Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 79. (Budapest 1987)

Merkl, O.: A review of the Australian species of the subtribe Lagriina (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae)

Remarks — BORCHMANN (1915) tentatively put this species into Ecnolagria, but emphasized that he had seen only female specimens. However, because male specimens of Metriolagria affinis have no lobiformly widened antennái segments characteristic for Ecnolagria, Borchmann overlooked and confused them with the females. Metriolagria formicicola (LEA. 1894) comb. n. (Figs 27, 30-31, 86, 107-108) Lagria formicicola LEA, 1894, p. 607. — Lagria formicicola: BORCHMANN, 1910, p. 8; BORCHMANN, 1915, p. 88; BORCHMANN, 1936, p. 48. Body elongate, rather slender. Dorsal surface dark reddish brown to blackish. Ventral surface reddish. Antennae black with basal 4 segments slightly paler at base. Legs black with basal half of femora reddish. Pubescence conspicuously long. Head and pronotum with erect hairs. Elytra with sparse, semierect, moderately long, black setiform hairs, mixed with much longer erect ones. Antennái segments I to VIII with scattered hairs considerably longer than the segments themselves; legs with hairs also very long and erect. — Length 10-14 mm. rf. Head coarsely and densely punctate. Frons with a shllow impression between eyes. Interocular distance more than 1.5 times as wide as eye diameter (IOI = 152.2).— Antennae moderately long and stout (Fig. 27), segment I considerably shorter than interantennal distance (IAI = 67.3). Relative lengths of segments VI to XI are 17 : 13 : 12 : 12 : 9 : 22 : i. e. last segment about as long as 2 preceding combined. — Pronotum subquadrate, transverse (PNI = 85.1), densely and coersely punctate. — Elytra subparallelsided, punctation as coarse but slightly sparser than that of pronotum. Surface often with trace of longitudinal carinae. Interspaces distinctly plicate. — Legs moderately long, femora feebly clavate, tibiae unarmed.

— Aedeagus as figured (Figs. 30-31). —Habitus: Fig. 107. 9 Size somewhat larger on average. Interocular distance much more than 1.5 times as wide as wide as eye diameter (IOI = 177.3). Antenna! segment I slightly longer than half of interantennal distance (IAI = 55). Relative lengths of segments VII to XI are 14 : 14 : 13 : 10 : 19, 1. e. last segment shorter than 2 preceding combined. Pronotum more transverse (PNI = 80). — Habitus: Fig. 108. Type material — of the 3 type specimens, a female has Lea's type label and it should be considered as holotype. It is labelled as follows: formicicola Lea TYPE Cootamundra | Lagria formicicola Lea N. S. W. Type I. 9202 [Lea's handwriting] j Holotypus 9 Lagria formicicola Lea, 1894 des. O. Merkl, 1987 [red] | Metriolagria formicicola (Lea, 1894) det. Merkl, 1987. It is deposited in SAMA. •— Paratypes: New Wales: Queanbeyan (1$, SAMA): no closer locality Oc*

, SAMA). Distribution: It has a rather restricted range in the south-eastern part of the Great Dividing Range (Fig. 86). The specimens are chiefly from the neighbourhood of Canberra. Non-type material examined. Total 57 specimens. — New South Wales: 7 mis W of Adelong, 20. II. 1951, Key & Chinnick (1, ANIC); Bimbi, 2. I. 1977 (1, AMSA); Blayley, 2. II. 1929, K. Salter (1, AMSA); id., 25. II. 1930, K. Salter (1, AMSA); Bungendore, Macleay (1, BMNH); Caleaira (?) (1, SAMA); "Calumet", 26 mis NE of Binnaway, XI. 1931, A. Musgrave (4, AMSA); Goonoo S. F. 6 km SW Mendoran, 6. IV. 1979, D. K. McAlpine & B. J. Day (1, AMSA); Grenfell, E. W. Ferguson (1, ANIC; 1, SAMA); Jenolan Caves, 30. X. 1959, E. F. Riek (1, ANIC); Mcqriguy, 13. I. 1979 (3, AMSA); id., 29. I. 1980 (3, AMSA; 1, HNHM); Mudgec (1, AMSA); Pilliga, 20. IV. 1920, W. W. Fro.sgatt (1, ANIC); id., 1925, W. W. Froggatt(l, ANIC); no closer locality (7, AMNH; 2, AMSA; 2, ANIC; 1, HNHM); no closer locality, F. Bates (2, BMNH). — Australian Capital Territory: Black Mt., 3 III. 1930, W. Rafferty (1, ANIC); id., 20. II. 1936, A. D. Butcher (1, NMVA); id., 30. II. 1936, A. D. Butcher (1, NMVA); id., 20. III. 1936 (1, NMVA); id., 28. III. 1936 (1, NMVA); id., 27. III. 1967, W. J. M. Vestjens (1, ANIC); id., 4. IL 1978, J. F. Lawrence (1, ANIC); id., 2. III. 1982, R. Howell (1, ANIC; 1 HNHM); Canberra, 22. H. 1929, G. F. Hill (1, ANIC); id., 2. V. 1956, W. J. M. Vestjens (1, NMVA); id., V-VIII. 1957, Darlingtons (1, MCZC); id.. 25. XII. 1966, M. Fuller (2, UQIC); Cotter Pass, 5. IV. 1931, T. Greaves (1, ANIC), Hackett, 9. IV. 1973, S. G. Allen (1, ANIC; 1, HNHM); Red Hill, 22. III. 1929, G. F. Hill(l, ANIC). Remarks — The very long, conspicuous vestiture (particularly on antennae) makes the species unmistakable. In addition, it differs from Metriolagria affinis in being darker and in having the last antennái segment much shorter. It is worth mentioning that Lea collected his type specimens in ant nests; the association with ants needs further investigation.