Gonocephalum

Belongs within: Opatrini.

Gonocephalum is a large genus of tenebrionid beetles found throughout the Old World. The larvae of some species, known as false wireworms, are crop pests, feeding on the roots. The South African G. arenarium has been introduced to Australia (Matthews & Bouchard 2008). Members of the genus retain a relatively primitive aedeagus relative to other genera of the Opatrina with clavae separated from the apical piece by a complete suture (Matthews & Bouchard 2008).

Characters (from Matthews & Bouchard 2008): Length 6–11 mm. Eyes constricted but not divided by genal canthus. Fronto-clypeal suture indicated by a shallow depression on head, especially laterally. Apical maxillary palpomere securiform. Mentum with median keel low or absent. Scutellum well developed behind pronotal base. Each elytral interval with multiple rows of squamiform or ciliate setae, or setae absent. Strial punctures small or absent. Protibia not strongly expanded, without preapical teeth, its under surface not tuberculate.

<==Gonocephalum Solier 1834MB08
    |--*G. pygmaeum (Steven 1829) [=Opatrum pygmaeum]MB08
    |--G. adelaidae (Blackburn 1894) [=Hopatrum adelaidae]MB08
    |--G. alternatum Carter 1915MB08
    |--G. arenarium (Fabricius 1775) [=Opatrum arenarium]MB08
    |--G. asperipenneC01
    |--G. australe (Boisduval 1835) [=Opatrum australe]MB08
    |--G. bilineatum (Walker 1858) [=Opatrum bilineatum]K77
    |--G. birmanicum Kaszab 1952K77
    |--G. calvulum (Olliff 1889) [=Hopatrum calvulum]MB08
    |--G. carpentariae (Blackburn 1894) [=Hopatrum carpentariae]MB08
    |--G. civicum Kaszab 1952K77
    |--G. cowardense (Blackburn 1894) [=Hopatrum cowardense]MB08
    |--G. elderi (Blackburn 1892) [=Hopatrum elderi]MB08
    |--G. gracile (Bates 1879) [=Loboderus gracilis]K77
    |--G. hackeri Carter 1928MB08
    |--G. hispidocostatum (Fairmaire 1883) (see below for synonymy)MB08
    |--G. insulanum (Olliff 1888) [=Hopatrum insulanum]MB08
    |--G. koreanum Kaszab 1952K77
    |--G. macleayi (Blackburn 1907) [=Hopatrum macleayi]MB08
    |--G. martensi Kaszab 1977K77
    |--G. mastersi (Macleay 1872) [=Hopatrum mastersi]MB08
    |--G. meyricki (Blackburn 1894) [=Hopatrum meyricki; incl. H. victoriae Blackburn 1894]MB08
    |--G. misellum (Blackburn 1907) [=Hopatrum misellum]MB08
    |--G. mongolicumC01
    |--G. nepalicum Kaszab 1973K77
    |--G. oculare Kaszab 1952K77
    |--G. pusillumC01
    |--G. reitteri Csiki 1901C01
    |--G. roseni Kaszab 1952K77
    |--G. simulatrix (Fairmaire 1891) [=Pseudoblaps simulatrix]K77
    |--G. torridum (Champion 1894) [=Opatrum torridum]MB08
    `--G. walkeri (Champion 1894) [=Opatrum walkeri]MB08

Gonocephalum hispidocostatum (Fairmaire 1883) [=Opatrum hispidocostatum; incl. G. costatum Carter 1914 (preoc.), G. costipenne Carter 1915]^MB08

*Type species of generic name indicated

References

[C01] Csiki, E. 1901. Bogarak [Coleopteren]. In: Horváth, G. (ed.) Zichy Jenő Gróf Harmadik Ázsiai Utazása [Dritte Asiatische Forschungsreise des Grafen Eugen Zichy] vol. 2. Zichy Jenő Gróf Harmadik Ázsiai Utazásának Állattani Eredményei [Zoologische Ergebnisse der Dritten Asiatischen Forschungsreise des Grafen Eugen Zichy] pp. 75–120. Victor Hornyánszky: Budapest, and Karl W. Hierseman: Leipzig.

[K77] Kaszab, Z. 1977. Tenebrionidae der Nepal-Expeditionen von Dr. J. Martens (1969–1974) (Insecta: Coleoptera). Senckenbergiana Biologica 57 (4–6): 241–283.

[MB08] Matthews, E. G., & P. Bouchard. 2008. Tenebrionid Beetles of Australia: Descriptions of tribes, keys to genera, catalogue of species. Australian Biological Resources Study: Canberra.