Lepanus cameroni Gunter & Weir 2021, new species

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.