Blackburniella apicula OPITZ, 2016

Opitz, Weston, G, Paratillus & B, Tarsostenodes, 2016, Classification, natural history, and evolution of Tarsosteninae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part IV. Taxonomy of the Tarsostenodes complex of Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Tasmania, Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (1), pp. 587-636 : 596-597

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5417172
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1DAECF4D-BF16-4E97-AC0C-D2EF2CFEED57
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8C1387F2-0349-9C27-37D9-4033A1341A85
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Blackburniella apicula OPITZ
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Blackburniella apicula OPITZ , nov.sp. ( Figs 15 View Figs 2-21 , 26 View Figs 22-40 , 51 View Figs 51-54 , 71 View Figs 71-82 , 89 View Fig )

H o l o t y p e ♀. [ Australia] 23°41'S 134°15'E, 39 km E of Alice Springs , N.T., 25 Sep. 78, M. S. Upton ( ANIC). P a r a t y p e s: Five. One specimen from the same locality as the holotype, [ Australia] 26 Sep. 78, M. S. Upton ( ANIC) GoogleMaps ; 31°20'S 138°35'E, SA, Brachina Creek , 8 Nov. 1987, J. C. Cardale, at light ( ANIC, 1) GoogleMaps ; 23°38'S 133°53'E, Todd River , 9 km N by E of Alice Springs, NT. 10 Oct. 78, Upton & Barrett ( WOPC, 1) GoogleMaps ; N. T., Near Phillip Creek on Stuart Highway , 331 m, S19°18'343'' E134°11'104'', G. Hangay, I. Rozner, A. Podlussány, 2.XI.2000 ( HNHM, 1) ; R. P. McMillan, DATE Nov 7. 49, Culham ( WAMP, 1) .

D i a g n o s i s: Distinguishable from the superficially similar specimens of Blackburniella intricata by the more elongate body and the oblique patch of white setae near the apex of the elytra.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 6.0 mm; width 1.8 mm. Form: As in Fig. 51 View Figs 51-54 . Integument: Forebody red-brown, except collar dark brown, pterothorax red-brown, legs brown, abdomen black, elytron tricolored, with basal umbo vested with black setae, otherwise elytral basal half red-brown, followed by narrow, transverse black fascia, then oblique white fascia, remainder of elytral disc brown, except with oblique patch of white setae. Head: Cranium coarsely punctate, frons wider than width of eye (FW/EW-35/20); antennal funicular antennomeres subfiliform, 9 th and 10 th antennomeres triagonal, 11 th oval ( Fig. 15 View Figs 2-21 ). Thorax: Pronotum obovate, constricted posteriorly ( Fig. 26 View Figs 22-40 ) (PL/PW- 95/85), coarsely punctated, without tubercle at sides; elytral disc with prominent subbasal umbo, with large asetiferous punctations that diminish beyond oblique white fascia (EL/EW- 228/40); disc not constricted, but slightly depressed at middle. Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at middle of anterior margin; phallobase slightly sclerotized ventrally, lobes bifid, fimbriate, phallobasic rod not extended laterally, phallobasic struts contiguous with phallobasic apodeme, phallic apex very long, phallic plates narrow ( Fig. 71 View Figs 71-82 ).

V a r i a t i o n: Length 5.0-6.0 mm; width 0.9-1.8 mm. The specimen from Phillip

Creek is more melanistic; the forebody is black with a purplish tinge whereas the basal half of the elytral disc is entirely black.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The type specimens were collected in September, October, and November, one with a light trap and one at 331 m.

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig. 89 View Fig ): This species is known only from the Northern Territory and South Australia of Australia.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet apicula is a Latin noun derived from apex (= tip). The name refers to white tufts of hair at the elytral extremity.