Pristoderus interruptus (Erichson, 1842) comb. n.

(Figs 2 c, 4c, 6c, 8c)

Ditoma interrupta Erichson, 1842: 215 .

Illestus Grouvellei Reitter, 1877b: 133 . Synonymy by: Carter & Zeck, 1937: 187.

Sparactus proximus Blackburn, 1891: 116 . Syn. n.

Types. Holotype of interruptus: Tasmania (ZMHB)

Lectotype of grouvellei: Australia (MNHN, here designated)

Lectotype of proximus: Australia, nr. Adelaide "T1603A/Type H.T./ Blackburn Coll. 1910-236/ Sparactus proximus, Blackb . " [- 34.929S 138.601E] (BMNH, here designated)

Other specimens examined. Australia (1, SAMA).

Australian Capital Territory: Black Mtn, light trap, M.S. Upton [Ga: 35.267S 149.100E] (6, dates ranging 17.i– 29.iii. 1968, ANIC); Black Mtn, light trap, S. Misko [Ga: 35.267S 149.100E] (6, dates ranging 29.i–19.ii.1969, ANIC); Black Mtn, 8.ii.1965, light trap, E.B. Britton [Ga: 35.267S 149.100E] (1, ANIC); 35.22S 148.48E, Piccadilly Circus, 1240 m, x.84, flight intercept window/trough trap, J. Lawrence, T. Weir & M-L. Johnson (4, ANIC).

New South Wales: (3, SAMA); Bateman’s Bay, 3.viii.1974, B. Levey [GE: 35.709S 150.177E] (1, ANIC); Bethungra, 14.vii.1985, K.R. Pullen, under bark of Eucalyptus [Ga: 34.761S 147.855E] (2, ANIC); Colo, 40 km N, 33°11’S 150°40’E, 13 Jan 1991, T. Gush, in rotten log [Ga: 33.183S 150.667E] (1, ANIC); Forest Reefs, Lea [Ga: 33.449S 149.085E] (3, ANIC; 1, SAMA); Vicinity of Jenolan Caves, J.C. Wiburd [Ga: 33.815S 150.018E] (1, NMV); 35.30S 150.18E, Kioloa SF 15 km NE Batemans Bay, flight intercept trap, M.G. Robinson (10, dates ranging ix.86 – iv.87, ANIC); Muswellbrook, E.W. Ferguson coll. [Ga: 32.265S 150.885E] (1, ANIC); National Park, 25 Sep 1904 (1, BPBM); Putty road, Cases Courvert, 10–11 Jan 0 5, G. Hangay, I. Rozner, R. de Keyzer and A. Podlussány [GE: 32.915S 150.651E] (1, HNHM); 35°47’47’’S 146°13’17’’E, Savernake, 29 km NE Mulwala, Fairfield farm, Nov 2000, pitfall trap, Freudenberger (1, HNHM); Tenterfield, 12/43 [Ga: 29.049S 152.018E] (1, ANIC); West Pennant Hills, 31 Oct 1986, G. O’Reilly [Ga: 33.732S 151.001E] (2, AM); 37°04’30’’S 149°28’00’’E, 4 km NE Wog Wog, 17 km SE Bombala, Feb 1993, pitfall trap, Margules (1, HNHM).

Queensland: Stanthorpe, E. Sutton [Ga: 28.655S 151.935E] (1, SAMA).

South Australia: A.M. Lea (2, NMV); Adelaide, Griffith [Ga: 34.929S 138.601E] (1, SAMA); Adelaide, A.M. Lea [Ga: 34.929S 138.601E] (1, SAMA); Buckaringa Gorge, 30 km NNW Quorn, 18.xii.1985, C. Reid [GE: 32.095S 138.169E] (1, ANIC); 6 miles W of Iron Knob, 16.iii.1968, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton [GE: 32.736S 137.041E] (1, ANIC); Lucindale, Feuerheerdt [Ga: 36.972S 140.369E] (2, SAMA); Tumby Bay, Blackburn [Ga: 34.377S 136.101E] (5, SAMA).

Tasmania: (1, FMNH; 4, QMBA; 11, SAMA); H.J. Carter (1, NMV); 42.47S 147.34E, Forcett, 2.xii.1982, E-Y: AU-87 dead Eucalypt. bark, Endrödy-Younga (5, TMSA); Hobart, Lea [Ga: 42.882S 147.323E] (1, QMBA; 2, SAMA; 3, NMV); Launceston (1, SAMA); Launceston, 20.iv.22, H.J. Carter Coll [Ga: 41.442S 147.145E] (2, NMV); Launceston, J.J. Walker (4, ANIC); Sheffield, A.M. Lea, Griffith Coll. [Ga: 41.383S 146.324E] (2, SAMA); Stonor, Lea [Ga: 42.404S 147.390E] (1, QMBA).

Victoria: Beaconsfield [Ga: 38.056S 145.367E] (1, SAMA); Bogong,. ii.41, E. Smith [Ga: 36.805S 147.225E] (1, NMV); Dandenong,. i.31, J.C. Goudie [Ga: 37.986S 145.213E] (1, NMV); Dimboola, 2.ii.39, E. Smith [- 36.454S 142.028E] (4, NMV); Dividing Rge, Blackb's Coll, (1, SAMA); Grampians, Feb 1955 [Ga: 37.140S 142.364E] (2, SAMA); Horsham, 2.xii.39, E. Smith [Ga: 36.711S 142.203E] (1, NMV); Marysville, C. Watts [GE: 37.511S 145.747E] (4, SAMA); Melbourne No. 3198, Ejnar Fischer [- 37.818S 144.976E] (1, SAMA).

Western Australia: Südwest-Australien,. iii.1973, Zwick (1, MHNG); Albany, Helms [Ga: 35.018S 117.884E] (1, SAMA); Beverley, F.H. du Boulay [Ga: 32.109S 116.926E] (9, SAMA; 2, ANIC); Beverley, Lea [Ga: 32.109S 116.926E] (1, NMV; 3, WADA); 33.23S 123.24E, Junana Rock, 9 km NW of Mt Ragged, 26.x.1977, J.F. Lawrence (1, ANIC); 29.213S 116.549E, Lochada, Goonaburna, 308m, Pyrethrum, 15 Sep 0 9, G.B. Monteith, Acacia, Ptilotus, flowering herbs, dry sandy gully, 18337 (1, QMBA ethanol coll.); 29.217S 116.551E, Lochada, 4.2 km ESE Boiada Camp, Pyrethrum, 16 Sep 0 9, Acacia, G.B. Monteith , 18383 (1, QMBA ethanol coll.); 31.56S 115.47E, Perry Lakes, Floreat Park, 16.iii.1969, light trap CSIRO (1, ANIC);

Diagnosis. This species is extremely similar to P. le a i and P. b e l l u s, but quite distinct in having the 7th elytral interval completely carinate. In addition, it differs from the former in the prominent lateral clypeal angle and tubercles along 5th elytral interval irregular and subequal to those along 3rd interval; from the latter in the short antennomere III (about as long as II) and elytral tubercles low.

Redescription. Body length: 3.7–5.1 mm.

Body flattened, elongate (ratio max length/max width: 2.85–3.00); colour from uniformly dark to brown, with darker spots on elytra (sides and tubercles); body vestiture consisting of very short, recumbent whitish setae; setae more erect and longer on antennae.

Head transverse; supraorbital carina weakly raised and sinuate; supra-antennal carina slightly raised and edge entire, not indented; eyes protruding with short, squamiform interfacetal setae; angulate protrusion between antennal insertion and eye, visible in lateral view; antennal insertion ventral, just below the edge of supra-antennal carina; antennae 11-segmented with a distinct 3-segmented club; antennomere I rounded and 1.5 times as long as II; II and III subcylindrical; III about as long as II; IV–VIII very short and simple; IX–XI distinctly transverse to form a rather loose club.

Pronotum transverse (pronotal length/width: 0.64–0.69), narrower than elytra, without prominent median process; margins denticulate; maximum width at anterior angles, with one angulate lobe, directed anteriorly; sculpture of pronotal disc as in Fig. 2 c.

Elytra about twice as long as wide (elytral length/width: 1.92–1.94), with lateral margins straight and smooth; costae on 3rd and 5th intervals interrupted, consisting of series of long tubercles; tubercles on 3rd interval low; five tubercles on 5th interval raised and subequal, basal with rounded edge; costa on 7th entire, with only a weak subapical indentation.

Distribution and habitat occurrence. S Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and SE Queensland (Fig. 10 c); open forest.