Aulacosternus zelandicus Marseul, 1853
Aulacosternus zelandicus Marseul, 1853: 236: Ohara & Mazur, 2000.
Sternaulax zelandicus: Marseul, 1862: 705.
Sternaulax laevis Sharp, 1876: 372, synonymized by Broun, 1880: 163; Schmidt, 1884: 158.
Hister grandis Broun, 1877 : 372, synonymized by Broun, 1880: 162.
Sternaulax zealandicus (sic!): Broun, 1880: 162; 1909: 145 [Chatham Is.]; Hudson, 1934: 49, 188, pl. 3, fig. 5 & 5a larva; Mason, 1960: 55.
Sternaula zealandicus (sic!): Broun, 1882: 150 [biology].
Stenaulax zelandica: Mazur, 1997: 83.
Sharp's (1876) description as Sternaulax laevis.
"Nigrrimus, nitidus; thorace margine laterali subtili integra, basi medio foveolato; elytris basi quadri-impressis, stria unica externa integra. Long. corp. 7. 1/2 mm.
Thorax with the lateral margin very fine, but distinct throughout, near the front angles it is more distinct than behind, parallel with it some fine punctures, which extend also part of the way along the base, where indeed they are coarser than at the sides. Elytra very smooth and shining, with four impressions at the base, from the outer one of which there starts a stria, which, though much sinuated and very near the side, reaches the apex and is there deeper than elsewhere; at the extremity of the elytra are three or four abbreviated striae, the outer one forms the termination of the lateral stria just described, and the one next it is continued some distance forward, though extremely fine in the front part, and is widely separated from the external stria. From the first (internally) and third of the basal impressions, there proceeds an extremely fine, short needle-scratch; the one form the third impression runs very obliquely towards the external stria. Except for these marks, the elytra are quite smooth. The pygidium and propygidium are coarsely punctured.
Auckland; a single specimen sent by Mr. Lawson.
Obs. - The genus Sternaulax consists of only two species, viz., Sternaulax zealandicus, Marseul, and a Madagascar species; the present species must be closely allied to Marseul's S. zealandicus, but differs from his figure and description by the striation of the elytra, and the want punctation at their apex."
Broun's (1877) description as Hister grandis. "Form, ovate, moderately convex; colour, black. Head, minutely punctured; a punctured longitudinal fovea extends along inner side of each eye to the base. Thorax, humeral margins slightly reflexed; a transverse punctured fovea, near anterior margin, extends as far across as the head; from each terminal point there is a succession of irregular punctures along the lateral and posterior margins, larger and more minute after rounding the posterior angles; one round fovea near the centre of posterior margin. Elytra: near the humeral margin of each elytron there are three longitudinal foveae arranged in line, and a fourth, irregular in form, close to humeral angle. Two longitudinal foveae are placed near outer posterior margin, with a third, which is prolonged in the form of a gradually decreasing impressed line to within a line of the base. A deeply impressed line extends from near the humeral angle along the lateral and posterior margins, broader and more irregular in form near the middle, and terminated at the suture, up which it extends a short distance in the shape of a curve. The exposed segments of abdomen are coarsely punctured. The grooves in anterior tibiae for the reception of the tarsi, when in repose, are deeply hollowed out. Length, 4 lines.
My unique specimen of this remarkably fine species was captured whilst sedately marching into the kitchen of my house at Tairua, on the 19th March, 1876."
Broun's (1880) description.
"Nigerrimus, nitidus, thorace margine laterali subtili integra, basi medio foveolata; elytris basi quadri-impressis, stria unica externa integra.
Long. corp., 7.1/2 mm.
Thorax with the lateral margin very fine, but distinct throughout, near the front angles it is more distinct than behind, parallel with it some fine punctures, which extend also part of the way along the base where indeed they are coarser than at the sides. Elytra very smooth and shining, with four impressions at the base, from the outer one of which there starts a stria, which, though much sinuated and very near the side, reaches the apex and is there deeper than elsewhere; at the extremity of the elytra are three or four abbreviated striae, the outer one forms the termination of the lateral stria just described and the one next it is continued some distance forward though extremely fine in the front part, and is widely separated from the external stria. from the first(internally) and third of the basal impressions, there proceeds an extremely fine short needle-scratch; the one from the third impression runs very obliquely towards the external stria. Except for these marks, the elytra are quite smooth. The pygidium and propygidium are coarsely punctured.
Obs. -- The genus Sternaulax consists of only two species, viz., S. zealandicus (sic), Marseul, and a Madagascar species; the present species must be closely allied to Marseul's S. zealandicus (sic), but differs from his figure and description by the striation of the elytra, and the want of punctation at their apex.
Note. -- The above-cited description, according to Mr. G. Lewis, corresponds with Sternaulax sealandicus (sic), Marseul; Dr. Sharp's name, therefore, must be sunk as a synonym, but I have retained his description. The same insect had also been described by my (Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1876, p. 372)."
Broun's (1882) notes.
"Sternaula (sic !) zealandicus, the largest species we have, and moreover belonging to a genus peculiar to Madagascar, was first met with by me at Tairua some years ago, or, more correctly, one visited me, sedately marching into my house with the apparent intention of enriching my collection --- at all events, such was the result. On one occasion, many months afterwards, whilst out in the woods, I came across a huge prostrate tree, dry, but quite rotten, which had obviously been tenanted by hundreds of this beetle, which, it was evident, had passed through all its metamorphoses in the wood; nevertheless my inquisitive friend remained my only capture, all I then saw being mere fragment of the one perfect insects. In the course of a couple of years I had removed to Whangarei Heads, and having chosen a suitable ravine for future research, proceeded to cut down an Areca sapida, for the express purpose of examining its inhabitants. I need not advert to the success met with as regards Cossonidae, etc., as these have nothing to do with the subject of this memoir; but I must mention that the whole of the tree was carefully utilised as traps for coleoptera. The bole was cut into short lengths for convenience in turning over, and the pieces rolled into shady spots, whilst the leaves were systematically placed in layers just beyond the sun's rays. In a few days afterwards I returned to the place, and on that, as on almost every other visit, I found one or more of this species, which, it must be apparent, had been attracted by the exudations, or had actually been living on the plant itself. I have not heard of its being found under other circumstances; but I make a practice of felling one of these palms in different localities, and having allowed a few days to elapse, never look in vain for this species."
Hudson's (1934) description.
"(9 - 10 mm. Plate III, fig. 5, 5a larva) This jet-black, extremely highly polished, beetle is fairly common, under the bark of dead daraka trees, on the coast hills, near Sinclair Head, Cook Strait, from August till April. Single specimens have also occurred at Wainuiomata and at Newman in the Wellington District, but generally speaking it seems to be a very local insect. It is certainly the finest Histerid found in New Zealand.
The larva lives under the bark of dead karaka trees, amongst the powdery decayed wood, and is found during the winter and early spring.
Its length when full-grown is 20 mm. It is rather stout, subcylindrical, much fattened, very slightly tapering towards extremities. Head moderate, very flat somewhat rugose, deep blackish-red; mandibles large, pointed, recurved; antennae threejointed, slender, about one-half the length of the head. Prothorax bright reddish-brown, very flat, rather narrow, with margins rounded and two shallow depressions. Meso- and metathoracic segments very short, but broad, transversely wrinkled, with slightly chitinzed dorsal plates. Nine visible abdominal segments, of almost uniform size, each with two deep transverse wrinkles. Anal proleg slightly developed. Terminal appendages slender, two-jointed, divergent, about as long as terminal segment.
Larvae of the two moth, Lysiphragma epixyla and L. mixochlora, as well as numerous larva of Saprosites (Aphodius) exsculptus, were found associated with the larva of Sternaulax zealandicus and are very likely preyed on by the latter."
Mason's (1960) description.
"This shiny jet black beetle is about three-eight of an inch long and the legs are quite spiny. The projecting mandibles may tend to confuse it with a stag beetle, but the elytra are distinctive in that they do not completely cover the near part of the abdomen.
Both the beetle and its larva have been recorded from under the bark of dead karaka tree. Adult have also been found in various parts of the North Island. The beetles are attracted to exudations from the nikau palum.
The full-grown larva is just over three-quatre of an inch long. It is whitish with an almost black head and brown prothorax. The mandibles are very prominent and at the rear end are two thread-like filaments."
Distribution. New Zealand (Endemic).
Remarks. Hudson (1934) recorded as follows "The larva lives under
the bark of dead karaka tree [], amongst the powdery decayed wood, and is
found during the winter and early spring." and "Larvae of the
two moths, Lysiphragma epixyla and L. mixochlora, as well as numerous larvae
of Saprosites (Aphodius) exsculptus, were found associated with larva of
Sternaulax zealandicus (sic) and are very likely preyed on by the latter."
Redescription (Ohara & Mazur, 2000).
Body oval, depressed medially, black and shining; antenna, maxillary palpi and tarsus reddish brown. Biometric data are given in Table 3.
Antennal club (Fig. 16B) with V-shaped sutures, which are complete and distinct. Ratio in width of pronotum to head about 2.72. Front of head (Fig. 16A) flat; surface sparsely covered with fine punctures that are separated by four to ten times their diameter. Frontal stria of head absent anteriorly and well impressed laterally, sometimes a few punctures in anterior portion. Supraorbital stria complete, its posterior edge cariniform. Labrum transverse and short, the anterior margin emarginate inwardly. One denticle present on inner margin of mandible.
Pronotum (Fig. 16C) feebly convex post-medially; marginal stria complete laterally and broadly interrupted behind head; outer lateral pronotal stria represented laterally by coarse punctures and well impressed on anterior portion, its outer edge subcariniform. Surface of pronotum evenly covered with fine punctures that are separated by about three times their diameter; coarse punctures present along basal margin on lateral fourth. Antescutellar area with a longitudinal impression.
Epipleura with complete epipleural marginal stria, its inner (near epipleural margin) edge subcariniform. Elytral marginal stria (Fig. 16D) complete on epipleura, its inner edge subcariniform; the apical end of stria extended inwardly along posterior margin of elytron and connected with the apical end of sutural stria at posterior inner corner of elytron. External subhumeral stria (Fig. 16C) slightly impressed and shortened on basal eighth. Internal subhumeral stria present on apical third, the apical end curved inwardly. Oblique humeral stria slightly impressed on basal third. First dorsal elytral stria finely impressed on apical three-fourths; 2nd stria represented on apical sixth by a large longitudinal punctures and a slight impression; 3rd stria slightly impressed on basal half and represented on apical eighth by a large puncture; another large longitudinal puncture present at base of 3rd stria; 4th and 5th striae absent; sutural stria present on apical tenth. Surface of elytra sparsely covered with fine punctures that are separated by three to ten times their diameter.
Propygidium (Fig. 16C) sparsely covered with longitudinal large and shallow punctures that are separated by about their own diameter to twice the diameter; the punctures becoming smaller and sparser medially, anteriorly and posteriorly; interspace among the large punctures with fine punctures. Pygidium densely covered with large, round and deep punctures that are separated by one-third to twice their diameter.
Prosternal lobe (Fig. 16D) broad and feebly convex medially, its anterior margin arcuate outwardly; marginal stria fragmentally impressed on latero-anterior portion; surface irregularly and coarsely punctate, the punctures separated by half to five times their diameter and becoming smaller on median portion. Prosternal process flat and finely punctate sparsely, with two distinct parallel carinal striae on anterior two-thirds, the striae shortened on posterior sixth; posterior margin round. One lateral prosternal stria present, its outer edges strongly carinate; sometimes a longitudinal ruga present outside of the lateral stria but the posterior end of ruga not attaining to margin.
Mesosternum (Fig. 16D) transverse and flat; surface sparsely and finely punctate, the punctures separated by about ten times their diameter; anterior margin deeply emarginate at middle; marginal stria of mesosternum complete, its outer edge cariniform; coarse punctures present on antero-lateral angle. Meso-metasternal suture feebly curved anteriorly and finely impressed. Intercoxal disc of metasternum with similar punctation of intercoxal disc of mesosternum. Lateral metasternal stria extending posteriorly, its outer edge cariniform, the apical end attaining to two-thirds of metasternal-metepisternal suture. Post-mesocoxal stria present on inner half along posterior margin of mesocoxa. Lateral metasternal disc sparsely covered with large and shallow punctures, the punctures becoming sparser posteriorly.
Intercoxal disc of 1st abdominal sternum (Fig. 16D) with punctation similar to that of intercoxal disc of metasternum; a lateral stria present and complete on each side, its outer edge subcariniform. Lateral disc densely covered with large round punctures.
Protibia (Fig. 16E, F) with four large denticles on outer margin; dorsal surface with a sinuate tarsal groove; surface of ventral disc with two striae along inner margin, the outer edges of the striae cariniform. Mesocoxa without carinae. Mesotibia (Fig. 16G) dentate with 6 spines on outer margin and 8 spines on apical margin; ventral surface with a row of 4 spines. Metatibiae (Fig. 16H) with 3 spines on outer margin and 9 spines on apical margin; ventral surface with a row of 3 spines. Ventral surface of profemur without stria on posterior margin.
Male genitalia (Fig. 17). Eighth sternite divided into two lobes, which are rather prolonged and densely furnished with hairs apically. Ninth tergite without stick-like antero-lateral projections. Spicule Y-shaped. Ratio in length of parameres to basal piece about 2.92; basal piece short. Lateral sides of parameres parallel, but slightly divergent apically, the apex round; parameres fused on dorsal surface, but shortly separated on apical sixth. Median lobe simple.
Female genitalia as shown in Fig. 16I.
Specimens examined. New Zealand. North Island: 1 male, 1 female, Rubbish, Titirangi, AK, 28-III-1942, M. Carter, coll 181;. 1 female, Titirangi, 17-I-1943, M.Carter; 1 female, ditto, 12-IV-1943, M. W. Carter; 1 male, ditto, IV-1963, ex. light trap, C. R. Thomas; 1 male., 90-mile beach sweetwater, ND, 2-II-1962, B. M. May; 1male, Herekino, ND, 1-X-1957, R. A. Cumber coll.; 1 male, CL, Little Barrier I., Pohutakawa flat N. E., 6-XII-1978, B. M. May, in damaged frond of Rhopalostylis sapida (the Nikau Palm). All specimens are deposited in NZAC.
Specimens examined. (unpublished)
1 ex., Ho., Howes Coll., Ho. (OMNZ).
1 ex., Waganui, WI., Costlecliff., 2-XI-1992, E. C. Harris leg. (OMNZ).
1 ex., West plains, no date, no collector's name (NZAC).
2 exs., 293, T. Broun coll., A. E. Brookes coll. (NZAC).
1 ex., 293, Titigangi, 20-III-1914, A. E. Brookes coll. (NZAC).
1 ex., Orua bay, Manuka Harb., 10-I-1959, J. M. Kelsey (NZAC).
1 ex., CU, Whangarei, 5-VI-1952, Sent in by Dept. of Agri., Found in Blankets Farners Tracling (NZAC).
1 ex., Whangarei, ex Car**gler, 9-XII-1922, B. Given (NZAC).
1 ex., Whangarei, Garden, 20, 21-***, B. Given (NZAC).
1 ex., In house Thames, 5-XI-1954, Dept. of Agri. (NZAC).
1 ex., no label (NZAC).
1 ex., no label (NZAC).
4 exs., Cronwallis, Auckland, 28-XI-1937, A. C. O'connor, E. S. Gourlay, ACC, 1970, Ent. Div. (NZAC).
1 ex., 181, Purewa, bush, 20-II-1943, D. McKenzie, Com. Inst. Ent., coll. no. 11058, Sternaulax zealandicus Mars., G. E. Bryant det. (NZAC).
2 exs., 293, Broun (NZAC).
3 exs., *, Rubbish, Tirigangi, 28-III-1942, M. Carter, coll 181 (NZAC).
1 ex., Waitakeres, Auckland, 15-II-1950, M. Knight (NZAC).
1 ex., Purewa bush, 20-II-1943, D. McKenzie (NZAC).
1 ex., Oratia, Auckland, 21-X-1947, R. Harrison (NZAC).
1 ex., CL, Little Barrier I., Pohutakawa flet N. E., 6-XII-1978, B. M. May, in damaged frond Rhopolostylis sapida (NZAC).
1ex., ND, poor Knight Is., Tawhiti Rahi, I-1956, J. C. Watt, under bark tree trunk (NZAC).
1 ex., Maungaoiko, Spirits bay, 10-I-1949, M. W. Carter (NZAC).
1 ex., 90 - mile beach sweetwater, 2-II-1962, B. M. May (NZAC).
1 ex., Titirangi, 12-IV-1943, M. W. Carter (NZAC).
1 ex., Herekino, R. A. Cumber coll., 1-X-1957 (NZAC).
1 ex., Lake Okataiua, 1000 m alt., 30-I-1960, J. C. Watt, under bark of dead Kamahi (NZAC).
1 ex., Kawhia, R. A. Cumber coll., 19-III-1959 (NZAC).
1 ex., RI, Taihape Oraukura Gorge, 8-XI-1982 (NZAC).
2 exs., AK, Tawharanui Pen., Buckletons Bay, 3-IV-1991, G. Allen (NZAC).
1 ex., AK, Auckland, Titirangi, 26-I-1979, P. A. Maddison (NZAC).
1 ex., CL, Great Barnel Island, 2-7-I-1980, G. Lowe, Between Moco valley & Str. Rek., ex. base of Rhopalostylis fluncli in bush, Sternaulax zealandicus, Cassididae, G. Lowe collection, VI-1980 (NZAC).
1 ex., AK, Auckland, Titirangi, 14-III-1981, E. Willis (NZAC).
Distribution. New Zealand (endemic).
Fig. 16. Aulacosternus zelandicus. A: Head. B: Antenna. C: Adult, dorsal
view. D: Ditto, ventral view. E: Left protibia, dorsal view. F: Ditto, ventral
view. G: Left mesotibia, ventral view. H: Left metatibia, ventral view.
I: Female genitalia, ventral view. (Ohara & Mazur, 2000).
Fig. 17. Aulacosternus zelandicus. A: Aedeagus, dorsal view. B: Ditto, lateral view. C: 9th and 10th tergites and spicule, dorsal view. D: Ditto, lateral view. E: 8th tergite and sternum, dorsal view. F: Ditto, lateral view. (Ohara & Mazur, 2000).
