Aphanocephalus weiri, Szawaryn, 2025

Szawaryn, Karol, 2025, Revision of the Australian species of Aphanocephalus Wollaston (Coleoptera: Discolomatidae), Zootaxa 5632 (3), pp. 401-440 : 436

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.3.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8D129BA5-B4A2-4AFF-B880-E76A69286E15
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15372408
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A2D1C-0A16-DF6B-FF29-D7F05D57F9E1
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Aphanocephalus weiri
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Aphanocephalus weiri sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0BDC0154-F67D-463E-AC75-38EAE38DE514

( Figs 9J, K View FIGURE 9 , 14G–I View FIGURE 14 )

Material examined. Type material.

Holotype. QUEENSLAND: male, " 11.43S 142.41E QLD 12km EbyN Heathlands 18 Jan 1992 T.A. Weir, I.D. Naumann / Berlesate ANIC 1215 closed forest litter" ( ANIC) GoogleMaps . Paratype. QUEENSLAND: same label data as the holotype, male (1, ANIC) GoogleMaps .

Type locality. Queensland, Cape York.

Distribution. Northern Queensland ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 ).

Etymology. The specific name “weiri ” is a patronym in honor of Tom Weir, an Australian coleopterist, and one of the collectors of the type series.

Diagnosis. Aphanocephalus weiri can be distinguished from other Australian Aphanocephalus species by its rounded oval body outline, brown dorsal coloration with two large yellowish-brown maculae on each elytron, and moderately long vestiture. A similar coloration can be observed in A. blackburni ; however, it has a more elongate body outline and a black dorsum clothed with short setae. It can also be similar to A. leai , but in that species, the anterior macula is distinctly angled, whereas in A. weiri , it is transverse-oval. The male genitalia, with an apical hook-like projection on the penis gonopore, are very unique among Australian species.

Description. Length: 1.70 mm, width: 1.37 mm. Body roundly oval about 1.2 times as long as wide ( Fig. 9K View FIGURE 9 ), moderately convex in lateral view ( Fig 9J View FIGURE 9 ). Pronotum and elytra covered with moderately long setae, much denser on pronotum than on elytra. Head, pronotum and elytra brown, with lateral margins of pronotum and scutellar shield yellowish-orange, each elytron with two large yellowish-orange maculae, anterior macula transverse close to anterior elytral margin, posterior macula rounded, occupying posterior part of elyta; ventral side brown, antennae, mouthparts and legs yellow.

Pronotum covered with punctae of single size. Lateral margins of pronotum bordered, anterior margin without bordering line. Elytra covered with punctae of two sizes, uniformly intermixed. Pronotum and elytra explanate laterally, margins well visible throughout. Lateral sides of elytra broadly rounded, without pseudopores; pores slightly protruding from the elytral outline, especially in the posterior part, giving somehow polygonal shape. Epipleuron with shallow sub-marginal furrow.

Mentum without lateral carinae. Labial palps separated by narrow carina. Prosternum with notosternal carinae present; 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 small size punctae only, without a row of coarser punctae at base of each ventrite.

Male genitalia. Tegmen in inner view with sides sub-parallel in basal 2/3, slightly tapering towards apex in apical 1/3, apex broadly truncate with median incision, with a few short apical setae ( Fig. 14I View FIGURE 14 ); in lateral view broad at base, pointed at apex, outer margin slightly rounded, inner margin sinusoidal in middle ( Fig. 14H View FIGURE 14 ).

Penis slightly broadening toward apex, with outer and inner margins straight, gonopore longer than its width, apex of gonopore extending beyond apex of penis, apically truncate, outer margin with distinct, large hook ( Fig. 14G View FIGURE 14 ).

Female genitalia not examined.