145°33’00”E
],
15.xi–12.xii.1987
,
A. Walford-Huggins
(25-058294
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
1.x–5.xi.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058272
5 specimens
in
ANIC
, 25-032546
1specimen
in
QDPC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
20.iv–15.v.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058274 specimens in
ANIC
, 25-032572
1 specimen
in
QDPC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
20.iv–25.v.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058269
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
3.iii–20.iv.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058280
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
5.i–7.ii.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058276
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
7.xii.1987
–
7.i.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058279
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
18 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°46’00”S
,
145°31’00”E
],
730 m
,
7.xi–7.xii.1987
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058270
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
11 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
900 m
,
5.i.1988
–
7.ii.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058275
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
11 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
900 m
,
5.xi–7.xii.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058282
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
9.5 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
1000 m
,
3.iii–20.iv.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058281
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
9.5 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
1000 m
,
7.xii.1987
–
7.i.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058278
2 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
9.5 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
1000 m
,
7.i–9.ii.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058273
3 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
,
9.5 km
SSW Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
1000 m
,
9.ii–3.iii.1988
,
R.I. Storey
&
Dickinson
(25-058277
1 specimen
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
, via
Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
13.v.1974
,
R.I. Storey
(25-032536
1 specimen
in
QDPC
, 25- 058510
1 specimen
in
QM
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
, via
Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
20–21.iv.1973
,
R.I. Storey
(25-032537
1 specimen
in
QDPC
, 25-058509
11 specimens
in
QM
)
;
Tully Falls State Forest
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
11–12.xi.1976
,
R.I. Storey
(25-058271
4 specimens
in
ANIC
)
;
Tully Falls
,
30 mi
NE Tully
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
2500 feet
,
5.vi.1972
,
G.B. & S.R. Monteith
(25-058505
1 specimen
, 25-058506
1 specimen
, 25-058507
1 specimen
, 25-058508
1 specimen
in
QM
[
paratypes
of
Lepanus nitidus
])
;
Tully Falls
,
Ravenshoe
[
17°47’00”S
,
145°34’00”E
],
20.xi.1977
–
16.iv.1978
,
R.I. Storey
(25-032547
1 specimen
in
QDPC
)
.
Description.
Colour ranging from uniformly light brown to shiny dark brown or with pronotum having orange tinges.
Holotype
is shiny dark brown with mainly orange pronotum. Antennal club with apical antennomere (3
rd
) yellowish white and basal 2 antennomeres (1st, 2nd) grey.
Total length:
3.3–3.8 mm
.
Holotype
measurements (taken from image): total length
3.8 mm
; elytral width
2.6 mm
.
Male.
Head: Width to length ratio 29: 21. Broad V-shape between clypeal teeth. Surface without setae and finely punctate. Dorsal part of eyes moderate, separated by an interocular space approximately 10–11 times eye width (21: 2).
Prothorax: Pronotum smooth, nitid, with very fine punctation towards the anterior and finely punctate posteriorly. Hypomeral surface finely reticulate. Hypomeral stria absent. Pronotum width to length ratio 47: 28.
Elytra: Smooth and nitid. Intervals very finely punctate and with extremely fine setae. Apical area nitid with striae 1 and usually 2 superficial, appearing as a single line. Ratio of length of the elytra along suture to maximum elytral width 58: 64.
Legs: as per
L. nitidus
species group. Ridge on ventral side of protibia not joined to second tooth by a fine carina.
Abdomen: Rest of pygidium surrounding central disc with fine punctures, each bearing a seta; finely reticulate only towards the basal angles, and nitid otherwise.
Pterothorax: Lateral lobe of metaventrite finely punctate, setose and more or less finely reticulate. Medial lobe of metaventrite very finely punctate, smooth and nitid between metacoxae and with a very small tubercle, located closer to metacoxae than mesocoxae.
Male genitalia: Aedeagus with left paramere excised apically.
Female.
As per
L. nitidus
species group. Metaventral tubercle absent.
Distribution.
Known from rainforest of the Australian Wet Tropics (WET) IBRA bioregion [Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12] from around Danbulla to Ravenshoe (
Fig. 17A
), with all specimens from high elevations (
650–1150 m
). Within the BIOCLIM model (
Fig. 17C
), there are some grids with suitable climate from which
L. dichrous
has not yet been recorded, however the absence of records may reflect the limited sampling due to accessibility of highelevation forests in these grids.
Comments.
Most specimens have been collected in dung or mushroom-baited pitfall traps or in flight intercept traps.
Lepanus dichrous
was one of the most abundant species collected in the food preference study of
Ebert
et al.
(2019)
with
203 specimens
collected from all lures except both fermenting fruit baits. Both macropod and fowl dung baits collected approximately 25% of the total specimens each (
n =
49 and 52 respectively), while vertebrate carrion (
n =
26) and invertebrate carrion (
n =
22, 9, 21) were more attractive than cucumber (
n =
12) and mushroom (
n =
12) (
Ebert
et al.
2019
). These results support the generalist feeding habits of the species.
Specimens from Charmillin Creek, Millaa Millaa Falls, Palmerston National Park, and Mount Hypipamee National Park were sequenced for this study (see
Fig. 1
). They form a close relationship with each other, but the relationship within the
L. nitidus
species group could not be resolved. In Bayesian analysis, it was recovered at the base of the clade containing
L. vangerweni
and
L. carbinensis
while in maximum likelihood analysis it was recovered at the base of the clade containing
L. nitidus
and
L. kulki
.
Neither relationship was strongly supported (BA PP = 81, ML BS = 28).