Tribe Tyrini Reitter, 1882

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Tribe Tyrini Reitter, 1882

Introduction

The Tyrini contains four subtribes, with the Somatipionina and Tyrina both occuring in Australia. Of the two tribes not occuring in Australia, the Janusculina holds one genus from Africa; and the Centrophthalmina holds four African and Oriental genera. Two Australian genera have been previously placed in separate, monobasic tribes. The Somatipionini, based on Somatipion, is now treated as a subtribe of the Tyrini and as the senior synonym of Hamotina, and the Chalcoplectini, based on Chalcoplectus, is synonymized with the Tyrina.

One of the most critical structures in determination of generic placement in the Tyrini is the form of the maxillary palpi. Their structure is extremely diverse for this group, and, when used in combination with foveal patterns, leads to the ready recognition of most genera. The tribe now holds 84 genera, and while members are found in all areas that pselaphites exist, except on oceanic islands, they are most diverse in Australia, the Oriental Region, and Central and South America; tyrines are poorly represented in the Holarctic Region. Africa has a relatively small fauna of 7 genera, with 4 of these placed in the distinctive subtribe Centrophthalmina, and an additional 6 genera are known only from Madagascar. The Australian fauna is represented by 21 genera (Chandler 2001: 400).

Diagnosis

Head often elongate; frontal rostrum usually prominent; clypeal apex broadly rounded, lateral margins nearly straight to eyes; lacking ocular-mandibular carinae; lacking median gular ridge or carinae on ventrolateral margins; maxillary palpi lacking lateral spines or large setae, first segments short, apical 3 segments varying greatly in form. Pronotum with paranotal carinae rarely present (present in Hamotopsis). Metasternum often only with median metasternal fovea present, lateral metasternal foveae rarely encountered (in Kiera Chandler). Legs with 2 tarsal claws, first legs rarely with anterior claws enlarged and posterior claws reduced in size. Abdomen with deep setose sulcus at base of visible tergite 1 (IV) (flat in Swan); visible sternite 2 (IV) with deep setose sulcus at base (flat in Swan); setae largely aciculate.

ID Keys

Key to Australian genera of Tyrini (Chandler 2001: 401).

1. Third segments of maxillary palpi triangular, as long as wide, much smaller than large fourth segments … (Somatipionina) 2

Third segments of maxillary palpi elongate, at least half again as long as wide, usually at least twice as long as wide … (Tyrina) 5

2. (1) Pronotum lacking antebasal foveae and sulcus, disc smooth to base; head lacking frontal fovea … Swan Chandler

Pronotum with lateral antebasal foveae, antebasal sulcus faint to distinct; head with frontal fovea … 3

3. (2) Fourth segments of maxillary palpi smooth medially, lacking mesal sulcus; abdomen with thin median carina on first two visible tergites (IV-V) (Fig. 145) … Hamotopsis Raffray

Fourth segments of maxillary palpi with mesal sulcus through length … 4

4. (3) Abdominal tergites with median longitudinal sulci, thin carina present through length of sulci; antennal clubs formed by antennomeres XI (Fig. 146) … Somatipion Schaufuss

Abdominal tergites lacking median sulcus, a few with median longitudinal carinae; antennal clubs with at least antennomeres X somewhat enlarged (Fig. 144) … Googarna Chandler

5. (1) Second tarsomeres broadly lobed beneath third tarsomeres and extending nearly to tarsal claws (Fig. 17); maxillary palpi with second through fourth segments briefly Abdominal tergites lacking median sulcus, a few with median longitudinal carinae; antennal clubs with at least antennomeres X somewhat enlarged (Fig. pedunculate at bases; body elongate and flattened (Fig. 150) … Chalcoplectus Oke

Second tarsomeres linear, rarely extending beneath third tarsomeres; maxillary palpi and body variable … 6

6. (5) Pronotum with antebasal sulcus; median and lateral antebasal foveae present … 7

Pronotum lacking antebasal sulcus; antebasal foveae free or lacking … 8

7. (6) Vertexal foveae adjacent to eyes; fourth segments of maxillary palpi arising mesal to apices of third segments (Figs. 151, 206) … Chasoke Chandler

Vertexal foveae more medial; fourth segments of maxillary palpi arising at apices of third segments (Fig. 155) … Hamotulus Raffray

8. (6) Lateral margins of pronotum with deep pubescent incisions or lateral longitudinal sulci (Figs. 152, 160) … 9

Pronotum lacking lateral deep pubescent incisions or lateral longitudinal sulci … 10

9. (8) Head with broad setose sulci above eyes extending medially to cover vertexal foveae; head with base subtruncate (Fig. 160) … Spilorhombus Raffray

Head lacking broad pubescent sulci medial to eyes, with single vertexal fovea in median sulcus; head base with four large spines (Fig. 152) … Collacerothorax Lea

10. (8) Third segments of maxillary palpi not constricted at base, triangular or short and evenly arcuate, about half again as long as wide; fourth segments with sensory area obliquely lateral at apices (Figs. 157, 164) … 11

Third segments of maxillary palpi elongate, usually pedunculate at base, twice as long as wide; sensory area typically at apices of fourth segments (Figs. 158, 161) … 14

11. (10) Third segments of maxillary palpi arcuate and of even widths (Fig. 157) … 12

Third segments of maxillary palpi triangular (Fig. 164) … 13

12. (11) Head with vertexal foveae; pronotum with small median and lateral antebasal foveae; fourth segments of maxillary palpi smooth, with broad longitudinal sulcus on mesal margins (Fig. 157) … Narrabeen Chandler

Head lacking vertexal foveae; pronotum lacking antebasal foveae; fourth segments of maxillary palpi flared near apices, with row of denticles on dorsal surface, lacking mesal sulci (Figs. 148, 205) … Abascantodes Strand

13. (11) Third segments of maxillary palpi widest at middles, fourth segments often broad through most of length; pronotum with or lacking lateral antebasal foveae (Fig. 164) … Tyromorphus Raffray

Third segments of maxillary palpi widest at apices, fourth segments evenly narrowed to apex from middles; pronotum with median and lateral antebasal foveae, may be small (Fig. 163) … Tyromacrus Chandler

14. (10) Pronotum with median and lateral antebasal foveae distinct … 15

Pronotum with median antebasal foveae indistinct or lacking, lateral antebasal foveae small and nude … 18

15. (14) Head with frontal fovea (Fig. 1, ff) … 16

Head lacking frontal fovea … 17

16. (15) Pronotum usually with anterolateral discal foveae (Fig. 1, aldf); setae over body depressed to suberect; fourth segments of maxillary palpi with basal constrictions short, not or very briefly pedunculate at base (Fig. 158) … Palimbolus Raffray

Pronotum lacking foveae on anterior margins of disc; setae over body appressed; fourth segments of maxillary palpi pedunculate at bases (Fig. 149) … Agatyrus Broun

17. (15) Pronotum with anterolateral discal foveae (Fig. 1, aldf); antennomeres XI straight (Fig. 156) … Kiera Chandler
Pronotum lacking anterolateral discal foveae; tip of antennomeres XI arcuate ventrally in apical halves (Fig. 161) … Tasmanityrus Chandler

18. (14) Pronotum with small, nude, lateral antebasal foveae; visible abdominal tergites 1 and 4 (IV and VII) long (Fig. 153) … Durbos Sharp

Pronotum lacking median antebasal fovea; abdominal tergite 4 (VII) much shorter than first (IV) except in Gerallus … 19

19. (18) Fourth segments of maxillary palpi smoothly narrowed from middles to apices, not pedunculate at bases; abdominal tergites 1 and 4 (IV and VII) equal in length (Fig. 154) … Gerallus Sharp

Fourth segments of maxillary palpi widest before middles or distinctly pedunculate (Figs. 159, 162) … 20

20. (19) Fourth segments of maxillary palpi broadest before middles, not pedunculate at bases, constricted beyond middle or apical third to form attenuate apices (Fig. 159) … Rytus King

Fourth segments of maxillary palpi distinctly pedunculate at bases, widest near apices (Fig. 162) … Tyrogetus Broun