Prospherini, Cobos, 1980

Volkovitsh, Mark G. & Bílý, Svatopluk, 2015, Larvae of Australian Buprestidae (Coleoptera). Part 5. Genera Astraeus and Xyroscelis, with notes on larval characters of Australian polycestine taxa, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1), pp. 173-202 : 188

Tribe Prospherini

( Figs 24 , 36–37 , 46, 57 , 66 , 69 , 81, 89, 100–101, 122–123)

Larval descriptions. Prospheres aurantiopicta Laporte & Gory, 1837 ( LEVEY 1978, VOLKOVITSH & HAWKESWOOD 1999); Blepharum sainvali ( Bílý, 2000) ( BÍLÝ 2000) .

Material examined. Prospheres aurantiopicta (Laporte & Gory, 1837) : AUSTRALIA: QUEENSLAND: Imbil State Forest, 13 April, 1972, R. A. Yule leg., Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don. (Araucariaceae) , ex log billets, 1 specimen, mature ( ZIN); same geographic label, 6.ii.1973; larvae obtained from log billets collected in field on 13.iv.1973, 6 larvae of different instars ( ZIN). Blepharum sainvali ( Bílý, 2000) : NEW CALEDONIA: SOUTH PROVINCE: Plain du Lacs, 27.iii.1999, S. Bílý leg., in sapwood of Dacrydium araucaroides Brongn. & Gris (Podocarpaceae) , 7 mature specimens, 2 larvae of middle instars (8 in NMPC, 1 in ZIN).

Diagnosis. Body of buprestoid type with prothorax widest, much wider than mesothorax* ( Figs 24 , 36–37 ); epicranium of buprestoid type, transparent with stronger sclerotised apodemes (endocarinae); epistome and mandibles poorly sclerotised, semi-transparent* ( Fig. 57 ), mandibular condyles closed, four epistomal sensilla arranged nearly linearly; medial and lateral branches of palatine sclerite separated ( Fig. 66 ); basal antennomere densely microspinulate along anterior margin, apical cavity shallow, situated at anterior third of terminal antennomere, sensory appendage projecting beyond cavity ( Fig. 46 ); labrum dorsally with one, prementum ventrally with two microspinulate areas* ( Figs 66 , 69 ); maxillary stipes with only lobe – mala* (Fig. 89); prothoracic plates with asperities*, microteeth and glabrous areas (Figs 100–101); mesothoracic spiracles with branched trabeculae, abdominal spiracles without trabeculae ( Figs 122–123 ); larvae wood-borers.

Note. Larvae of Prospheres aurantiopicta and Blepharum sainvali differ mainly by the shape of asperate areas along the grooves on prothoracic plates but probably that character varies in different species within these genera. We failed to find the reliable larval characters to distinguish these genera though they are easily distinguished by adult characters.

Figures

Figs 20–27. Astraeini, Xyroscelidini, Prospherini, Polycestini, Haplostethini, and Paratrachyini, larval habitus (dorsal view). 20 – Astraeus (Depollus) aberrans van de Poll, 1886 (Australia); 21 – A. (A.) prothoracicus van de Poll, 1889 (Australia); 22 – Xyroscelis crocata Gory & Laporte, 1839 (Australia); 23 – Xyroscelis sp. (Australia); 24 – Blepharum sainvali (Bílý, 2000) (New Caledonia); 25 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae Saunders, 1873 (Japan); 26 – Polycesta (Tularensia)?elata LeConte, 1858 (U.S.A.); 27 – Mastogenius texanus Bellamy, 2002 (U.S.A.). Photo: M. G. Volkovitsh.

Figs 28–43. Astraeini, Xyroscelidini, Prospherini, Polycestini, Haplostethini, and Paratrachyini, thoracic and basal abdominal segments (dorsal and ventral views).28, 29 – Astraeus (Depollus) aberrans van de Poll, 1886; 30, 31 – A. (A.) prothoracicus van de Poll, 1889; 32, 33 – Xyroscelis crocata Gory & Laporte, 1839; 34, 35 – Xyroscelis sp.; 36, 37 – Blepharum sainvali (Bílý, 2000); 38, 39 – Polycesta (Tularensia)?elata LeConte, 1858; 40, 41 – Mastogenius texanus Bellamy, 2002; 42, 43 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae Saunders, 1873. Photo: M. G. Volkovitsh.

Figs 44–60.Astraeini, Xyroscelidini, Prospherini, Polycestini, Haplostethini, and Paratrachyini, hypostome, epistome (details), antennae, and mandibles. 44 – Astraeus (Depollus) aberrans van de Poll, 1886, tooth-like projection of hypostome (arrow); 45 – Xyroscelis sp., lateral projection of epistome (arrow). 46–52 – antennae: 46 – Prospheres aurantiopicta Laporte & Gory, 1837; 47 – A. (A.) prothoracicus van de Poll, 1889; 48 – Xyroscelis crocata Gory & Laporte, 1839; 49 – Xyroscelis sp.; 50 – Strigoptera bimaculata (Linnaeus, 1758); 51 – Mastogenius texanus Bellamy, 2002; 52 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae Saunders, 1873. 53–60 – mandibles (left): 53 – Astraeus (D.) aberrans; 54 – A. (A.) prothoracicus; 55 – Xyroscelis crocata; 56 – Xyroscelis sp.; 57 – Prospheres aurantiopicta; 58 – Strigoptera bimaculata; 59 – Mastogenius texanus; 60 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae. Photo: M. G. Volkovitsh.

Figs 61–68. Astraeini, Xyroscelidini, Prospherini, Polycestini, Haplostethini, and Paratrachyini, labrum dorsally: 61 – Astraeus (Depollus) aberrans van de Poll, 1886; 62 – A. (A.) prothoracicus van de Poll, 1889; 63 – Strigoptera bimaculata (Linnaeus, 1758) (arrows show campaniform sensilla); 64 – Xyroscelis crocata Gory & Laporte, 1839; 65 – Xyroscelis sp.; 66 – Prospheres aurantiopicta Laporte & Gory, 1837; 67 – Mastogenius texanus Bellamy, 2002; 68 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae Saunders, 1873.

Figs 69–76. Astraeini, Xyroscelidini, Prospherini, Polycestini, Haplostethini, and Paratrachyini, labium ventrally: 69 – Prospheres aurantiopicta Laporte & Gory, 1837; 70 – Astraeus (D.) aberrans van de Poll, 1886; 71 – A. (A.) prothoracicus van de Poll, 1889; 72 – Strigoptera bimaculata (Linnaeus, 1758) (arrows show campaniform sensilla); 73 – Xyroscelis crocata Gory & Laporte, 1839; 74 – Xyroscelis sp.; 75 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae Saunders, 1873; 76 – Mastogenius texanus Bellamy, 2002. Photo: M. G. Volkovitsh.

Figs 114–129. Astraeini, Xyroscelidini, Prospherini, Polycestini, Haplostethini, and Paratrachyini, mesothoracic (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) and abdominal (115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129) spiracles: 114, 115 – Astraeus (Depollus) aberrans van de Poll, 1886; 116, 117 – A. (A.) prothoracicus van de Poll, 1889; 118, 119 – Xyroscelis crocata Gory & Laporte, 1839; 120, 121 – Xyroscelis sp.; 122, 123 – Prospheres aurantiopicta Laporte & Gory, 1837; 124, 125 – Strigoptera bimaculata (Linnaeus, 1758); 126, 127 – Mastogenius texanus Bellamy, 2002; 128, 129 – Paratrachys (P.) hederae Saunders, 1873. Photo M. G. Volkovitsh.