Lepanus storeyi Weir & Monteith, 2010

Gunter, Nicole L. & Weir, Thomas A., 2021, Revision of Australian species of the dung beetle genus Lepanus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): review of the L. ustulatus, L. storeyi, and L. nitidus species groups and description of eight new species, Zootaxa 4923 (1), pp. 1-66 : 37

Lepanus storeyi Weir & Monteith, 2010

( Figs. 9B ; 10 C–D; 11B, 12A)

Lepanus storeyi Weir & Monteith, 2010: 235 .

Type material examined. Holotype: ♂ “ QLD 28.260° S x 153.167 ° E, Lamington NP, Plot # IQ-1100-C, 1106m, 16–26.i.2007, rainforest, flight intercept trap, G.B. Monteith 22177.” (28°15’36”S, 153°10’01”E) (T145443 specimen in QM) . Paratypes (4 ♂, 4 ♀): Lamington National Park, Plot # IQ-1100-C (28°15’36”S, 153°10’01”E) , 1106 m, 16–26.i.2007, G.B. Monteith (T145444 1 specimen ♂ in QM) ; Lamington National Park, Plot # IQ1100-C (28°15’36”S, 153°10’01”E), 1106 m, 22–27.x.2006, R. Menendez & G.B. Monteith (T145441 1 specimen ♂ in QM) ; Springbrook Repeater [28°14’00”S, 153°16’00”E], 1000 m, 31.x–31.xii.1997, G.B. Monteith (25-058041 1 specimen ♂, 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC also as T83548–49); Springbrook Repeater [28°14’00”S, 153°16’00”E], 1000 m, 9.i–19.ii.1995, G.B. Monteith (T65324, T83546 2 specimens ♀); Lamington National Park , IBISCA, Queensland plot #IQ–1100–B 28°15’32”S, 153°09’43”E, 1142 m, 17.x.2006 – 27.x.2006, G.B. Monteith (25-058042 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC also as T145442); Lamington National Park , IBISCA, Queensland plot #IQ–1100–B 28°15’32”S, 153°09’43”E, 1142 m, 27.i.2008, A. Nakamura, (T155875 1 specimen ♀ in QM) .

Description. Head black, pronotum reddish brown, elytra black with a metallic sheen, humeri and apical edges orange-yellow. Pygidium orange-yellow. Antennal clubs white.

Total length: 2.4–2.7 mm. Paratype measurement (25-058042 ♂): Total length 2.6 mm elytral width 1.8 mm.

Male. Head: Width to length ratio 41: 30. Surface smooth and nitid, with fine punctation, becoming very fine anteriorly. Dorsal part of eyes narrow, separated by an interocular space approximately 16–17 times eye width (33: 2).

Prothorax: Pronotum anterior angles sharp. Surface smooth, nitid, finely punctate. A row of slightly elongate punctures present along middle two thirds of hind margin. Hypomeral surface smooth. Hypomeral stria less than half the length of the hypomeron and very close to lateral margin, which almost appears double at that point. Pronotum width to length ratio 61: 34.

Elytra: Surface smooth, nitid, with obsolete striae. Stria 6 not extending to the elytral base. Epipleura smooth not reticulate. Ratio of length of the elytra along suture to maximum elytral width 80: 85.

Legs: Protibia with 2 teeth on outer edge, front edge deeply angulate between outer tooth and apical digit. Apical digit parallel sided, truncate and slightly notched at the apex. Mesotibia with a brush of setae apically on inner side.

Abdomen: Pygidium smooth and nitid, without medial depression, with a fine transverse sinuate fold that runs parallel to the base and extends to the lateral angles. Abdominal ventrites only reticulate at the sides. Ventrite 6 very finely punctate.

Pterothorax: Medial lobe of metaventrite virtually impunctate, broadly margined between mesocoxae. Lateral lobe of metaventrite punctate and setose. Surface of mesoventrite and mesepimeron smooth. Metanepisternum reticulate.

Female. Pygidium with distinct large ovoid depression with sharp edges and inner surface reticulate; depression larger than half the size of pygidial disc. A fine transverse fold on each side runs from lateral angles close to and parallel to the base to meet the edges of the depression. Apical digit shorter than in males, giving rise to a long apical spur. Mesotibia without a brush of setae apically on inner edge.

Distribution. Only known from high elevation temperate rainforests in Lamington and Springbrook National Parks in the South Eastern Queensland (SEQ) IBRA bioregion ( Fig. 12A ). All specimens have been collected above 1000 m. This species represents a short-range endemic and is only known from four sites within a circle of 10 km diameter.

Comments. Lepanus storeyi is the most sexually dimorphic species of the genus, particularly in respect to the pygidium. All type material in QM and ANIC was examined by author T.W. at time of its description ( Weir & Monteith 2010). The holotype was not examined for this study but paratypes of both sexes were available in ANIC.

This species is rare in collections despite intensive surveys within the area and there is no evidence to suggest this species feeds on mammal dung ( Weir & Monteith 2010, Ebert et al. 2019). It has been collected in flight intercept and pitfall traps (two unbaited and one baited with mushroom ( Weir & Monteith 2010)). Two specimens were collected in the food preference study of Ebert et al. (2019), both of which came to traps baited with invertebrate carrion (earthworm). Weir & Monteith (2010) discuss the conservation status of L. storeyi concluding it is vulnerable to climate change due to its restricted geographic range at high elevation and its rarity in its habitat.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Dorsal habitus of species within the Lepanus storeyi species group. A, Lepanus meierae; B, Lepanus storeyi; C, Lepanus williamsi. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Pygidial configuration of species within the Lepanus storeyi species group. A, Lepanus meierae male; B, Lepanus meierae female; C, Lepanus storeyi male; D, Lepanus storeyi female; E, Lepanus williamsi male. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 12. A, Map of known records of Lepanus meierae, Lepanus storeyi, and Lepanus williamsi, B, predicted distribution of Lepanus meierae.