Lepanus monteithi, in Matthews, 1974

Gunter, Nicole L. & Weir, Thomas A., 2019, Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): description of 10 new species from the L. australis, L. monteithi, and L. villosus species groups, Zootaxa 4695 (3), pp. 201-252 : 222-223

Key to species of Lepanus monteithi species group.

1. Clypeal edge with a blunt projection lateral to clypeal teeth ( Fig. 8A ); dorsal part of eyes wide, separated by 7 eye widths; medial lobe of metaventrite narrowly margined beside mesocoxae ( Fig. 8D ); male metatibiae without a notched inner edge; aedeagus as in Fig. 10D , with a small tuft of setae on apex of right paramere; northern Northern Territory ............................................................................... Lepanus topend Gunter & Weir , new species

- Clypeal edge evenly rounded lateral to clypeal teeth ( Fig. 8B ); dorsal parts of eyes narrower, separated by more than 12 eye widths; medial lobe of metaventrite with margin beside mesocoxae either very narrowly margined or virtually absent ( Figs. 8 H–I); male metatibiae with or without a notch on inner edge; aedeagus with or without small tufts of setae on apices of parameres............................................................................................... 2

2. Lateral lobe of metaventrite with a pit containing a tuft of setae ( Fig. 8G ), virtually impunctate anteriorly, inner border beside mesocoxae not defined; head and disc of pronotum very finely punctate; aedeagus as in Fig. 10A , without tufts of setae on parameres; northern Queensland, Iron Range area north to tip of Cape York Peninsula................................................................................................ Lepanus geoffi Gunter & Weir , new species

- Lateral lobe of metaventrite without a setose pit, punctate anteriorly, inner border beside mesocoxae well defined; head and disc of pronotum with punctation fine or not; aedeagus with or without tufts of setae on apices of parameres................. 3

3. Outer edge of protibiae with only 2 distinct teeth, 3 rd or basal tooth reduced to little more than a denticle ( Fig. 8E ); male metatibiae with a notch on inner edge (eg Fig. 8F ); aedeagus with small tufts of setae on apices of both right and left parameres... ................................................................................................... 4

- Outer edge of protibiae with 3 distinct teeth; male metatibiae with or without a notch on inner edge; aedeagus with or without small tufts of setae on apices of parameres................................................................. 5

4. Head without a basal carina; head and disc of pronotum very finely punctate; elytral intervals virtually impunctate; lateral lobe of metaventrite with inner border beside mesocoxae anteriorly curving to meet lateral border ( Fig. 8H ); pygidium not reticulate basally and virtually impunctate ( Fig. 11C ); aedeagus as in Fig. 10C , with small tufts of setae on apices of both right and left parameres, left paramere pointed; northern Queensland, Wet Tropics...... Lepanus reidi Gunter & Weir , new species [part]

- Head with short basal carina present only adjacent to eyes ( Fig. 8C ); head and disc of pronotum with punctation not so fine; elytral intervals distinctly punctate; lateral lobe of metaventrite with inner border bedside mesocoxae anteriorly straight, lateral border virtually absent ( Fig. 8I ); pygidium often finely reticulate basally and with distinct punctures ( Fig. 11B ); aedeagus as in Fig. 10B , with small tufts of setae on apices of both right and left parameres, left paramere somewhat spatulate; northern Queensland, Iron Range area................................................ Lepanus monteithi Matthews, 1974

5. Basal margin of pronotum without a row of small punctures; head and disc of pronotum very finely punctate; elytral striae obsolete; lateral lobe of metaventrite with inner border beside mesocoxae anteriorly curving forward to meet lateral border ( Fig. 8H ); pygidium not reticulate basally and virtually impunctate ( Fig. 11C ); male metatibiae with a notch on the inner edge ( Fig. 8F ); aedeagus as in Fig. 10C , with small tufts of setae on the apices of both right and left parameres; northern Queensland, Wet Tropics..................................................... Lepanus reidi Gunter & Weir , new species [part]

- Basal margin of pronotum with a distinct row of small punctures; head and disc of pronotum with punctation not so fine, easily discernable; elytral striae clearly visible; lateral lobe of metaventrite with inner border beside mesocoxae anteriorly straight, lateral border virtually absent (as in Fig. 8I ); pygidium finely reticulate basally and with distinct punctures ( Fig. 11E ); male metatibiae without a notch on inner edge; aedeagus as in Fig. 10E , without small tufts of setae on apices of parameres; northern Queensland, Iron Range area north to Torres Strait..................... Lepanus yorkensis Gunter & Weir , new species

Figures

FIGURE 8. Some diagnostic characters of the Lepanus monteithi species group. A, Head of Lepanus topend, black arrow points to blunt projection lateral to clypeal teeth; B, Head of Lepanus reidi example of rounded clypeal edge, white arrow showing absence of basal carina; C, Head of Lepanus monteithi with dotted lines showing short basal carina; D, Metaventrite of Lepanus topend, white arrow points to narrow margin of medial lobe beside mesocoxae; E, protibia of Lepanus monteithi showing only two distinct teeth; F, male metatibiae of Lepanus reidi, black arrow and dotted line indicates notch on the inner edge; G, ventrolateral view of Lepanus geoffi highlighting pit containing a tuft of setae on lateral lobe of metaventrite; H, ventrolateral view of Lepanus reidi white arrow points to very narrow margin of medial lobe of metaventrite beside mesocoxa, dotted line showing anteriorly curved inner border of lateral lobe; I, ventrolateral view of Lepanus monteithi white arrow points to virtually absent margin of medial lobe of metaventrite beside mesocoxa, dotted line showing anteriorly straight inner border of lateral lobe.

FIGURE 10. Left, dorsal, and right view of aedeagi of species within the Lepanus monteithi species group. A, Lepanus geoffi; B, Lepanus monteithi; C, Lepanus reidi; D, Lepanus topend; E, Lepanus yorkensis. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 11. Pygidial configuration of species within the Lepanus monteithi species group. A, Lepanus geoffi; B, Lepanus monteithi; C, Lepanus reidi; D, Lepanus topend; E, Lepanus yorkensis. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 1 mm.