Paratillus atali 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 : 600

Paratillus atali OPITZ , nov.sp. ( Figs 17 , 40 , 54 , 74 , 93 )

Holotype: Ƌ. NEW CALEDONIA 11199, 22°21' Sx 166°58'E, 200 m, Port Boise (G. Kanua), 18Nov2002, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs ( MNHN).

Paratypes: Twenty-one. New Caledonia: Mt. Koghis, 22°11'S 166°01'E, 500m, 22Nov.2000, G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum, trunks & logs ( QMBA, 1) ; Fort Boise , 22°21'S 166°58'E, 20 m (G. Kanua), 18Nov. 2002, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs ( QMBA, 12) ; Pic du Pin , 22°15'S 166°50'E, site 1, 23Dec. 2004, 280 m, G. Monteith, pyrethrum ( QMBA, 3) ; idem, 22°15'S 166°49'E, 25Nov.-23Dec.2004, Malaise, Burwell, Wright, rainforest ( QMBA, 1) ; Col de Petchecara , middle, 21°34'S 166°06'E, 28Jan.2004, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs ( QMBA, 1) ; Pic du Grand Kaori, site 2, 22°17'S 166°53'E, 250 m, Monteith Burwell, pyrethrum, rainforest ( QMBA, 2) ; Mount Mou base, 22°05'S 166°22'E, 350 m, 4Feb.2004, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs ( QMBA, 1) .

D i a g n o s i s Paratillus atali OPITZ , new species, specimens may be distinguished from the superficially similar specimens of P. carus by the presence, in the former specimens, of a diffuse white setal tuft on the basal 1/4 th of the elytral sutural margin.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Size: Length 3.0 mm; width 0.7 mm. Form: As in Fig. 54 . Integument: Forebody red, elytra predominantly black, with a slight blue tinge, elytral disc with a white transverse fascia that does not reach sutural margin, profemora black, mesofemora, and metafemora yellow at base, infuscated distally, abdomen black, except 6 th visible sternite yellow. Head: Cranium coarsely punctate, frons much wider than width of eye (FW/EW-32/8); antennal funicular antennomeres subfiliform, 9 th and 10 th antennomeres triagonal, 11 th oval ( Fig. 17 ). Thorax: Pronotum densely punctate at sides, sparsely punctate at middle, with glabrous streaks at center of disc, without lateral tubercle ( Fig. 40 ) ( PL /PW- 50/43); elytral disc with prominent asetiferous punctation that extend just beyond white transverse fascia, elytral preapical region subglabrous, ( EL /EW- 115/26). Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at middle of anterior margin; phallobase slightly sclerotized ventrally, lobes very small, phallobasic rod bifid distally, phallobasic struts contiguous with phallobasic apodeme, phallic apex triangular, phallic plates narrow, spicular apodemes not fused ( Fig. 74 ).

V a r i a t i o n. Size: Length 3.0- 4.3 mm; width 0.6-1.0 mm. The forebody may be black and the white midelytral fascia may reach the sutural margin.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: Specimens were collected in November, December, and February, at altitudes ranging from 20- 500 m. G. B. Monteith collected all but one specimen by spraying felled logs with pyrethrum. One specimen was collected in a Malaise trap.

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig. 93 ): This species is known only from New Caledonia.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet atali is a patronymic dedicated to the Grand Chief Atal of the Kanak indigenous people of New Caledonia.

Figures

Figs 2-21: Antennae. (2) Paratillus carus. (3) Tarsostenus bicolor. (4) T. kanak. (5) Tarsostenodes tentus. (6) T. guttulus. (7) T. simulator. (8) Tarsostenus univittatus. (9) Tarsostenodes morulus. (10) Blackburniella intricata. (11) Tarsostenodes albonotatus. (12) T. gibbus. (13) T. leucogramma. (14) Tarsostenus antehelvis. (15) Blackburniella apicula. (16) Tarsostenus tricolor. (17) Paratillus atali. (18) Tarsostenodes vesica. (19) T. cribripennis. (20) Tarsostenus hilaris. (21) Tarsostenodes howensis.

Figs 22-40: Pronota. (22) Paratillus carus. (23) Tarsostenodes cribripennis. (24) T. guttulus. (25) T. albonotatus. (26) Blackburniella apicula. (27) B. intricata. (28) Tarsostenodes simulator. (29) T. bullatus. (30) T. tentus. (31) T. gibbus. (32) T. leucogramma. (33) T. howensis. (34) T. vesica. (35) Tarsostenus hilaris. (36) Tarsostenus. univittatus. (37) T. morulus. (38) T. bicolor. (39) T. kanak. (40) Paratillus atali.

Figs 51-54: Habitus. (51) Blackburniella apicula. (52) Blackburniella intricata. (53) Paratillus carus. (54) P. atali.

Figs 71-82: Male terminalia. (71) Blackburniella apicula. (72) B. intricata. (73) Paratillus carus. (74) P. atali. (75) Tarsostenodes albonotatus. (76) T. cribripennis. (77) T. gibbus. (78) T. guttulus. (79) T. howensis. (80) T. leucogramma. (81) T. morulus. (82) T. simulator.

Fig. 93: Geographic distribution of species as noted.