Pristoderus spinosus Turco & Ślipiński, 2012

Turco, Federica, Ślipiński, Adam & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, Taxonomic revision of Australian Pristoderus Hope (Coleoptera, Zopheridae), Zootaxa 3239, pp. 1-34 : 28

Pristoderus spinosus Turco & Ślipiński sp. n.

( Figs 3g , 5g, 7g)

Types. Holotype: Australia, New South Wales : Whian Whian S.F. via Dunoon , 700', 25-26.xi.1972, G.B. Monteith [Ga: 28.682S 153.318E] (UQIC now at QMBA, T169603) ;

Paratypes: NSW - Same data as holotype (2, UQIC now at QMBA, T 169604-5); Lorien wildl. ref. 3 km N Lansdowne via Taree , 50m, 20-21.xii.1990, under bark dead Eucalyptus sp, Pollock & Reichert [GE: 31.748S 152.532E] (1, POLL); Mt. Keira, 2.xi.1974, V.J. Robinson [ Ga : 34.406S 150.854E] (1, ANIC).

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. occultus , P. tomentosus and P. zigzag in having a dorsal crest on 3rd elytral interval, lateral pronotal notch broad and widely open and pronotal median process reaching over the head (but not beyond the anterior margins of pronotum). It is distinct for having the crest on 3rd elytral interval as well as basal tubercle on 5th interval sharply pointed, especially in lateral view.

In addition it can be readily recognised from P. tomentosus and P. zigzag because of elytral crest along 3rd interval almost straight, raised posteriorly (in lateral aspect).

Description. Body length: 7.7–8.9 mm.

Body convex, about 1.5–2 times as long as wide (ratio max length/max width: 1.71–1.83); colour brown, except elytra light brown with darker patches on disc and apex; vestiture of dense, recumbent golden setae (slightly longer along elytral crest and tubercles), holding a coat of dirt which forms a uniform encrustation.

Head transverse; eyes protruding lacking interfacetal setae; long, fine setae just posterior to eyes; supraorbital carina raised, deeply indented with a distinct upwardly directed, pointed tubercle at posterior end, above the eye; supra-antennal carina distinctly raised, frontal edge indented; antennal insertion frontal, just below the edge of supra-antennal carina; antennae 11-segmented with a distinct 3-segmented club; antennomere I weakly elongate, slightly shorter than III; II subspherical; III elongate (about 2 times as long as wide), distinctly longer than II; IV– VIII from subcylindrical to subspherical gradually decreasing in length; IX–XI distinctly transverse to form a rather loose club.

Pronotum distinctly transverse (pronotal length/width: 0.55–0.56), as wide as elytra; dorsal median process anteriorly prominent but short, not reaching anterior pronotal angles, slightly sloping in lateral view with pointed, high tubercles on dorsal edge; antero-lateral margins widely lobate (6 lobes, two anterior lobes from partially to almost completely fused), expanded posteriorly to form a widely open lateral notch; lacking admedian pointed tubercles in middle.

Elytra about 1.2 times as long as wide (elytral length/width: 1.19–1.21), sinuate, with distinctly indented margins; strongly prominent tubercles along 3rd, 4th and 5th intervals; 3rd interval with tubercles variable in size and shape, joined to form a crest, weakly zigzag ; proximal third of crest subparallel, distinctly pointed; apical tubercle highly raised, with edge pointing backwards; small, pointed subapical tubercle on 4th interval; 5th interval with basal tubercle sharply pointed, larger than others on same interval, low.

Etymology. The name of this species is a masculine adjective from Latin spinosus = provided with prickles. It refers to the sharply pointed tubercles on elytra, particularly when compared to the closest species P. occultus , P. tomentosus and P. zigzag .

Distribution and habitat occurrence. New South Wales ( Fig. 15a); varied habitat occurrence with records from subtropical rainforest (upland and lowland), upland temperate rainforest and also open forest.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Group of P. sa cc ha ra tu s, habitus dorsal: a. P. ch lo reus; b. P. co rn utu s; c. P. duvalensis; d. P. monteithi; e. P. occultus; f. P. saccharatus; g. P. sp in osu s; h. P. tomentosus; i. P. zig zag.