Apopylus Kolibac 2003

Apopylus Kolibáč, 2003

Apopylus Kolibáč, 2003: 65. Type species: Apopylus unumgarensis Kolibáč, 2003: 67, by original designation. Gender: Masculine.

Revised differential diagnosis. Apopylus is differentiated from Parapylus and Pylus as follows: Eyes margin flush with cranium, or only finely and unevenly margined (Figs. 1, 2), not with a clearly raised margin as in Pylus and Parapylus; antennal club loose (Figs 6–8) (compact in Pylus and Parapylus), segments 10 and 11 not abruptly cupuliform (as in Pylus and Parapylus); terminal palpomeres notably large in relation to head size (Fig. 14) (significantly smaller in Pylus and Parapylus); prothorax weakly (Fig. 16) (most species) to moderately (only A. leptofustus Opitz comb. nov.) tuberculate laterally (strongly tuberculate in Pylus and Parapylus), pronotal disc with matrix of shallow crater-like impressions (Fig. 16) (Pylus and Parapylus with more isolated deep foveolate punctures), disc also without central sulcus (disc sulcate in most Pylus and Parapylus species); mesocoxal cavities narrowly open to completely closed laterally (typically wide open in Parapylus and Pylus); elytral margin distally with curved flange and minute bead-like nodules (Fig. 19) (beading absent in Pylus and Parapylus), discal punctures always with four small internal nodules, i.e., quadrinodal (Fig. 20) (two in Pylus and Parapylus).

Putative synapomorphies supporting monophyly of Apopylus in relation to Pylus and Parapylus include the enlargement of terminal palpomeres, the narrowing (or complete closure) of the mesocoxal cavities, and the development of beading along the apical elytral margin. Whether four internal nodules of the elytral punctures represents the apomorphic or plesiomorphic state (in relation to the two nodules of Pylus and Parapylus) is less clear.

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Characters variable within Apopylus include: antennal club segments notably elongate (most species), more compact (A. creperus comb. nov.), or intermediate (A. unumgarensis); frons about one eye width or slightly narrower (A. astrictus comb. nov., A. leptofustus comb. nov., A. redactus comb. nov.) or almost two eye widths (A. unumgarensis, A. creperus comb. nov.); pronotal lateral tubercle very weak (most species) or moderate (A. leptofustus comb. nov.); mesocoxal cavities closed (A. unumgarensis and A. creperus comb. nov.) or very narrowly open (A. leptofustus comb. nov.) laterally (not documented in A. astrictus comb. nov. or A. redactus comb. nov.); tibial spur formulae 1–2–1 (most species) or 0–0–0 (A. unumgarensis).

Included species. (5): Apopylus unumgarensis Kolibáč,2003; Apopylus astrictus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Apopylus creperus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Apopylus leptofustus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Apopylus redactus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus).

Material examined. Apopylus unumgarensis Kolibáč (4): NSW, Unumgar S.F., 430 m, nr Woodenbong, Pole Bridge Road, 788, 2–11 Jan 1987, A. Newton & M. Thayer (holotype, ANIC); QLD: 26.881˚Sx151.600˚E Bunyas, Dandabah, 1000m, 2Oct 2010, G. Monteith, RF barkspray, 34628 (2, JSBC); SEQ:24°32’Sx151°28’E Bulburin barracks. 8 Oct 1999. 580 m. G.B.Monteith. rainforest Pyrtethrum, trees. 7816 // Apopylus unumgarensis Kolibáč Det. W. Opitz (1, QM).

Fallopylus creperus Opitz (2): Australia: n. Qld. 7km NE of Tolga. Nov 1987, Storey & Defaveri. Light trap (1 paratype, QDPC); same data as above but 10.xii.1986 // Fallopylus creperus Det. JS Bartlett 2017 (1, QDPC).

Fallopylus leptofustus Opitz (3): Australia: n. Qld. Tully Falls S.F. 730 m. 18 km SSW Ravenshoe 1.x. – 5.xi.1987. Storey & Dickenson (1 ♀ paratype, QDPC); Australia: n. Qld. Wongabel S.F. via Atherton. 4-16.i.1990. Story & Defaveri. Malaise trap (1 paratype, QDPC); NEQ:17°33’Sx145°33’E Mt Fisher, summit. 1360m 8 Feb 1999. Rainforest GB Monteith. Pyrethrum —trees & logs 2176 (1 paratype, QM).

Fallopylus redactus Opitz (1): Tamborine Mt., Joalah NP, NSW, 25 Nov. 1982, J. & E. Doyen (holotype, female, ANIC).

Remarks. Specimens of Fallopylus astrictus Opitz were not examined. It’s transfer to Apopylus is based on Opitz’ (2015) description of the antennal capitulum as loose, the pronotal disc as not centrally impressed, the elytral epipleurae as distally serrated, the elytral punctation as quadrinodal and the pronotal side margins gradually broadening and not prominently tuberculate (Opitz 2015, Fig. 67).

Opitz (2015) described the elytral punctures of Apopylus unumgarensis as binodal and those of A. creparus as trinodal; examination of type specimens revealed that the punctures are quadrinodal in both species.

To this author’s knowledge, the phenomenon of inconsistent expression of number of apical tibial spurs among the species of a clerid genus is known only in the genera Apopylus and Pylus.