Aphanocephalus queenslandicus Szawaryn, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Szawaryn, Karol
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Discolomatidae
Aphanocephalus
Aphanocephalus queenslandicus

description: Aphanocephalus queenslandicus sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FE52CEFB-3F51-4E62-B9F0-08612C385FE9
(Figs 9E–G, 14A–C, 15G)
Material examined. Type material.
Holotype. QUEENSLAND: male, "16.03S to 16.05S 145.28E Cape Tribulation area QLD 21-28 Mar.1984 A.Calder & T.Weir / Berlesate ANIC 942 rainforest" (ANIC). Paratypes. QUEENSLAND: same data as holotype (11, ANIC; 2, MIZ); 16.05S 145.27E QLD CT3 30m, 2km WSW Cape Tribulation 5Dc1995- 4Jan1996 L. Umback Pitfall traps (3, ANIC); " 16.05S 145.28E CT2 10m, 2km SSW Cape Tribulation 1-28 Feb 1996 L. Umback Pitfall traps " (3, ANIC); "16.03S to 16.05S 145.28E QLD Cape Tribulation area 1-11 May 1992 J.F. Lawrence / Winkler ANIC 1234 leaf and log litter" (1, ANIC); " AUST: QLD:NE: C. Tribulation 13 Oct 1980 G. Monteith / QM Berlesate No. 254, 16.08S 145.28E Rainforest 10m Sieved litter" (6, QMB).
Other material. QUEENSLAND: 17.16S 145.47E Mulgrave R. Rd. 7km WbyS Bellenden Ker QLD 60m 2 Apr. 1984 A.Calder & T.Weir / Berlesate ANIC 951 rainforest (5, ANIC); AUST:QLD:NE: Upp. Mulgrave Rd. Kearneys Falls 10 Dec 1998 G. Monteith G. Thompson / QM Berlesate No. 821, 145.47E 17.15S Rainforest 750m Sieved litter (6, QMB); N.E. Qld. 19.07S, 146.23E Mt. Halifax summit (RF) 20 Mar 1991 105m G. Monteith & D. Cook Pyrethrum logs & trees (8, QMB); AUST:QLD:NE: Broadwater Park via. Ingham 3 Jan 1987 S. Hamlet / QM Berlesate No. 749, 18.22S 145.57E Rainforest Sieved litter (2, QMB); Broadwater Park, 35km NW of Ingham, N.E.QLD 16 Dec 1986, RF, 60m, Monteith, Thompson & Hamlet (1, QMB).
Type locality. Queensland, Cape Tribulation.
Distribution. Queensland, Cape Tribulation (Fig. 16).
Etymology. The specific name is derived from the state of Queensland.
Diagnosis. Aphanocephalus queenslandicus is a small and distinctive species with a sub-rounded, spherical body shape. Its dorsal surface, characterized by a dark brown background color with yellowish-brown maculae, a rugose texture (Figs 9E, G), and a row of pseudopores along the lateral margins of the elytra, distinguishes it from similar in size and shape A. kukuyalanji (which is primarily rufous-orange in coloration and has a smooth elytral surface (Fig. 7I) and lacks pseudopores on the elytra) and other Australian species.
Description. Length: 1.68–1.69 mm, width: 1.32–1.37 mm. Body oval about 1.2–1.3 times as long as wide, convex in lateral view. Pronotum and elytra covered with moderately long setae, denser on pronotum. Dorsal surface dark brown to black, pronotum with just lateral margins light brown to orange, ventral side brown, antennae and mouthparts yellow, legs light brown. Elytra in typical form with three yellow-brown maculae, two small rounded spots in anterior part of elytra (one near humeral area, second near suture in middle), and third macula large occupying posterior half of elytron (Fig. 9G), in some cases maculae reduced to just small pale punctures (then the whole surface appear dark brown – Fig. 9E), rarely all maculae enlarged and then maculae can be variously fused.
Pronotum covered with coarse punctae of single size. Lateral margins of pronotum bordered, anterior margin without bordering line. Elytra covered with punctae of two sizes, uniformly intermixed, larger punctures slightly depressed forming a rugose surface. Pronotum and elytra broadly explanate laterally, margins well visible throughout. Lateral sides of elytra rounded, with row of large pseudopores along lateral margin of elytra, pores slightly protruding from the elytral outline, especially in the posterior part, giving somehow polygonal shape (Fig. 1H). Epipleuron with shallow sub-marginal furrow.
Mentum without lateral carinae. Labial palps separated by narrow carina. Prosternum with notosternal carinae absent; prosternal process with lateral carinae absent. Metaventrite longer than ventrite 1. Ventrite 1 longer than ventrites 2–4 combined. Ventrite 1 entirely covered with large punctae; ventrites 2–5 covered with punctae of two sizes, coarser at base forming a single row, and smaller on the rest of surface.
Male genitalia. Tegmen in inner view with sides sub-parallel at base then broadly rounded, in apical half tapering toward broadly rounded apex (Fig. 11F); in lateral view broad at base, pointed at apex, outer margin rounded, inner margin sinusoidal in middle, narrowing toward apex (Fig. 11E). Penis long, broadening toward apex, outer margin broadly rounded, inner margin slightly rounded (Fig. 11D); gonopore longer than its width, apex of gonopore extending beyond apex of penis, apically truncate, outer margin broadly rounded (Fig. 11D).
Female genitalia. Coxites narrow, elongate. Sperm duct diverging apically from bursa copulatrix, spermatheca with vermiform basal part and bulbous apical part (Fig. 15G), apical part with slightly larger diameter than basal part.
description: Published as part of Szawaryn, Karol, 2025, Revision of the Australian species of Aphanocephalus Wollaston (Coleoptera: Discolomatidae), pp. 401-440 in Zootaxa 5632 (3) on pages 432-433, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/15372416