Clypeolus pascoei (Broun), 1982

Clypeolus pascoei (Broun) View in CoL

( Figures 57–65 View FIGURES 57–65 )

Acalles pascoei Broun, 1880: 491 View in CoL . Type locality: Auckland.

Clypeolus pascoei (Broun) Kuschel, 1982: 275 View in CoL .

= Acalles ingens Broun, 1893: 1236 View in CoL (Synonymised by Kuschel, 1982: 275). Type locality: Tiritiri Matangi Island .

= Acalles dentigerus Broun, 1917: 455 View in CoL (Synonymised by Kuschel, 1982: 275). Type locality: Muriwai.

Diagnosis: Pleural area of the prothorax densely clothed with scales of similar colour to the disc of the pronotum; a band of pale scales may be present along the lateral margin of the pronotum and a patch of about 4 pale scales are present in the centre of the pleural area, but these do not extensively cover the pleural area as in C. brookesi and C. cilicollis . The number and placement of the fascicles on the elytra differ between individuals, even in the same population. Some have small fascicles scattered over much of the elytral disc, others have large, nearly contiguous fascicles on interstria 3, forming crests reminiscent of C. veratrus . Legs with femoral teeth very small and inconspicuous.

Distribution: North Island: ND, AK (including the Noises Is), CL (including the Mercury Is, The Aldermen Is, and Mayor I.), WO, BP, GB, TO. Norfolk Island.

Remarks: Clypeolus pascoei and C. veratrus are evidently closely related. However, the two species are sympatric on some islands, including the Noises Is, the Mercury Is, the Mokohinau Is, and The Aldermen Is. Further research to investigate their relationship and their ecological differences is warranted.

Specimens attributable to this species have also been collected from Norfolk Island (specimens in QM). Norfolk Island is an isolated island with high endemism, and it is perhaps surprising that these specimens could be considered conspecific with Clypeolus pascoei . However, there have been connections between Norfolk Island and northern New Zealand for much of the human history of both landmasses, and it is possible that this species was introduced to Norfolk Island through human activities; for example, harakeke ( Phormium tenax ) is likely to have been introduced to Norfolk Island from northern New Zealand by Māori ( Shepherd et al. 2023; Smissen and Scheele 2022), and C. pascoei may have been inadvertently transported along these same pathways.

Kuschel (1990) reared specimens of this species from kiekie ( Freycinetia banksii ) and akepiro ( Olearia furfuracea ).