Hapatesus electus

Hapatesus electus (male, body length about 7.5 mm, aedeagus inset)

Taxonavigation

Ordo: Coleoptera
Familia: Elateridae

this species is native to Australia (ACT, NSW)
in the early 2000s, I discovered this species to be well-established in and around Auckland City, particularly common in Auckland Domain
I mostly find them under bark on trunks of Eucalyptus trees, and also in the bunches of brown, open seed pods on brush wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha) (along with an unidentified adventive phalacrid)
it is the only species of Hapatesus present in N.Z.
the species bears a strong superficial resemblance to the native Parinus villosus
I identified the species using Neboiss (1957)
my identification has not, to my knowledge, been validated, but it is rather obvious
although not indicated to be a new record for N.Z., the species was first reported in N.Z. by Maddison in Macfarlane et al. (2010: 422), probably following a note I had put about it on Wikispecies
previously, I had included the genus, as a new record for N.Z., in Leschen et al. (2003: 21)

Leschen, R.A.B.; Lawrence, J.F.; Kuschel, G.; Thorpe, S.; Wang, Q. 2003: Coleoptera genera of New Zealand. New Zealand entomologist, 26: 15-28.
Macfarlane, R.P. et al. 2010: [Chapter] NINE Phylum ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA Protura, springtails, Diplura, and insects. Pp. 233-467 in Gordon, D.P. (ed.): New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume 2. Kingdom Animalia. Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-87725793-3
Neboiss, A. 1957: The genera Hapatesus Candèze and Toorongus, gen.nov. (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Australian journal of zoology, 5(4): 496-520. doi

Stephen Thorpe 03:16, 15 January 2011 (CET)