Chileanthicus insignis, Kejval, 2009

Kejval, Zbyněk, 2009, Taxonomic revision of the genus Chileanthicus Werner (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) 2180, Zootaxa 2180 (1), pp. 1-82 : 51-53

Chileanthicus insignis sp. nov.

( Figs 135–140)

Type locality. Australia, South Australia, Koonamore , 32°03'S 139°23'E .

Description (male). Head dark brown to brown black; pronotum dark reddish brown; elytra brown with two transverse yellowish bands ( Fig. 135); both elytral bands rather straight, somewhat widened laterally, touching paler lateral margins and interrupted on suture; legs, antennae and palpi rufous brown, femora darkened distally.

Head 1.3 times as long as wide, unevenly rounded posteriorly; tempora subparallel, at most slightly narrowing posteriad, posterior temporal angles rounded and less distinct. Dorsal surface slightly glossy, distinctly, rather densely punctured ( Fig. 135); punctation double, but coarse punctures less conspicuous, only moderately larger than finer punctures; punctation somewhat sparser medially, glossy median longitudinal line indicated, rather distinct anteriorly on frons. Setation generally short and fine, mostly subdecumbent to appressed, with scattered, inconspicuous, erect setae. Antennae moderately enlarged in apical third; antennomere III 1.7 times as long as wide, about as long as IV, antennomere X 1.6 times, XI about 2.1 times as long as wide.

Pronotum 1.2 times as long as wide, about as wide as head including eyes, widely rounded anteriorly. Pronotal disc less conspicuous, dorso-lateral sides rather rounded, lateral outlines slightly sinuously narrowing towards base in dorsal view. Dorsal surface slightly glossy, densely and evenly punctured; punctation similar to that of head. Setation as on head.

Elytra twice as long as wide, conjointly rounded apically. Surface rather moderately glossy, densely punctured ( Fig. 135); basal punctation distinctly finer than on head, inconspicuously double. Setation slightly longer than on head, subdecumbent, bicoloured, mostly pale to brownish and evenly posteriad directed, silvery/whitish on transverse bands, and these setae moderately oblique in anterior and distinctly swirled on posterior band medially; erect setae short, sparsely scattered and inconspicuous.

Metafemora unidentate ( Fig. 136), subapical process strong, narrowed and pointed apically, somewhat obliquely projecting, facing inner side of tibia; mesotibiae with minute denticle on inner side subapically. Setation mostly short and fine, inconspicuous; metatibiae with some longer, more raised setae on inner side distally.

Abdominal sternum VII and tergum VII simple. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 137); paired prongs strongly curved mediad, their posterior margin angulately dilated and short setose. Tergite VIII widely rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 138). Segment IX (spiculum) as in Fig. 139.

Aedeagus ( Fig.140); apical portion of tegmen twice as long as basal-piece, narrow, simple, moderately bent, bluntly pointed apically in ventral view; median lobe of aedeagus terminating in a pair of simple, apically rounded, membranous lobes.

Female. Externally differing from male by simple mesotibiae.

Body length (♂ ♀). 3.6–4.4 mm (holotype 3.6 mm).

Variation. Moderately variably in colouration; in paler coloured specimens the head and pronotum rufous brown, unicolourous, and pale markings of the elytra distinct, sharply outlined; dark coloured specimens with rather vague markings (also obscured by whitish setose bands).

Type material. Holotype: ♂, STH. AUSTRALIA Koonamore 15/4/73 // ♂ salt-…[illegible] soil P. J. M. GREENSLADE” ( ANIC) . Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype [originally pinned together]( ANIC) ; 1 ♂, S.AUST 11km SE Weekeroo 32°21'12"S 140°06'48"E Karolta Stn. pitfalls 26-31 Aug. 1996 Nth Olary Plains Survey OLA 10401 // S. Aust. Museum specimen ( SAMA) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Parachilna Flinders Range E. L. Savage // S. Aust. Museum specimen ( SAMA) .

Differential diagnosis. C. insignis sp. nov. seems to be close to C. melasomus and C. paganus sp. nov. as suggested by the similar form of male sternite VIII (cf. Figs 137, 174, 180). Externally it may especially resemble C. melasomus by the nearly identical body form and indistinctly double punctation of the basal half of the elytra (cf. Figs 135, 171). It clearly differs by the simple male sternum III (lacking a median protuberance), the simple metafemora (lacking an apical denticle), and by the morphology of the tegmen apex and median lobe of the aedeagus (cf. Figs 176, 140).

Etymology. From Latin insignis (inconspicuous); named in reference to its common external appearance, shared by several species.

Distribution. Australia (South Australia).