Australian Opilonini (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) part II: description and taxonomy of Megaxestodes gen. nov. and introduction to an informal ‘Zenithicola-complex’ including taxonomic notes and new synonymies

Abstract

The species constitution and taxonomy of Zenithicola Spinola, 1841 is reviewed, resulting in description of Megaxestodes gen. nov.. for Megaxestodes crassus (Newman, 1840) comb. nov., Megaxestodes funestus (Chevrolat, 1874) comb. nov. and Megaxestodes socius (Chevrolat, 1874) stat. rev., comb. nov., the latter removed from synonymy with M. funestus. Zenithicola cribricollis Pic, 1941 syn. nov. is synonymised with Megaxestodes socius (Chevrolat, 1874) comb. nov., and Clerus obesus White, 1846 syn. nov. removed from synonymy with Megaxestodes crassus and newly synonymised with Megaxestodes funestus. The genera Balcus Sharp, 1877, Mimolesterus Gerstmeier, 1991, Phlogistomorpha Hintz, 1908, Phlogistus Gorham, 1876 and Zenithicola Spinola, 1841 are discussed within the context of a newly defined informal group, the Zenithicola-complex. The taxonomy of several Zenithicola-complex species is revised. New synonymies and combinations include: Aulicus dives Blackburn, 1900 syn. nov. = Phlogistomorpha mastersii (Macleay, 1872); Phlogistus affinis (Gorham, 1876) stat. rev., comb. nov. (removed from synonymy with Phlogistus smaragdinus (Gorham, 1876)); Aulicus corallipes Chevrolat, 1874 syn. nov. = Phlogistus castanipes (Westwood, 1849) stat. rev., comb. nov. (removed from synonymy with Phlogistus instabilis (Newman)); Phlogistus corporaali Pic, 1941 syn. nov. = Phlogistus sculptus (Macleay, 1872); Phlogistus rufimembris Pic, 1941 syn. nov. = Phlogistus niger Hintz, 1908; Phlogistus speciosus Hintz, 1908 syn. nov. = Phlogistus schulzi Hintz, 1908; Aulicus mundus Blackburn, 1900 syn. nov. = Phlogistus viridissimus (Pascoe, 1860) stat. rev., comb. nov. (removed from synonymy with Phlogistus delicatulus (Boheman, 1859)). Xylotretus scrobiculatus Spinola, 1845, hitherto assigned to Zenithicola, is classified as Cleridae incertae sedis. Lectotypes are designated for Clerus obesus White, 1846, Phlogistus remotus Schenkling, 1915, Zenithicola cribricollis Pic, 1941, Zenithicola funestus Chevrolat, 1874 and Zenithicola socius Chevrolat, 1874. Figures of Megaxestodes species and other taxa under discussion are presented.