Australycra obscura

Australycra obscura (Blackburn)

(Figs 3, 35, 43, 59, 64, 81, 85, 91)

Lasiodactylus marginatus var. obscurus Blackburn 1891: 106.

Diagnosis. Superficially very similar to A. similis and sometimes difficult to separate from that species without extraction of the aedeagus or sometimes complete dissection. In general, the size is somewhat smaller (3.00–5.00 (4.19 ± 0.48) mm, n = 94), the elytral megasetae are longer, decumbent and strongly overlapping, so the rows are more obvious, the pronotal punctation is somewhat finer and sparser with finely sculptured interspaces, the vertexal line is complete, and the elytral pits are less regular. Male genitalia are quite distinct, differing from those of A. similis in the tegmen being less than 3 times as long as wide with a broadly emarginate apex, the penis acute at apex and both singly curved in lateral view.

Lectotype, ♂: “T 3645 Qu/ “ Type H. T. ” (red bordered disc)/ Blackburn coll. 1910-236/ Lasiodactylus var.? obscurus, Blackb.” (NHML). Paralectotype, female, originally mounted on same card (NHML). Seven additional paralectotypes in SAM (selected by A. G. Kirejtshuk: Kirejtshuk & Lawrence 1992b).

Specimens examined. QLD: Ayr (19°35’S, 147°24’E), 28.xii.1970, W. B. Muir (1, ANIC); Belmont Hills Bushland, site 1 (27°30.8’S, 153°07.1’E), 80m, eucalypt forest, 31.iii–29.iv.2004, 51996, pitfall, QM party (1, QMB); Blackdown Tableland via Dingo, 1–6.ii.1981, G. B. Monteith (2, QMB); Boggom. 10, via Taroom (25°31’S, 150°03’E), 13.xi,1996– i.1997, 063, baited flight intercept, Cook, Monteith (1, QMB); Booyal, 8 km E by road (25°12.8’S, 152°06.8’E), 100m, open forest, ironbarks, 15–17.ii.1008, 15744, fungus trap, D. Cook (2, QMB); Brisbane, Griffith University Campus, 1978 (1, ANIC); Cairns, 1947–1949, J. G. Brooks (5, ANIC); Camp Milo, Cooloola Forestry Area, E of Gympie, iv.1978, at light, I. D. Galloway (2, ANIC); Charleville, S of 9.v.1973, M. S. Upton (1, ANIC); Cooroy, 1.5 km NW (26°23’S, 152°53’E), 100m eucalypt forest, 17–19.ii.2006, 13526, mushroom trap, QM party (2, QMB); Cunnamulla, H. Hardcastle (4, SAM); Dip Creek, 4.5 km W Port Douglas (16°29’S, 145°25’E), 10m, open forest, 3–11.ii.1999, 2053, fungus pitfall, Monteith, Cook (1, QMB); Elimbah, 3 km E (27°01’S, 152°59’E), 20m, eucalypt forest, 17–19.ii.2006, 13515, dung trap, QM party (1, QMB); Elimbah, 3 km E (27°01’S, 152°59’E), 20m, eucalypt forest, 17–19.ii.2006, 13516, mushroom trap, QM party (1, QMB); Enoggera Reservoir, site 2 (27°27’S, 152°55’E), 125m, open forest, 16–18.x.1999, 7832, dung trap, G. B. Monteith (1, QMB); Gold Creek Reservoir, site 1 (27°27.9’S, 152°52.5’E), 140m, spotted gum open forest, 1.ix–1.x.2003, 15486, pitfall, QM party (1, QMB); Granite Gorge, via Mareeba, 29.i.1989, at light, R. I. Storey (1, QDAF); Hann River bridge, 5 km E (15°13’S, 143°55’E), 15.i.1994, at light, P. Zborowski, E. D. Edwards (1, ANIC); Heathlands, 12 km SW, Bertie Ck. Xing (11°05’S, 142°30’E), 15–26.i.1992, at light, T. A. Weir, I. D. Naumann (1, ANIC); Heathlands (11°45’S, 142°35’E), 15–26.i.1992, at light, T. A. Weir, I. D. Naumann (1, ANIC); Horn Island, airport (10°35.6’S, 142°17.7’E), 10m, open forest, 1–8.i.2008, 15477, dung & fungus trap, G. Monteith, K. Aland (2, QMB); Horn Island, quarry (10°36.0’S, 142°18.2’E), 60m, open forest, 1–8.i.2008, 15491, dung & fungus trap, G. B. Monteith, K. Aland (1, QMB); Julatten, 27.xi.1997, light, B. P. Moore (1, ANIC); Karawatha Forest, site 6 (27°37.6’S, 153°05.4’E), 60m, eucalypt woodland, 1.xii.2003 – 2.i.2004, 51806, pitfall, QM party (1, QMB); Kirrema Range (Barracks area), 600m, 9–12.xii.1986, Monteith, Thompson, Hamlet (1, QMB); Little White Rock (27°41’S, 152°51’E), 70m, eucalypt forest, 29–30.i.2005, 11689, fugus trap, G. Monteith (1, QMB); Mareeba, 8 km SE, 12.ii.1993, ex fungus, S. De Faveri (1, QDAF); Mudgerbah, iv.1889, C. J. Wild (1, QMB); Prince of Wales Island, camp (10°42.3’S, 142°13.5’E), 10m, 3–7.i.2008, 15460, G. Monteith, K. Aland (2, QMB); Prince of Wales Island, camp (10°42.3’S, 142°13.5’E), 10m, 5.i.2008, 15461, in fungi, day hand collection, G. Monteith, K. Aland (1, QMB); Prince of Wales I., Torres Strait, 6–11.ii.1978, H. Heatwole (1, AMS K 512739); Queensland, Blackburn’s Coll. (7, SAM); Ransome Reserve (27°29.6’S, 153°11.1’E), 10m, Casuarina woodland, 16.iv–27.v.2003, 51151, pitfall, Burwell, Wright, Volschenk (1, QMB); Rochford Scrub, site 3 (20°07.0’S, 146°37.8’E), 280m, lancewoodbendee vine scrub, 11.xii.2006 – 11.ii.2007, 14591, pitfall, Monteith & Cook (1, QMB); Rochford Scrub, site 6 (20°06.5’S, 146°37.1’E), 290m, bendee, 12.xii.2006 – 12.ii.2007, 14596, pitfall, Monteigh & Cook (3, QMB); Roy’s Road Scientific Area (26°51’S, 153°00’E), 20m, wallum, 17–19.ii.2006. 13518, mushroom trap, QM party (1, QMB); Six Mile Creek bridge (27°01.1’S, 152°58.6’E), 10m, dense sclerophyll, 15–16.xi.2007, 15409, dung trap, G. B. Monteith (1, QMB); ‘ Somerset’, 4.4 km ENE (19°52.3’S, 146°02.2’E), 280m, gidgee, 12.xii.2006 – 11.ii.2007, 14780, wallaby dung-baited pitfall, G. B. Monteith (1, QMB); ‘ Somerset’, 9.5 km ENE (19°50.5’S, 145°59.9’E), 300m, open forest, 13–15.ii.2007, 14786, dung pitfall, G. B. Monteith (1, QMB); Southwood N. P. (27°50.2’S, 150°06.7’E), camp, 255m, sandy soil, 8–10.xii.2005, 12466, mushroom baited pitfall, G. Monteith (2, QMB); Thornleigh, 140.03.46, fungus (1, SAM); Thursday Island (10°35’S, 142°13’E), 25.i.1992, 9751, pitfall trap, Robert Coles (1, QMB); Weipa, 13 km EbyS (12°04’S, 143°00’E), 16.i–16.ii.1994, Malaise trap, P. Zborowski, D. Khalu (1, ANIC); White Rock, 1 st road jcn. (27°41’S, 152°51’E), 80m, eucalypt forest, 29–30.i.2005, 11687, fungus trap, G. Monteith (1, QMB). NT: Groote Eylandt, N. B. Tindale (1, SAM); Humpty Doo, 6 km E, 9.ii–4.iii.1987, R. I. Storey (1, QDAF); Koongarra (12°52’S, 132°50’E), 6–10.iii.1973, M. S. Upton (3. ANIC); Port Darwin (1, SAM); Tindal (14°31’S, 132°22’E), 1–20.xii.1967, W. J. M. Vestjens (3, ANIC); Wallera, 12 km NE, (24°35’S, 132°26’E), 21.xi.1975, G. Griffin (1, ANIC). NSW: Lake Ainsworth, 0.5 km NW via Lennox Head, 30.xi.1998, MV light, S. Watkins (1, ANIC); Booti Booti N. P., 13.iv.1996, BBI02/01, L. Wilkie (1, AMS, K 136720); Bulls Ground S. F. (31°33’S, 152°38’E), ii.2001, 2005, Sites 1B/1, 5B/1, pitfall, Alan York (6, AMS, K 5123322–327); Bungabee St. For., SE Kyogle, 25.xi.1996, MV light, S. Watkins (1, ANIC); Culoul Range, 30.vi.1985, V. R. Bejsak (3, ANIC; 1, AMS K 511065); Duffy’s Wharf, track toward (33°40.13’S, 151°10.24’E), 30.xi–28.xii.2000, SLASS/1/21, pit trap, S. A. Lassau (1, AMS K512272); Galston, Dumbrell (1, SAM); Kangaroo Valley, 6 km W (34°44’S, 150°32’E), 21.i.1971, S. Misko, K. Pullen (1, ANIC); Lake Ainsworth, 0.5 km NW via Lennox Head, 30.xi.1998, mv light, S. Watkins (1, ANIC); Maroota St. For. (31°31’S, 150°58’E), 30.i.1993, attracted to UV light, V. Lorimer (1, AMS K512607); Mogo, 2 km W, Buckenbowra Rd. (35°47.27’S, 150°06.36’E), 08.iii.1999, CBCR003-002, J. Tarnowski, S. Lassau (4, AMS, K 132178–181); Mullaly, 11.1933, H. J. Carter (1, ANIC); Myall Lakes N. P. (32°29.22S, 152°23.53E), 15.xi.1996, MLC02/02, L. Wilkie (1, AMS, K 136722); Myall Lakes N. P. (32°37.56’S, 152°12.27’E), 24.v.1996, MLI01/05, L. Wilkie (1, AMS, K 136721); Port Macquarie, iv.1924, H. J. Carter (2, ANIC); Sydney, Lea (7, SAM); Tahmoor, 15.ii.1998, fungi, B. J. Day (1, ANIC); Warrumbungle N. P., Camp Pincham, 8.xi,1987, ex Acacia decora, C. Reid (1, ANIC); Yarratt St. For., west boundary, 10.iv.1994, 15.xi.1995, mv light, S. Watkins (5, ANIC); Yarratt St. For., western boundary, NE of Wingham, 27.i & 3.ii.1995, mv light, S. Watkins (2, ANIC). VIC: Robinvale (34°35’S, 132°46’E), 25.x–3.xi.1988, light trap, T. Weir, J. Lawrence, M. Hansen (1, ANIC).

Distribution. Widely distributed in QLD and NT and broadly overlapping there with A. similis sp. nov., but also common in NSW and recorded from western VIC.

Biology. Adults have been collected at light and in flight intercept and pitfall traps, the latter often containing fungi and/or dung. Several adults were collected in fungi with a few pupae and a number of larvae.