Lepanus cameroni Gunter & Weir, 2021

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 : 34-35

Lepanus cameroni Gunter & Weir , new species

( Figs. 2G, J ; 3A ; 4A ; 5A ; 6C )

Type series. Holotype: ♂ “ 12.45S 143.14E QLD West Claudie River 24 Oct. 1992, T. Weir, P. Zborowski, human dung trap closed forest” / “ ANIC Database 25 023716” / “ Lepanus CYP 8, det T.A. Weir 2018” (in ANIC) . Paratypes (2x ♂, 3x ♀): 11 km ENE Mount Tozer, 12°42’44”S, 143°18’37”E, 11–16.vii.1986, J.C. Cardale (25-058143 1 specimen ♂ in ANIC); Gordons Creek , 12°42’47”S, 143°19’12”E, 15 m, 11–12.xii.2010, G.B. Monteith (25- 060831 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC also as COL1463) ; 6 km ENE Mount Tozer [12°44’00”S, 143°16’00”E], 30.vi.1986, T.A. Weir & A. Calder (25-058144 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC); Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, [12°44’00”S, 143°17’00”E], 1–9.vi.1971, G.B. Monteith (25-058468 1 specimen ♂ in QM); Claudie River near Iron Range [12°45’00”S, 143°13’00”E], 19–25.vii.1978, J.F. Lawrence, (25-057894 1 specimen ♀ in ANIC) .

Description. Head and thorax dark brown to black, elytra predominately light brown to dark brown with humeri and apical edges reddish brown. Antennal clubs with apical antennomere (3rd) white, basal 2 antennomeres (1st, 2nd) light grey. Dorsal surfaces nitid, with extremely fine setae (often rubbed off).

Total length: 4.5– 4.7 mm. Holotype measurements: Total length 4.6 mm; elytral width 2.9 mm.

Male. Head: Width to length ratio 37: 25. Surface smooth and nitid, very finely punctate but clypeal area with a few very fine reticulations. Dorsal part of eyes wide, separated by an interocular space approximately 10–11 times eye width (53: 5); eye canthus not dividing eye, leaving a gap of about 4 facets.

Prothorax: Pronotum with posterolateral angles distinct, lateral margins bordered. Pronotal surface smooth, nitid, very finely punctate. Hypomeral surface very finely reticulate, hypomeral stria absent. Pronotum width to length ratio 63: 40.

Elytra: Surface smooth, nitid, striae superficial, impunctate. Stria 6 extending to the elytral base, and stria 7 not extending to the elytral base. 8th stria with a few punctures where it curves inwards posteriorly. Ratio of length of the elytra along suture to maximum elytral width 70: 77.

Legs: Protibia with a distinct, roughly crenulate ridge on the underside. Protibia with 2 teeth on the outer edge, front edge truncate, apical digit broad with a blunt point, apical spur absent. Mesotibia with a brush of setae apically on the inner side. Metatibia with inner edge nearly straight and finely crenulate. Basal metatarsomere with slight lobe on inner edge.

Abdomen: Pygidium with a transverse sinuate fold across the base that is curved and not impressed medially. Pygidial disc with a large flat, reticulate central area that occupies more than half the disc. Ventrite 6 punctate.

Pterothorax: Mesometaventral suture slightly arched. Medial lobe of metaventrite smooth, nitid, virtually impunctate, broadly margined beside mesocoxae. Lateral lobe of metaventrite finely punctate, setose. Mesoventrite smooth. nitid, and notched anteriorly. Mesepimeron very finely reticulate. Metanepisternum finely reticulate.

Female. Protibia with front edge truncate and apical spur arising directly from front edge. Apical digit absent. Metatibia with inner edge not crenulate. Mesotibia without a brush of setae apically.

Etymology. This species is named for Stephen Cameron, Purdue University, for his mentorship and contribution to many of our Australian beetle projects.

Distribution. Only known from rainforests of the Iron Range in the Cape York Peninsula (CYP) bioregion ( Fig. 6C ) and likely represents a short-range endemic.

Comments. Only known from six specimens collected in either dung traps or pan traps. This species has been referred to under the informal name of “ Lepanus CYP 8”. The sequenced specimen in Gunter et al. (2019) is from Gordons Creek and is designated as a paratype here (ANIC 25-053831 also as COL1463) and was recovered as sister to L. globulus within the L. ustulatus species group clade.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Some diagnostic characters of the Lepanus ustulatus species group. A, Dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus ustulatus; B, dorsal view of female protibia of Lepanus ustulatus; C, dorsal view of male protibia of Lepanus globulus; D, male metatibia of Lepanus ustulatus; E, female metatibia of Lepanus ustulatus; F, male metatibia of Lepanus lemannae; G, lateral view of male protibia of Lepanus cameroni; H, lateral view of male protibia of Lepanus globulus; I, lateral view of male protibia of Lepanus cardwellensis; J, head of Lepanus cameroni showing eye canthus not dividing the eye; K, posterolateral view of pronotum of Lepanus globulus showing corners distinct; L, head of Lepanus globulus showing eye canthus almost dividing the eye; M, posterolateral view of pronotum of Lepanus cardwellensis showing corners rounded.

FIGURE 3. Dorsal habitus of species within the Lepanus ustulatus species group. A, Lepanus cameroni; B, Lepanus cardwellensis; C, Lepanus globulus; D, Lepanus lemannae; E, Lepanus ustulatus. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Pygidial configuration of species within the Lepanus ustulatus species group. A, Lepanus cameroni; B, Lepanus cardwellensis; C, Lepanus globulus; D, Lepanus lemannae; E, Lepanus ustulatus. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Left, dorsal and right view of aedeagi of species within the Lepanus ustulatus species group. A, Lepanus cameroni; B, Lepanus cardwellensis; C, Lepanus globulus; D, Lepanus lemannae; E, Lepanus ustulatus. All specimens in comparative scale. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. A, Map of known records of Lepanus ustulatus; B, predicted distribution of Lepanus ustulatus; C, map of known records of Lepanus cameroni.