A revision of Atesta Pascoe (Coleoptera : Cerambycidae : Phoracanthini) from Australia, with descriptions of eighteen new species

Abstract

The Australian cerambycid genus Atesta Pascoe is revised and a new concept of the genus is given. Acyrusa Pascoe and Sisyrium Pascoe, previously placed in Callidiopini, are synonymised with Atesta in the Phoracanthini. These changes bring the total number of species of Atesta to at least 34, 18 of which are described as new: A. thorntoni, A, latifasciata, A. mediana, A. patula, A. newi, A. paratasmanica, A. centroaustralica, A. houstoni, A. mapida, A. carteri, A. brooksi, A. brittoni, A. unifasciata, A. nigrihumerus, A. longoelytrata, A. pubescens, A. minuta and A. sita. A. sisyrioides, nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for A. buasciata (Carter), consequent on synonymy of Sisyrium with Atesta. Diagnoses and brief descriptions of other species are given. New synonyms are listed as follows (senior synonyms last): Acyrusa and Sisyrium with Atesta, Atesta angasi (Pascoe) var. unicolor Carter with A. angasi (Pascoe), Sisyrium ventrale Blackburn with A. vittata (Blackburn), S. plagiatum Gahan with A. sparsa (Blackburn). Male terminalia are described and figured, and ovipositors are figured. A key to the 34 species is provided. Preliminary division into species-groups is discussed.