Taxonomic Studies on Australian Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera, Silvanidae, Brontinae) Author Karner, Michael text European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 723 135 158 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2020.723.1149 4271752 9EF35D01-815A-4DD0-8AC2-CC65E19B81B4 Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903 Fig. 2 Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903: 154 . Psammoecus incertior – Hetschko 1930: 83 . Diagnosis The following combination of character states distinguishes this species: body elongate-oval ( Fig. 2A ), length 2.86–3.30 mm ; eyes large ( Fig. 2B ), unevenly rounded with distinctly stronger curvature posteriorly; temples very short; frontal of moderate length, diverging anteriorly, almost parallel posteriorly, reaching anterior ²⁄5 of eyes; antennae somewhat short ( Fig. 2D ), stout, antennomere 8 castaneous, antennomeres 9–10 piceous; antennomere 11 yellowish brown; punctation on vertex moderate ( Fig. 2B ), punctures strongly elongate, almost twice as long as eye facet diameter, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate; pronotum widest at anterior third ( Fig. 2C ), lateral pronotal margins with six small but distinct teeth; teeth II, V, and VI somewhat larger than others, anterior denticles small, posterior denticles very small; pronotal punctation moderate, punctures distinctly widened, microsculpture absent, pubescence moderate, setae directed medially; elytra widest just in front of middle ( Fig. 2A ), with large brown medio-lateral maculae and small darkened area at posterior third of suture, striae as wide as interstices, pubescence moderate, microsculpture absent; male genitalia strongly sclerotised ( Fig. 2 E–H), median lobe slender, evenly narrowed towards apex, tip blunt in dorsal view; curved ventrally with sharp tip in lateral view; parameres short, wide, with short protrusion at postero-lateral margin, two long setae near protrusion and few short setae along inner margins. Material examined Holotype AUSTRALIA • ♂ ; “ Type | H.T.” [round label with red border]; “Australia. | Blackburn Coll. | B.M.1910- 236.”; “ Psammoecus | incertior Blackb. ”; NHMUK . Other material AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 spec. ; Cairns ; 16°55′ S , 145°46′ E ; May1947 ; ANIC • 2 specs ; Cassowary Coast Region , Palmerston National Park , 1 mi. E of Crawford’s Lookout ; 17°36′ S , 145°48′ E ; 6 Nov. 1966 ; Britton leg.; under bark; ANIC • 2 specs ; Shire of Mareeba , Kuranda ; 16°49′ S , 145°38′ E ; Oct. 1950 ; ANIC • 6 specs ; same locality; 16°49′ S , 145°38′ E ; Feb. 1950 ; ANIC • 3 specs ; same locality; Feb. 1909 ; Bryant leg.; NHMUK • 1 spec. ; same data as for preceding; MKF • 1 spec. ; Shire of Mareeba , 6 km NE of Kuranda , Black Mt Road ; 16°46′ S , 145°40′ E ; 21 May 1976 ; Britton leg.; MKF • 2 specs ; Tablelands , 6.8 km W of Atherton , Russel River Crossing ; 17°26′ S , 145°54′ E ; 11 Jun. 1992 ; Reid leg.; rainforest, beaten ; ANIC • 1 spec. ; Townsville Regional City , Magnetic Island ; 19°8′ S , 146°50′ E ; Jul. 1921 ; Carter leg.; ANIC . Fig. 2. Psammoecus incertior Blackburn, 1903 , ♂♂. A–C . Holotype (NHMUK). A . Habitus. B . Head. C . Pronotum. D–H . Specimen from Queensland (ANIC). D . Left antenna. E . Aedeagus, ventral view. F . Aedeagus, lateral view. G . Parameres, ventral view. H . Median lobe and parameres, lateral view. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; B–F = 0.5 mm; G–H = 0.2 mm. Distribution Australia ( Queensland ). Remarks The colouration of this species is rather variable, but the general pattern remains constant. A very distinct character is the peculiar shape of the male parameres, which differs considerably from all other known species of Psammoecus .