Revision of the Australian species of the genus Pogonoglossus Chaudoir (Insecta : Coleoptera : Helluodinae)

Abstract

The Australian species of the genus Pogonoglossus Chaudoir (Helluodinae) are revised. P. inflaticeps (Sloane) and P. porosus (Sloane) are redescribed, P. parvus Darlington, described from New Guinea, is recorded from Australia, and P. inarmatus, sp. nov. is newly described. The four species are compared in a key and their distributions in Australia are mapped.

The relationships of the species are discussed; they belong to two groups and all are closely related to New Guinean species. Different stages of differentiation and distribution patterns of the Australian species point to three independent invasions of Pogonoglossus stocks into Australia, all proceeding along the Cape York Peninsula. Close affinities to New Guinean species indicate that colonisation of Australia by Pogonoglossus occurred perhaps not before mid-Pleistocene.