Antarcticotectus Brookes, 1951

Gimmel, Matthew L. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2022, Revision of the genera of Picrotini (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae: Cryptophaginae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (1), pp. 61-109 : 68-70

Antarcticotectus Brookes, 1951

( Figs 2–5 , 82–84 , 95, 97 )

Antarcticotectus Brookes, 1951: 34 . Type species: Antarcticotectus aucklandicus Brookes, 1951 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. This genus may be recognized among Picrotini by the presence of a pair of flat glandular surfaces anterolaterally on the pronotum (which can take various forms; Figs 82–84 ) in combination with a lack of a humeral tooth on the elytron. Additional characters helpful in diagnosing the genus include the elongate, parallel-sided habitus, densely setose dorsal surface, antennal club consisting of three antennomeres and free abdominal ventrites ( Fig. 95 ). Redescription. Length 1.50–2.40 mm. Body form ( Figs 2–5 ) elongate, slender, somewhat shining dorsally, with dense decumbent setae and often with a few short, sparse, suberect setae dorsally; unicolorous (most) or distinctly bicolored (one undescribed species). Head with tempora inconspicuous to prominent, length from about 1/5 to 1/3 length of eye; vertex with temporal depression immediately anterior to ridge; band of reticulate sculpture present or absent. Frontoclypeus not projecting laterally; raised portion of frons between antennal insertions not constricted, about as wide or wider than antennal club. Transverse ridge above antennal insertions absent. Eye large, rounded, contacting antennal cavity; interfacetal setae present or absent. Antennal club consisting of 3 antennomeres; antenna inserted into small cavity; antennomere 9 subequal in width to antennomere 10. Mandible with apex bifid, subapical serrations present. Maxillary palpomere 4 distinctly longer than or subequal to 3; palpomere 4 not subulate. Gena without antennal groove; genal spines obtuse to acute. Gular sutures incomplete, not reaching occipital foramen. Pronotum not explanate, narrower than elytra and not constricted at base, widest at middle or anteriorly; anterior angles absent, not projecting anteriorly (not extending anterior to cervical foramen of prothorax), with a distinct flat glandular surface or platform, either at antero-lateral angles (most; Figs 82, 83 ) or positioned supra-laterally ( A. tasmanicus ; Fig. 84 ), with ( Figs 82, 84 ) or without ( Fig. 83 ) a distinct rim; lateral carina absent (one undescribed species), partially developed ( Fig. 83 ), or complete ( Figs 82, 84 ), smooth, lacking teeth, crenulations, or setigerous tubercles, with lateral glabrous space narrow, width of lateral bead wider than discal puncture and narrower than antennal funicle; disc with basal impressions present or absent, if present either transverse or paired; paramedial carinae and paralateral plicae absent; posterolateral angles about right angled. Prothoracic hypomeron fused to prosternum or separated by suture. Prosternum with anterior margin on same plane as disc; prosternal process with lateral marginal beads usually present, parallel, not connected around apex, or beads absent ( A. tasmanicus ), process slightly expanded apically, narrowly to broadly rounded and crenulate with minute setae; procoxal cavity with or without anterolateral notch. Scutellar shield clearly visible, transverse to obtusely triangular. Elytron without humeral tooth; subbasal and subapical impressions present or absent; subapical gape present; punctation confused, dense and well impressed; vestiture dual with a few long, sparse, erect setae present laterally, decumbent setae forming undulate pattern, with postscutellar and subapical setae usually directed laterally. Hind wing well developed. Mesoventrite with mesoventrital cavity shallow and not flanked by sharp carinae. Mesanepisternal pit present or absent, either lined with setae or glabrous. Metaventrite without postcoxal lines; discrimen more than 1/2 length of metaventrite, posterior notch of metaventrite present. Metendosternite with anterior tendons approximate. Tarsi 5-5- 5 in female, 5-5- 4 in male; tarsi moderately slender, tarsomere 5 as wide as preceding tarsomeres in lateral view; pro- and mesotarsomere 4 with a few ( A. tasmanicus ) or without ventral setae; mesotarsomere 3 unlobed or weakly lobed ventrally, with few setae to moderately dense pad of setae; mesotarsomeres 1–4 of subequal lengths, with mesotarsomere 1 slightly longer and mesotarsomere 4 slightly shorter than 2 and 3 or 1–3 subequal with 4 reduced, mesotarsomere 5 about as long or slightly longer than mesotarsomeres 1–4 combined. Abdominal ventrites free ( Fig. 95 ) and with medial calli, lateral calli present or absent, intersegmental crenulations present or absent; ventrite 1 with intercoxal process narrowly rounded, with or without acuminate postcoxal lines; medio-basal thickenings of ventrites 3–5 absent; apex of ventrite 5 lacking crenulations. Abdominal spiracles with opening on segment VII present and larger in diameter than spiracle VI, texture granulate and atrium rounded and saclike. Aedeagus ( Fig. 97 ) with tegminal strut absent, tegminal arms separated at anterior end or fused and lacking a suture; parameres separate, partially fused or articulated ( Fig. 97 ) to phallobase, inner surface concave or not, length about 2–3× longer than wide, apices unisetose ( A. rutilus ), bisetose ( A. silvanus ; Fig. 97 ), asetose ( A. tasmanicus ) or multisetose (undescribed species); attachment point to phallobase not constricted, interparameral process absent; basipenis 3× ( A. rutilus ) to about 5× longer ( A. tasmanicus ) than distipenis, with ( A. silvanus ) or without median carina; distipenis elongate (2× longer than wide), outer rims smooth, weakly crenulate or distinctly serrated ( A. silvanus ), lateral lobes not widely separated, symmetrical ( A. silvanus and A. tasmanicus ) or slightly asymmetrical ( A. rutilus ); internal sac with short endophallites lacking hooks ( A. rutilus ) or absent.

Remarks. We add three additional species to the genus, which share a similar elongate-parallel habitus and all possess raised platforms anterolaterally on the pronotum. The type species, A. aucklandicus , is likely a junior synonym of A. silvanus . Although superficially similar in habitus and easily keying as a group based on aedeagal and other characters, we suspect this genus may not be monophyletic as presently conceived.

Biology. New Zealand members of the genus have been collected commonly from the fronds of tree ferns, and one other has been collected from plants at high altitudes.The gut of a dissected specimen of A. rutilus contained fungal spores.

Distribution. Australia, New Zealand.

Included species (4+2). Antarcticotectus aucklandicus Brookes, 1951 ; Antarcticotectus rutilus (Broun, 1880) comb. nov. (from Micrambina Reitter, 1878 ); Antarcticotectus silvanus (Broun, 1880) comb. nov. (from Micrambina ); Antarcticotectus tasmanicus (Blackburn, 1907) comb. nov. (from Cryptophagus ); two undescribed species from New Zealand.

Austroscelis gen. nov.

( Figs 6–8 , 93 , 98 )

Type species. Cryptophagus gibbipennis Blackburn, 1892 , by present designation.

Diagnosis. The combination of projecting, acute to right- -angled anterior pronotal angles with all five abdominal ventrites free serves to separate this genus from other Picrotini . The toothed-granular lateral pronotal carinae, antennal club consisting of three antennomeres, and lack of pronotal platforms further serve to distinguish this genus. Description. Length 1.60–2.30 mm. Body form ( Figs 6–8 ) elongate, slender, somewhat shining dorsally, with dense decumbent setae and often with a few short, sparse, suberect setae dorsally; unicolorous. Head with tempora prominent, length about 1/5 length of eye; vertex with temporal depression immediately anterior to ridge; band of reticulate sculpture present. Frontoclypeus not projecting laterally; raised portion of frons between antennal insertions not constricted, about as wide or wider than antennal club. Transverse ridge above antennal insertions absent. Eye relatively large, rounded,contacting antennal cavity; interfacetal setae absent.Antennal club consisting of 3 antennomeres; antenna inserted into small cavity; antennomere 9 subequal in width to antennomere 10. Mandible with apex bifid, subapical serrations present. Maxillary palpomere 4 subequal to 3; palpomere 4 not subulate. Gena without antennal groove; genal spines acute to subacute. Gular sutures incomplete, not reaching occipital foramen. Pronotum not explanate, at base narrower than elytra and not constricted, widest at middle or to near anterior angles; anterior angles distinct, projecting as far as (A. undescribed species 1) or slightly beyond cervical foramen of prothorax, without a distinct flat glandular surface or platform; lateral carina complete, bearing setigerous tubercles, with lateral glabrous space absent, width of lateral bead wider than discal puncture and narrower than antennal funicle; disc with paired basal impressions present or absent; paramedial carinae and paralateral plicae absent; posterolateral angles right angled or slightly obtuse. Prothoracic hypomeron fused to prosternum. Prosternum with anterior margin on same or lower plane as disc; prosternal process with lateral beads present, weak, parallel, connected around apex, process expanded apically, narrowly to broadly rounded and crenulate with minute setae; procoxal cavity with anterolateral notch. Scutellar shield clearly visible, transverse to weakly triangular. Elytron without humeral tooth; subbasal and subapical impressions absent; subapical gape present; punctation confused, dense and well impressed; vestiture dual with a few long, sparse, erect setae present laterally, decumbent setae forming weak to moderately strong undulate pattern, with postscutellar and subapical setae usually directed posteriorly. Hind wing well developed. Mesoventrite with mesoventrital cavity shallow and flanked or not by sharp carinae. Mesanepisternal pit present and lined with setae. Metaventrite without postcoxal lines; discrimen less than 1/2 length of metaventrite, posterior notch of metaventrite present. Metendosternite with anterior tendons approximate. Tarsi 5-5- 5 in female, 5-5- 4 in male; tarsi moderately slender, tarsomere 5 as wide as preceding tarsomeres in lateral view; pro- and mesotarsomere 4 without ventral setae; mesotarsomere 3 unlobed, with few setae; mesotarsomeres 1–4 of subequal lengths, mesotarsomere 5 about as long as mesotarsomeres 1–4 combined. Abdominal ventrites free, with medial calli, lateral calli present or absent, intersegmental crenulations present or absent; ventrite 1 with intercoxal process narrowly rounded, with scalloped postcoxal lines ( Fig. 93 ); medio-basal thickenings of ventrites 3–5 absent; apex of ventrite 5 lacking crenulations. Abdominal spiracles on segment VII lacking opening, texture granulate and atrium elongate and tubular. Aedeagus ( Fig. 98 ) with tegminal strut absent, tegminal arms separated at apex (A. undescribed species 1) or fused, with a suture ( A. gibbipennis , A. undescribed species 2); parameres separate and articulated to phallobase, inner surface not concave, length about 2–3× (A. undescribed species 1, A. undescribed species 2) to over 5× ( A. gibbipennis ) longer than wide; apices bisetose ( A. gibbipennis , A. undescribed species 1) or asetose (A. undescribed species 2); attachment point to phallobase not constricted, interparameral process absent; basipenis 4× (A. undescribed species 1) to about 5× longer (A. undescribed species 2) than distipenis, without median carina; distipenis relatively short (about 1.2–1.5× longer than wide), outer rims weakly crenulate to smooth, lateral lobes not widely separated, symmetrical; internal sac with short to long endophallites lacking hooks that are joined along their entire length ( A. gibbipennis , A. undescribed species 1) or separated and joined only near the apex (A. undescribed species 2).

Remarks. In addition to the type species from eastern Australia ( Fig. 6 ), we have examined two others, one species from the east (A. undescribed species 1; Fig. 7 ) and one from Western Australia (A. undescribed species 2; Fig. 8 ).

Etymology. The generic name is derived from a combination of the Latin “ austro ”, meaning southern, and “ -scelis ”, a common genus ending in Cryptophagidae . The gender is masculine.

Biology. Members of the genus have been collected commonly in leaf litter samples and flight intercept traps. Specimens had guts packed with single dark fungal spores or undifferentiated material and a few conidia.

Distribution. Australia.

Included species (1+2). Austroscelis gibbipennis (Blackburn, 1892) comb. nov. (from Cryptophagus ); two undescribed species from Australia.

Figures

Figs 1–9. Habitus of species of Picrotini. 1 – Agnetaria pilosella (Blackburn, 1891); 2 – Antarcticotectus rutilus (Broun, 1880); 3 – Antarcticotectus silvanus (Broun, 1880); 4 – Antarcticotectus tasmanicus (Blackburn, 1907); 5 – Antarcticotectus n. sp. 1 (New Zealand); 6 – Austroscelis gibbipennis (Blackburn, 1892); 7 – Austroscelis n.sp.1 (Australia:NSW, Vic); 8 – Austroscelis n.sp. 2 (Australia:WA); 9 – Bellascelis pecki sp.nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 82–89. Head and pronotum of Picrotini. 82–88 – lateral view. 82 – Antarcticotectus rutilus (Broun, 1880); 83 – Antarcticotectus silvanus (Broun, 1880); 84 – Antarcticotectus tasmanicus (Blackburn, 1907); 85 – Chiliotis sp.; 86 – Notocryptus australis (Redtenbacher, 1868); 87 – Ostreacryptus helmsi (Reitter, 1880); 88 – Humerocryptus n. sp. 1. 89 – dorsolateral view, Humerocryptus tumidus (Broun, 1893).Abbreviations: lgs = lateral glabrous space.

Figs 95–97. Abdomens and aedeagus viewed with partial transmitted light. 95–96 – abdomen. 95 – Antarcticotectus silvanus (Broun, 1880); 96 – Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov. 97 – aedeagus, dorsal and right lateral views, Antarcticotectus silvanus. Abbreviations: bp = basipenis; dp = distipenis.

Figs 90–94. Ventral characters of Picrotini. 90 – prosternum, Notocryptus n. sp. 11. 91–92 – metaventrite.91 – Foveocryptus chenyandongi sp. nov.; 92 – Notocryptus n. sp. 12. 93–94 – basal abdominal ventrites. 93 – Austroscelis gibbipennis (Blackburn, 1891); 94 – Cordosomatula magnabagishae sp. nov.

Figs 98–103.Aedeagus, dorsal view. 98 – Austroscelis gibbipennis (Blackburn, 1892); 99 – Bellascelis pecki sp. nov.; 100 – Cordosomatula magnabagishae sp. nov.; 101 – Humerocryptus n. sp. 1; 102 – Notocryptus australis (Redtenbacher, 1868); 103 – Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov. Abbreviations: aet = anterior extension of tegmen; as = apical serrations; bk = basal kink of internal sac; ep = endophallites; ics = inner concave surface; ip = interparameral plate; lf = lateral fold; os = ostium; pg = primary gonopore.