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)

bined. Apical segments simple (big. 79). Pronotum slightly transverse (PNI = 87.9). Tibiae unarmed. Habitus: Fig. 126. Type material — Holotype çf, labelled as follows: Milla Milla 26-9-30 AJ Turner [handwritten] I Holotypus rf Stenolagria matthewsi Merkl, 1987 [red]. It is deposited in QMBA (register number: T 10.695). — Paratypes: Queensland: labelled as holotype (1 çf, HNHM; 1Ç, QMBA, register number: T 10.696); mts. above Atherton, SW, 3-4000', 7. VII. 1958, Darlingtons (1 9, MCZC); 4 mis S Atherton, 11. II. 1975, H. & A. Howden (1 f

, CNCI); Cairns, 12. I. 1962. E. B. Britton (1 f, BMNH); ca 22 km of Cairns, Whitfield Rd., 670 m, 21. X. 1971, J. G. Brooks (1 çf, ANIC); Crater Nat. Pk., Atherton Tbld.. 25. IV. 1970, G. B. Monteith (1 9, HNHM; 1 9, UQIC); Davies Ck., 18 km EbyS Mareeba, 18. V. 1980,1. D. Naumann & J. C Cardale (1 9, ANIC); Kuranda, 11. VI. 1927, A. J. Turner (1 Q

, HNHM; 1 9, QMBA, register number: T 10.697); id., 15.1. 1970, R. E. Parrott (1 9, CNCI); id'., 7. II. 1970, R. E. Parrott (1 rf, CNCI); Mt. Pewis, 8 mis NW Mt. Molloy, 2700', 15. III. 1964,1. P. B. Common & M. S. Upton (1 çf, ANIC); Tully Falls, 29. XII. 1969, V. Stablum (1 9, UQIC); Whitfield, forestry road near Cairns, 16. IX. 1969, James E. Tobler (1 9, CASC); Windsor Tbld., 35 km NNW mt. Carbine, Bargoo Ck., 850 m, 15-18. IV. 1982, Monteith, Yeates & Cook (1 9 , QMBA, register number: T 10.698); Yungaburra (State Forest 452), 29. IV. 1967, D. H. Colless (19, ANIC). Distribution: It is apparently a rainforest species; specimens are known chiefly from the Atherton Tableland (fig. 83). Remarks — Generally, this species is very similar to Stenolagria leai, but the details (structure of antennae, interantennal swelling, tibial denticulation, shape of aedeagus) separate the males of the two species with certainty. Females are, however, difficult to identify; females of matthewsi have a somewhat narrower interocular space and a little linger antennái segments I and XI. The species is dedicated to Dr. E. Matthews (Adelaide) who was generous in lending me the rich and valuable material and types of SAMA. DISCUSSION The above revision yielded 22 species. Of them, 19 seem endemic to Australia: all the species of Ecnolagria, Metriolagria, Stenolagria, Xenolagria and 6 of the 8 Lagria. The 3 remaining species are New Guineán elements but reach the northern areas of Australia as well. Because Lagriina are associated with various arboreal plant communities (wet and dry sclerophyll forests, tall, low and shrub woodlands, rain forests), extensive arid areas of Australia obviously do not share even in a single species (Fig. 80). The known localities fall almost exclusively to areas of not less than 500 mm of annual rainfall; but in the eastern part of New South Wales and Queensland, the species apparently do not pass the 700 mm isohyet. Ranges of the species are centred to 4 regions of Australia: 1. Northern Queensland (Figs 81-85). — Out of the species inhabiting the north-eastern part of Queensland, 9 are endemic: Ecnolagria schneiderae, Ecnolagria similis, Lagria plumbeipennis, Lagria genera, Lagria ruficeps, Lagria cyanea, Lagria queenslandica, Stenolagria leai, Stenolagria matthewsi. Most widely distributed is Lagria cyanea, while the other species are chiefly restricted to the tropical rainforest spots. The Atherton Tableland is by far the richest in species. Two further species (Lagria albovillosa and Xenolagria tincta) also occupy this region as the main part of their ranges, but extend to the Northern Territory. Acerogria oriunda, Lagria albovillosa and Lagria azureipennis inhabit New Guinea as well ; the range of Lagria azureipennis only just touches Australia. 2. North of the Northern Territory (Fig. 84). — Lagria australis is endemic to the northern part of the Northern Territory; it is rather abundant. Lagria albovillosa reaches the eastern part of Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt. Xenolagria has a record from Darwin and the holotype is also from this, region, but is without exact locality.