Pediomorphus punctatus Will, 2019

Will, Kipling, 2019, Taxonomic Review of the Australian Genus Pediomorphus Chaudoir, 1878 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Abacetini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (3), pp. 629-645 : 637

Pediomorphus punctatus Will , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4ADE4AF0-A5D8-4CD6-8526-C7B770028546

( Figs. 10 , 19 , 29 )

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: Male.//“ Tindal , N.T. 14.31S 132.22E, 1-20 Dec. 1967 light trap, W.J.M. Vestjens ”// “ U.C. Berkeley EMEC705,232”// [deposited ANIC, Reg. No. 25-067867 ] . PARATYPES: NORTHERN TERRITORY: 5 specimens - same data as holotype, EMEC705233 - EMEC705237 , [ ANIC] . 2 specimens - 150 km W of Roper Bar, Roper Hwy , 14°57’02” S 133°32’59” E, at light, 29.iv. 2014, 117m, M Langer, [cWR] .

Type Locality and Distribution Range. The type locality is as on the holotype label, i.e., Tindal , Northern Territory in the vicinity of 13°31’ S 132°22’ E ( Fig. 19 ), which is at approximately 130 m elevation.

Diagnosis. Pediomorphus punctatus is similar to P. variabilis and P. obtusus but with much more extensive punctation across the base of the pronotum, which also has more obtuse and less prominent hind angles.

Description. Description. Size: sbl = 4.9 [4.5–5.1] mm; greatest width across elytra 1.8 = [1.6–1.8] mm. Color: Dorsal and ventral surfaces castaneous to brunneous; legs, mouthparts, and antennae concolorous or slightly paler. Dorsally distinctly and ventrally slightly shiny to moderately dull. Dorsally with spectral iridescence, venter, elytral epipleura, and legs with or without slight spectral iridescent. Head: Dorsal microsculpture hardly evident in mesh sculpticells at 50X magnification. Clypeal-ocular impressions short, divergent, well-delimited laterally, not clearly delimited medially. Ocular ratio = 1.50 [1.49–1.56]. Eyes relatively large, somewhat prominent, with small posterior orbital area, 1 subocular carina long, sharply defined, sometimes 1 or 2 additional, smaller carinae present. Labrum with anterior margin slightly convex. Median tooth of mentum broad, flat across apex, sometimes with very slight emargination. Antennae long, antennomeres 9–11 surpassing pronotal base. Thorax: Pronotum dorsally with distinct punctures along base in and around basal impressions and medially, laterally usually also punctate, but more sparsely and often not reaching lateral margin, microsculpture not evident at 50X magnification. Pronotum widest slightly anteriad of middle, lateral margins converging to base, not or only very slightly sinuate. Lateral marginal bead narrow and ending just at hind angles or extending slightly and obscurely along base; basal margin without marginal bead; anterior angles not prominent, broadly rounded; hind angles obtuse, not denticulate; basal impressions linear, broad, shallowly impressed, reaching basal margin. Seta at hind angle in marginal bead. Elytra parallel-sided, dorsally depressed, epipleura in dorsal view very slightly sinuate at level of umbilicate marginal puncture 7. Elytral striae finely, shallowly crenulate-punctate. Elytral microsculpture not evident at 50X magnification or scarcely visible as transversely stretch lines. Intervals flat. Elytral plica short, small. Prosternal process rounded, deeply margined. Pro-, meso- and metasterna coarsely punctate. Abdomen: Abdominal ventrites densely, finely punctate. Aedeagus: Medium lobe long, with thin apical portion in lateral view, tip slightly asymmetrically roundly in ventral view, no spines or spinules visible on endophallus in repose.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Latin masculine nominative punctatus , which is a reference to the numerous, small punctures across the base of the pronotum of these beetles.

Figures

Figs. 7–10. Pediomorphus species, dorsal habitus. 7) P. crenulatus, holotype; 8) P. minor, holotype; 9) P. semilaevis, paratype; 10) P. punctatus, paratype. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 19. Localities of Pediomorphus species based on material examined and type localities.

Figs. 21–32. Pediomorphus species, aedeagi, left lateral view (A) and ventral view of tip (B). 21) P. planiusculus; 22) P. elongatus; 23) P. macleayi; 24) P. ruficollis; 25) P. variabilis; 26) P. crenulatus; 27) P. minor; 28) P. semilaevis; 29) P. punctatus; 30) P. robustus; 31) P. storeyi; 32) P. obtusus.