Scirtes auratus Watts, 2004

Watts, Chris H. S., Cooper, Steven J. B. & Saint, Kathleen M., 2017, Review of Australian Scirtes Illiger, Ora Clark and Exochomoscirtes Pic (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) including descriptions of new species, new groups and a multi-gene molecular phylogeny of Australian and non-Australian species, Zootaxa 4347 (3), pp. 511-532 : 523

Scirtes auratus Watts, 2004

( Figs 2 , 17 )

Supplementary description. Male. Tergite 8: small, apical portion very weakly sclerotized, hind edge with dense row of extremely small fine setae or microtrichia. Apodemes relatively short, strongly sclerotized, parallel. Tergite 9: short, broad, apical portion short with apical margin with long setae, apodemes strongly sclerotized, about three times length of apical portion, weakly diverging. Sternite 9: small, weakly sclerotized, broadly bilobed, apical third with numerous pores and thin setae, without obvious apodemes. Aedeagus complex, symmetrical, basal piece large, expanding anteriorly; trigonium long, thin, with complex set of huge curved spines at base, apex with a few small stout spines; parameroids in two parts, inner lobe longer than trigonium, broad in basal half, narrow in apical half, bulbous at apex; outer lobe broad, flat, about half as long as inner lobe numerous pores and spines on outer margin and towards apex. Tegmen consists of two separate narrow rods, about as long as aedeagus, central portions covered with short strong spines, apical portion with outer spur of varying length ( Fig. 17 ).

Female. Coxites elongate, styles relatively short and broad. Tergite 9: long, with spurs; tergite 8 long; tergite 8 shorter, apex with thick row of moderately long setae. Prehensor moderately sclerotized, long, apical end with two triangular plates. Bursal sclerite elongate, strongly sclerotized, triangular apical end with two strong prongs, surface strongly pimpled ( Fig. 2 ).

Notes. The species is found in coastal swamps from the Northern Territory around the northern coast to at least Townsville and has been collected in large numbers at light. The larvae are found in shallow grassy swamps (Watts 2014). It is not known if the pupae of the species use a snorkel as described by Zwick & Zwick (2008) for S. haemisphaericus . In the laboratory without access to plant stems the larvae form pupal cells in damp sand or pupate on the undersides of leaves.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 5. Portion of female reproductive tract: a) bursa, b) prehensor, c) accessory gland, d) bursal sclerite. 2) Scirtes auratus; 3) S. kaytae; 4) S. tindaleensis; 5) S. emmaae.

FIGURES 17 – 22. Tegmen and penis of: 17) Scirtes auratus; 18) S. serratus; 19) S. interstinctus; 20) S. lynnae; 21) S. albamaculatus. 22) Penis of S. pinjarraensis.