Zenascus roberti, Grzymala & Leschen, 2020

Grzymala, Traci L. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2020, Sexual Dimorphism of New Zealand Puppet Beetles (Aderidae, Coleoptera, Tenebrionoidea): Systematic Revision, Description of Three New Genera, and Phylogeny for Zenascus, gen. n., Zootaxa 4889 (1), pp. 1-59 : 47-49

Zenascus roberti sp. n.

Figs 12C , 14H , 15A , 16C , 19C , 20H , 22C , 32H, 24D, 28C

Etymology. This species is named for lepidopterist Robert Hoare for his friendship and aid in the field, and especially for one collecting adventure with the first author to Karekare beach where several species of Zenascus were acquired, including a specimen of this newly described species.

Diagnosis. This species is separated from congeners by the testaceous integument with biseriate pubescence, the laterally expanded antennal scape of the males, and the distinctive modified antennomeres 7 and 8 of males. Zenascus roberti is most similar to congeners Z. luniger and Z. incensum due to the extreme antennal modifications of the males. Males are easily separated because specimens of Z. roberti only have antennomeres 7–8 modified whereas males of Z. luniger and Z. incensum have antennomeres 7–9 modified. Females are much more difficult to differentiate but are distinguished by their golden to testaceous pronotum and elytra as compared to the light brown to brunneous coloration found with females of the other two species.

Description. Length 1.36–1.45 mm. Antennal scape, pedicel, antennomeres 3–6 and 9–11, elytra, and legs testaceous; head and pronotum light brown; antennomeres 7 and 8 dark brown. Dorsal integument matte, vestiture biseriate, one decumbent, thin, short seta arising anterad of each primary puncture, length about equal to 1.5 puncture lengths, with 2–3 subequally thin and short setae between each pair of punctures. Ventral vestiture similar to dorsum, biseriate. Head, HW 0.41–0.45 mm, HL 0.18–0.22 mm. punctation consisting of numerous elongate punctures, approximately evenly spaced, covering frons and vertex, lacking from base to head constriction; a minimal impression present between antennal ridge and vertex. Antennae with distance between antennal insertions narrow, approximately equal to diameter of 1.5 antennal insertions; length reaching past basal ½ of elytra when extended backward; scape broad, dorso-ventrally flattened, broadest basally, decreasing in width towards apex; pedicel subglobular; antennomere 3 minute, shorter than pedicel, only visible with high magnification; antennomere 4 elongate and somewhat flattened, length 5× width; antennomere 5 shorter than 4; antennomere 6 shorter than 5; antennomere 7 highly modified, basal ½ broad and with appendage projecting forward, appendage apex rounded; 8 highly modified, with appendage projecting backwards, appendage apex acute; antennomeres 9 and 10 subquadrate, subequal in length and width; antennomere 11 longer than 10; antennomeres 3–11 covered in moderately dense, suberect pubescence, antennomeres 7 and 8 with additional pilosity ( Fig. 15A ). Pronotum, PW 0.30–0.35 mm, PL 0.29–0.34 mm, subquadrate, width subequal to slightly greater than length, width 1.03–1.09× length; pronotal width 0.50–0.52× elytral width, pronotal width 0.73–0.78× head width; sides straight to slightly sinuate; disc with two slightly impressed basal fovea, a slight transverse sulcus present just anterad of center; punctation consisting of deep, elongate punctures, unevenly spaced, separated by an average of two punctural lengths, absent from midline posterior to center. Elytra 1.66–1.78× longer than wide and 3.53–3.69× longer than pronotal length, EW 0.60–0.68 mm, EL 1.07–1.13 mm; slight oblique subscutellar depression present; punctation consisting of elongate punctures, sepa-rated by an average of two punctural lengths. Proleg with tarsomeres 1 and 2 subequal in length, tarsomere 1 without ventral short, stout spine; tarsomere 3 with ventral adhesive setae. Hindleg with numerous deep, elongate punctures along posterior margin of coxa; femur with distinctly thickened setae on postero-ventral face, overlying slight excavation along entire length of femur, apico-ventral impression absent; tibia gradually expanded in width from base to apex, apex inner face triangulate, with cluster of thin, elongate setae. Abdomen with lateral length of ventrite 2 longer than length at midline; deep punctures confined to abdominal process and basal margin of ventrite 1, basal margin of ventrite 2, and scattered across ventrite 3; shallow micropunctures present on ventrites 4 and 5; ventrite 5 without medial impression. Phallobase broadly rounded anteriorly, not delimited from apicale; apicale posteriorly narrowly acute, accessory lobes absent; penis with anterior struts elongate, but not extending past phallobase

Females. Length 1.47–1.50 mm, HW 0.42 mm, HL 0.18–0.19 mm, PW 0.32–0.33 mm, PL 0.30 mm, EW 0.66– 0.71 mm, EL. 1.17–1.20 mm. Antennae with scape longer than wide, slightly flattened; pedicel subglobular; antennomere 3 longer and about ½ width of pedicel, antennomere 3–7 subequal in width and length; antennomeres 8–11 each shorter than antennomere 7, each subsequent antennomere becoming slightly wider, forming a weak club.

Remarks. This species corresponds to ‘ Xylophilus ’ species 1 and 2 in the Lynfield survey of Kushel (1990).

Natural history. This is a relatively widespread and common species found mainly in the North Island. This species has been primarily collected using Malaise traps and sweeping vegetation. It has also been collecting by beating Melicytus ramiflorus .

Distribution. North Island : Northland (ND), Auckland (AK), Coromandel (CL), Gisborne (GB), Taupo (TO), and Wanganui (WI). South Island : Nelson (NN) and Marlborough Sounds (SD).

Type material examined. Holotype. Male ( NZAC), labeled: “ NEW ZEALAND ND / Omahuta SF / 4 Feb 1975 / G. Kuschel // N.Z. Arthropod / Collection, NZAC / Entomology Div. / DSIR, Auckland / NEW ZEALAND // Genus F / sp. 3 [male symbol] / det. J.C. Watt / 1985” . Paratypes (56). ND: Brynderwyn , 17/11/1964, R.A. Cumber (1, AMNZ) ; Poor Knights Is , Tawhiti Rahi , 6/12/1980, G. Kuschel (1, NZAC) ; same, but 2/12/1980 (1, NZAC) ; same, but 8/12/1980, sweeping on north track near lighthouse, M.F. Tocker (1, NZAC) ; same, but sweeping on north track (1, NZAC); Tutukaka Harbour , 12/12/1980, beaten from coastal shrubs, J.C. Watt (1, NZAC) . AK: Bethells Matuku Res , 21/12/1988 – 14/03/1989, Malaise trap on tree platform, G. Hall, 36 51.942S, 174 28.285E (1, NZAC) ; same, but 14/12/1990 – 21/03/1991, Malaise trap on ground below tree platform (1, NZAC) ; Huia , Destruction Gully , 21/10/1974, sweeping and beating, J.S. Dugdale (1, NZAC) ; Lynfield , 3/04/1980, malaise trap, G. Kuschel (1, NZAC) ; Waitakere Range , Piha , 01/02/2000, Malaise trap, Wasp Survey (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 08/02/2000 (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 11/05/2000 (1, AMNZ) ; Waitakere Range , Arataki , 18/01/2000 – 23/01/2000, Malaise trap, Wasp Survey (1, AMNZ) ; Waitakere Range , Karekare , 9/05/2000, Malaise trap, Wasp Survey (1, AMNZ) ; Wiri , 92 Langley Rd, 20/01/2004 – 3/03/2004, R. Toft, S. Hona (1, NZAC) ; same but mini malaise trap site 12, (1, NZAC) ; Lynfield , 20/04/1980, Malaise trap, G. Kuschel (1, NZAC) ; same, but 15/03/1980 (1, NZAC) ; Titirangi , 10/02/2003, on foliage, S.E. Thorpe (1, AMNZ) ; Huapai Res , 5/11/2012, A. Becker et al., canopy fogging, 36 79.5144S, 174 49.1402E (2, NZAC) . CL: Cuvier I, West Ridge Track , 160m, 11–18/11/1999, Malaise trap in forest, J.W. Early, S.E. Thorpe (1, AMNZ) ; Great Barrier I , Mt Hobson , 420m, 23/11/2003 – 20/12/2003, Malaise trap, K. Parsons (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 21/12/2003 – 22/02/2003 (5, AMNZ) ; same, but 19/12/2002 – 21/02/2002 (5, AMNZ) ; same, but 22/2/2003 – 29/03/2003 (2, AMNZ) ; Great Barrier I, Rosalie Bay , Benthorn Farm , 100m, 18/01/2002 – 21/02/2002, boggy forest edge, malaise trap, P. Sutton (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 150m, 11/12/2001 – 18/10/2003 (1, AMNZ) ; Great Barrier Is , Little Windy Hill , 100m, 20/01/2003 – 25/02/2003, coastal forest Malaise trap, K. Parsons (2, AMNZ) ; same, but 180m, 8/10/2003 – 18/10/2003, meeting house Malaise trap (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 100m, 19/12/2002 – 21/02/2002, area 2, coastal Malaise trap, (2, AMNZ) ; same, but 220m, 13/12/2002 – 17/01/2003, forest edge Malaise trap (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 18/01/2002 – 21/02/2002 (1, AMNZ) ; same, but 200m, 21/11/2002 – 23/12/2002, forest edge Malaise trap (1, AMNZ) ; Mercury Is , Stanley I , 11/23/1972, Astelia etc., G.W. Ramsay (1, NZAC) . TO: Tongariro NP Chateau , 1000m, 12/06/1978, Phyllocladus alpinus, G. Kuschel (1, NZAC) . GB: Taikawakawa , 2/01/1993 – 18/03/1993, malaise trap, J.S. Dugdale (2, NZAC) ; Waimata Valley , 30/11/1994 – 07/12/1994, Malaise trap (6), 6>60 yr kanuka/Car. Ser.-Ole.ran./Cop.rha., diverse shrubland, J.S. Dugdale (1, NZAC) . WI: Wanganui, Castlecliff , 28/01/1982, sweeping, C.F. Butcher (1, NZAC) . South Island NN: Dun Mt , 2000ft, 21/01/1931, E.S. Gourlay (1, NZAC) ; Stockton Coal Mine , 880m, 16/12/1998, 18/12/1998, Malaise trap, rehabilitation trial, bare control plot 8, R.J. Toft (1, NZAC) . SD: Queen Charlotte Sounds , Bay of Many Coves , 27/12/1993 – 10/02/1994, Malaise trap in Nothofagus truncata /mixed broadleaf/podocarp forest, J.W.M Marris & W.A. Marris (1, LUNZ) ; same, but 1/01/1983 – 6/01/1983 (2, LUNZ) . Unknown. T. Broun Collection, A.E Brookes Collection (1, NZAC) ; var 423, A.E Brookes Collection (1, NZAC) .

Figures

FIGURES 12A–E. Dorsal habitus images. (A) Zenascus antennalis (Broun), male; (B) Zenascus xenarthrus (Broun), male; (C) Zenascus roberti sp. n., male; (D) Zenascus luniger (Champion), male; (E) Zenascus incensum sp. n., male. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 14A–J. Antennal illustrations for Zenascus species, male on left, female on right.(A) Z. coloratus; (B) Z. obscurus; (C) Z. aurum, sp. n.; (D) Z. nitidus; (E) Z. elenae, sp. n.; (F) Z. antennalis; (G) Z. xenarthrus; (H) Z. roberti, sp. n.; (I) Z. luniger; (J) Z. incensum, sp. n. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 15A–C. Scanning electron microscope images of Zenascus species with close-ups of male antennomeres 7–9. (A) Z. roberti, sp. n.; (B) Z. luniger; (C) Z. incensum, sp. n.. Scale bars = 20μm.

FIGURES 16A–C. Scanning electron microscope images, Zenascus species, protarsomeres displaying spine and sexual dimorphism present in some species. (A) Z. obscurus, male; (B) Z. obscurus, female (C) Z. roberti, sp. n., male. Scale bars = 20μm.

FIGURES 19A–E. Scanning electron microscope images, Zenascus species, elytron, dorsal view. (A) Z. antennalis; (B) Z. xenarthrus; (C) Z. roberti, sp. n.; (D) Z. luniger; (E) Z. incensum, sp. n. Scale bars = 10μm.

FIGURES 20A–J. Scanning electron microscope images, ventral view of metafemora for Zenascus species. (A) Z. coloratus, male; (B) Z. obscurus, male; (C) Z. aurum, sp. n., male; (D) Z. nitidus, female; (E) Z. elenae, sp. n., male; (F) Z. antennalis, female; (G) Z. xenarthrus, male; (H) Z. roberti, sp. n., male; (I) Z. luniger, male; (J) Z. incensum, sp. n., male. Scale bars = 60μm.

FIGURES 22A–E. Abdominal ventrite illustrations for Zenascus species showing generalized punctation pattern. (A) Z. antennalis, male; (B) Z. xenarthrus, male; (C) Z. roberti, sp. n., male; (D) Z. luniger, male; (E) Z. incensum, sp. n., male.