Geotomus katakadioides, Lis, 2000

Geotomus katakadioides sp. n.

Figs. 15- 17, 19, 25

Description

Body. Ovate ( Fig. J 5), about 1.68-1.73 times longer than broad; dorsal surface densely, coarsely punctured, as well as alutaceous to a degree, making body opaque at first sight; general coloration black, antennae, rostrum, legs, and corium more castaneous than remaining body parts; length 4.45-4.90 mm, width 2.65-2.83 mm.

Head. Broadly rounded in outline ( Fig. 16); dorsal surface of paraclypei densely punctured, puncturation of clypeus much weaker than that of paraclypei; gular plate impunctate and only wrinkled in anterior half, the posterior half coarsely punctured; bucculae coarsely punctured in the posterior part, its anterior part striated, sparsely punctured; clypeus free, as long as or slightly longer than paraclypei, broadened apically and without subapical setigerous punctures; each paraclypeus with two primary setigerous punctures bearing long stout setae ( Fig. 16), preocular primary setigerous puncture absent, submargins of paraclypeus with a single secondary setigerous puncture bearing long stout seta; eyes triangular, moderately broad ( Fig. 16), redd ish black to blackish brown, ocular index 3.80-4.10; ocelli small, blackish brown or black; rostrum reaching or surpassing posterior coxae; 2 nd antenna! segment 1.1-1.2 (males) or 1.0-1.2 (females) times longer than the 3 rd •

Prothorax. Pronotum subquadrate in outline, about 1.60-1.71 times broader than long; pronotal disc densely punctured with coarse punctures as large as those on head, calla! areas small, somewhat transversely elongated, impunctate; anterior margin deeply insinuated behind head (Fig. 15); lateral margins with 5-6 submarginal setigerous punctures bearing long stout setae. Prosternal carinae well-developed, coarsely punctured; anterior convexity of propleuron coarsely punctured in its anterior half, posterior convexity of propleuron with a few large punctures, propleural depression with a row of large coarse punctures.

Mesothorax. Scutellurn densely punctured with punctures larger than those on pronotum, puncturation of pronotal disc sparser than that of pronotal disc, basal angles impunctate, scutellar apex narrow and elongated, tongue-like. Mesopleural evaporatorium large, triangular, almost reaching anterior and lateral margins of the pleuron ( Fig. 17), anterior part of mesopleuron distinctly coarsely punctured.

Metathorax. Corium punctured as dense as scutellum, its punctures of same size as those on scutellar disc; clavus with one complete and one or two incomplete rows of punctures; mesocorial disc almost evenly punctured; exocorium strongly depressed, densely punctured; mesocorium and exocorium separated almost along their entire length by elevated vein R+M; costa moderately flattened, not separated from exocorium, with lateral margin reflected upwards in its basal part, costal margins without setigerous punctures; membranal suture almost straight; membrane narrower than corium, semihyaline, brown with paler basal patches. Metapleural evaporatorium large, triangular ( Fig. 17), remaining parts of metapleuron coarsely punctured; apex of peritreme lobe-like, alutaceous, slightly polished.

Legs. Anterior tibiae slightly expanded apically, laterally with a few strong spines; posterior tibia almost cylindrical, bearing strong spines on lateral margins.

Abdomen. Sterna coarsely punctured and longitudinally grooved in lateral thirds, except laminated outmost lateral margins. Ventral surface of male pygophore coarsely punctured; aedeagus similar to that of G. obesus, but shorter, theca strongly sclerotized, ductus seminis very long, almost as long as theca, second conjunctiva! appendages elongated, clearly bilobed apically ( Fig. 19), paramere as in Fig. 25.

Type material examined

Holotype male: Queensland: NEQ, Marsupial Ck., via Croydon , Pitfalls, March 96 - March 1997, J. & P. Hasenpusch, QMT 93015 ( QMB) .

Paratypes: Queensland: 6 males 4 females, Silver Plains, C. York Pen. , N. Qld., 5 miles N. Massy Ck., T.L. Wassel, 26 Sept. 1958, under logs (7 paratypes in UQIC, 3 paratypes in UO) .

Comparative notes

The new species belongs to the group characterized by the absence of a subapical pair of setigerous punctures on clypeus. Within the group of previously known species it is at first sight similar to G. gracilipes, but can easily be separated from it by the absence of setigerous punctures on costal margins, as well as its opaque dorsal body surface. For characters enabling separation of a new species from others within the group (especially from very closely allied G. obesus sp. n. and G. ocellatus sp. n.) see the key for species identification.

Etymology

The name of the new species is connected with its general similarities in body shape to the Oriental species, Katakadia caliginosa (WALKER) .