Rhytiphora garnetensis, Ashman & Keyzer & ŚLipińsk, 2023

Ashman, Lauren G., Keyzer, Roger De & S ́ Lipińsk, Adam, 2023, The Australian genus Rhytiphora (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) with a revision of the Rhytiphora collaris group, Zootaxa 5312 (1), pp. 1-62 : 12-15

Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. ( Figs. 6A–C , 7E , 8A , 9A )

Diagnosis. Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. is most similar morphologically to R. delicatula and R. pulcherrima Breuning from Western Australia ( Fig. 6D–E ), but can be distinguished using the following traits: R. delicatula is slightly more elongate (body 3.3 times as long as wide) with smaller eyes (lower lobes 4.3 widths apart, just longer than gena, not fully divided from upper lobe), extended but arcuate clypeus, antennal tubercules slightly further apart (3.8 widths apart), no tubercules and far fewer ochre setae at the elytra base, no ochre on the metaventrite, and slightly different male genitalia (parameres apically blunt; Fig. 9D ); R. pulcherrima has smaller eyes (lower lobes 3.9 widths apart) joined by 1 row of ommatidia, bigger male sex patches (covering whole of enlarged ventrite 2) and different colouring: ochre occiput, central brown patch on the pronotum, elytra with lateral silver-white patch in the central third, edged with brown, and ochre patches in the apical third.

One paratype from Mt Garnet has been sequenced (ANIC 25-066756, R. ‘nr delicatula’; Ashman et al. 2022a): R. garnetensis sp. nov. is closely related to R. collaris (ANIC 25-066530), R. piperitia (ANIC 25-066534) and R. amicula (ANIC 25-066535, 25-066557) ( Figs. 6–8 ). All three of these species have distinct transverse grooves on the pronotum, no ochre patch on the metaventrite and no tubercules at the elytra base; R. piperitia and R. amicula also have a tubercule at the pronotum lateral margin. Rhytiphora collaris has a short clypeus (in line with mandibular articulation), mottled or banded antennae, striped pronotum, white metanepisternum, heavily mottled elytra with no dorsal dark patches and the lateral white stripe usually extending beyond the basal third. Rhytiphora piperitia has banded antennae, mottled or striped pronotum, heavily mottled elytra with smaller, not ochreous dark patches at the base and diagonal white and brown patches in the apical third. Rhytiphora amicula has smaller sex patches (covering half of male ventrite 2) and no dorsal dark patches or heavy ochre mottling on the elytra.

Description. Body small to medium-sized, elongate: body length 13.2–17.0 mm (holotype 15.0 mm), width 4.5–6.0 mm (holotype 5.1 mm). Winged. Dark brown with grey setae, ochre mottling and brown patches on elytra ( Figs. 6A–C , 8A ).

Head with frontoclypeus rectangular ( Fig. 7E ). Eyes moderately faceted, ringed with white setae (ochre on outer rim), lobes fully divided. Lower lobes separated by 3.3–3.5 times eye width, approximately same length as gena. Upper lobes separated by 2.2 times width of antennal socket, same length as antennal socket. Antennal tubercules fairly prominent, separated by 3.2 times width of antennal socket. Clypeus flat, slightly extended beyond mandibular articulation, sometimes covering membranous anteclypeus; mandibles apically pointed, maxillary and labial palps fusiform ( Fig. 7E ). Frontoclypeus grey with ochre mottling, gena white below eye, occipital suture with ochre outline. Antennae extending slightly beyond elytral apices in male, with ventral fringe of long, dense setae on antennomeres 2–11. Scape smooth, expanding apically, 2.1 times as long as wide, 4 times longer than pedicel, shorter than antennomere 3, posteriorly extending a little beyond anterior margin of pronotum. Antennomere 3 longer than 4. Antennomeres covered with fine grey setae.

Prothorax subquadrate, 0.8 times as long as wide, base distinctly narrower than humeri. Lateral margins with slight anterior ridge; pronotal disc finely punctate with very shallow transverse grooves, setae grey with ochre mottling. Prosternal process narrow, arcuate. Procoxae without spiniform projection in males.

Elytra finely punctate, granulate in basal third with two distinct projections (short row of tubercules). Elytral base dark brown and heavily mottled with ochre, except for thin grey line at suture; thin, curved white line on lateral margin, not extending beyond basal third. Rest of elytra grey, lightly mottled with ochre, with brown circular patch at beginning of apical third. Elytral apices distinctly truncate.

Legs covered with fine grey setae, hind legs mottled with ochre; male protibial tubercule absent. Mesoventrite arcuate without anterior projection. Metaventrite twice as long as mesoventrite, setae mostly grey with central white and posterior ochre patches.

Ventrite 2 slightly longer than 1 in male, with broad yellow sex patches covering almost entire surface; fringe of ventrite 1 slightly thicker in male than other ventrite fringes. Ventrite 5 slightly longer than 4 in female, with sharp apical divot and endocarina.

Male genitalia: parameres narrowly separated at base, broadly separated at apices, thick, apically tapered and setose; penis tip rounded ( Fig. 9A ).

Types. Holotype male ( Figs. 6A–B , 8A ): “QLD: 17.84° S x 144.95°E 25km W of Mt Garnet, 13–14 Feb 2010, J. Hasenpusch, 19663” ( ANIC 25-074497 ) . Paratypes (6 specimens): “N. QLD: 38km W. Mt. Garnet , J. Hasenpusch, 3 Feb 2016 ” (1 female, ANIC 25-066756 ) ; “ Australia N Qld. 30km W Mt Garnet , 6-11-10, P. Hasenpusch” (1 female in ethanol, ANIC) ; “ 11.45S 142.35E Heathlands , QLD 15–26 Jan. 1992 T. A. Weir, I. D. Naumann at light” (2 males, ANIC; male genitalia dissection, Fig. 9A ) ; “ 11.57S 142.38E QLD 22km SbyE Heathlands 27 Jan. 1992, A. Ewart, at light Melaleuca swamp” (1 male, ANIC; Figs. 6C , 7E ) ; “ 11.41S 142.28E QLD 15km NWbyW Heathlands 28 Jan. 1992, A. Ewart Eucalyptus tetradonta forest, at light” (1 male, ANIC) .

Other material examined. Rockhampton, Queensland E. Sutton (1 specimen, ANIC). This specimen is damaged and so has not been made a paratype .

Distribution and host plants. Northern to central Queensland coast. Localities include: Heathlands, Mount Garnet, Rockhampton. Specific host plants are unknown, but specimens have been collected from light traps set in predominately Myrtaceae habitats.

Etymology. This species is named after its type locality: to the west of Mount Garnet (in the Tablelands Region of Queensland, Australia).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Rhytiphora species, dorsal and ventral views. A–B: Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. holotype male (ANIC 25- 074497). C: Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. paratype male. D: Rhytiphora pulcherrima female. E: Rhytiphora delicatula male (ANIC 25-061931). F: Rhytiphora amicula male (ANIC 25-066535).

FIGURE 7. Rhytiphora species, dorsal and frontal (head only) views. A: Rhytiphora collaris female (ANIC 25-067050). B: Rhytiphora piperitia male (ANIC 25-058414). C–D: Rhytiphora argentata male (ANIC 25-061934). E: Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. paratype male.

FIGURE 8. Rhytiphora species, lateral view. A: Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. holotype male (ANIC 25-074497). B: Rhytiphora delicatula male (ANIC 25-061931). C: Rhytiphora amicula male (ANIC 25-066535). D: Rhytiphora argentata male (ANIC 25-061934). E: Rhytiphora collaris female (ANIC 25-067050). F: Rhytiphora piperitia male (ANIC 25-058414).

FIGURE 9. Rhytiphora species, male genitalia (penis and tegmen). A: Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. paratype. B: Rhytiphora amicula. C: Rhytiphora collaris. D: Rhytiphora delicatula (ANIC 25-061931). E: Rhytiphora piperitia. F: Rhytiphora argentata.