Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle 1919
Creators: name: Karner, Michael
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Silvanidae
Psammoecus
Psammoecus obesus

description: Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle, 1919
Fig. 3
Psammoecus obesus Grouvelle, 1919: 11.
Psammoecus obesus – Hetschko 1930: 83.
Diagnosis
The following combination of character states distinguishes this species: body elongate-oval (Fig. 3A), length 3.08–3.29 mm; eyes large (Fig. 3B), irregularly rounded with stronger curvature posteriorly; temples distinct, short, strongly curved; frontal grooves distinct, diverging anteriorly, parallel near end; reaching anterior ²⁄5 of eyes; antennae stout (Fig. 3D), antennomere 8 slightly darkened, antennomeres 9–10 darkened, antennomere 11 bright yellowish-brown; punctation on vertex moderate, punctures distinctly elongate, as large as eye facet diameter; microsculpture on vertex absent, pubescence moderate; pronotum widest just in front of middle (Fig. 3C), lateral pronotal margins with five teeth; tooth I slightly and tooth V distinctly bigger than II–IV, distance between I and II wider than distances between other teeth, anterior and posterior denticles present, small; pronotal punctation dense, punctures as large as on vertex, distinctly widened, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate, setae directed medially; elytra widest at middle (Fig. 3A), with transverse brown maculae behind middle, interstices distinctly wider than striae, pubescence moderate, microsculpture absent; male genitalia (Fig. 3 E–H) strongly sclerotised, median lobe in dorsal view wide, narrowed abruptly near ostium, apical end well rounded, in lateral view also narrowed abruptly, with sharp apical end; parameres in ventral view very wide, inner margins, apex and apical third of lateral margins with distinct setae; in lateral view with very wide basis, narrowed abruptly towards apex with dorsal margin almost forming angle.
Material examined
Holotype INDONESIA • ♀; Maluku, Seram; Pascoe leg.; “HOLO - | Type” [round label with red border]; “Ceram” [blue, elliptic label]; “Pascoe | Coll. | 93–60”; “ Psammoecus | obesus | ty. Grouv” [Grouvelle’s hand]; “HOLOTYPUS | Psammoecus | obesus Grouv. 1919 | det. R.G. Booth 2013”; NHMUK.
Other material
AUSTRALIA • 1 spec.; Queensland, Cairns; 16°55′ S, 145°46′ E; 1942; Perkins leg.; NHMUK • 1 spec.; Queensland, Cassowary Coast Region, 10 km NE of Tully; Nov. 1994; C. Reid leg.; rainforest; ANIC • 1 spec.; Queensland, Cassowary Coast Region, Cardstone; 1–2 Dec. 1966; J.G. Brooks leg.; ANIC • 1 spec.; Queensland, Shire of Cook, McIlwraith Range; 500 m a.s.l.; 13°45′ S, 143°22′ E; 27 Jun.–12 Jul. 1989; T.A. Weir leg.; at light; ANIC • 1 spm; Queensland, Shire of Douglas, Daintree; 29 Oct. 1966; E. Britton leg.; dead leaves, edge of rainforest; ANIC • 1 spm; same data as for preceding; MKF.
INDONESIA • 2 specs; West Papua, Waigeo, Camp Nok; 2500 ft a.s.l.; 0°12′ S, 130°50′ E; Apr. 1938; Cheesman leg.; NHMUK.
Distribution
The species has been found in Australia (Queensland) and Indonesia.
Remarks
Psammoecus obesus is closely related to P. hirsutus Grouvelle, 1883, P. decoratus Grouvelle, 1919, and P. signatus Grouvelle, 1919. It differs from all three by the shape of the male genitalia.
description: Published as part of Karner, Michael, 2020, Taxonomic Studies on Australian Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera, Silvanidae, Brontinae), pp. 135-158 in European Journal of Taxonomy 723 on pages 142-144, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.723.1149, http://zenodo.org/record/4271752