Bartlett: Clerid beetles of Lord Howe Island 
227 
Abdomen dark brown laterally, orange-brown medially; 
posterior margins of ventrites 2-4 transversely bordered by 
a pale orange band. Legs short, variously vested with short 
semi-decumbent, and long erect, setae; femora and tibiae 
dark brown, inner surface of femoral bases lightly infused 
with yellow; tarsi yellow. 
Etymology. The specific epithet is descriptive of the 
distinctive pale X-shaped maculation of the elytra (Latin, 
decusso = the Roman numeral X). 
Biology. The holotype and single paratype were beaten 
from palms. 
Remarks. Although differing from typical Thriocerodes 
by its rounded pronotal disc and virtual absence of ocular 
emargination, no substantial characters were identified on 
which to base the exclusion of T. decussates n.sp. from 
the genus. Its assignment to Thriocerodes is based on the 
following shared characters: eyes widely separated, coarsely 
facetted; terminal palpomeres securiform; procoxal cavities 
open posteriorly; prothorax with complete lateral carina 
(which converges with the posterior margin of the hypomeron 
at the prothoracic hind angle); elytra compact, punctation 
not internally nodulate, epipleura converging near start of 
apical curve; legs short; tibial spur formula 1-2-1, pro- and 
meso-tarsi each with three pulvilli. 
Tarsostenodes howensis n.sp. (Tarsosteninae) 
Fig. 2 
Type material. Lord Howe Island : holotype: AMS K185983, 200 
m E of trail to Goat House, footslopes of Mt. Lidgbird (31°33'41"S 
159°5'15"E), 24 Nov. 2000, ex Howea belmoreana, M. Elliot, N. 
Plunkett-Cole, LHIS029, beating. Paratypes (16): 4 specimens, AMS 
K208418, AMS K208420, AMS K208421, AMS K208422, Valley of 
Shadows (31°31'50"S 159°4'36"E), 6 Dec. 2000, R. Harris, LHI/RH/01, 
Active sampling; 2 specimens, AMS K185993, AMS K185989, jn [on?] 
Rocky Run & Boat Harbour Trails (CBCR Site 24), c.30 m (31 0 33'19"S 
159 o 05'33"E), 3 Dec. 2000, C. Reid, beating Pandanus/Howea/ trees; 1 
specimen, AMS K185992, path comer past Mutton Bird Pt. (31°32'S 
159°05'E), 29 Nov. 2000, C. Reid, general beating veg.; 1 specimen, AMS 
K185991, 1/3 way up Goat House Trail (1st patch of palms) (31°33'47"S 
159°05'09"E), 23 Nov. 2001, C. Reid, beating palms etc, c.280 m; 1 
specimen, AMS K185990, saddle between Intermediate Hill and Goat 
House Cave (31°32’S 159°05'E), 23 Nov. 2001, C. Reid; 2 specimens, 
K185984 (now in QM; typereg. no. T156377), AMS K185985, Stephens 
Reserve, c.10 m, (31°31'33"S 159°03’53"E), beating, 29 Nov. 2000, C. 
Reid; 1 specimen, AMS K185988, same as last record but 09 Dec. 2000; 
1 specimen, AMS K185987, same as last record but 04 Dec. 2000; 1 
specimen, AMS K185994, beating bushes, Stevens Res., 11-14.V.2003, C. 
Reid; 1 specimen, K208419 (nowin QM; typereg. no. T156378), Research 
Station backyard (31°31'37"S 159°3’58"E), 01 Dec. 2000, LHIS000/01M, 
Passive sampling; 1 specimen, AMS K246847, R. Baxter, xii. 1921, AMS 
K45627. All in Australian Museum, Sydney, unless otherwise indicated. 
Diagnosis. Small, slender, volant species; body mostly 
yellowish with dark longitudinal markings (singular and 
medial on pronotum and head, paired and sub-sutural on 
elytra); elytra without callositous deposits; antennae long, 
reaching beyond base of pronotum; unlikely to be confused 
with any other clerid on Lord Howe Island. 
Description. Total length: 3.8-5 mm; body slender, pre¬ 
dominantly yellow to pale orange, with brown longitudinal 
markings; setal vestiture pale, finely distributed. Head 
2 
Figure 2. Tarsostenodes howensis n.sp. holotype, scale = 1 mm. 
with a short brown medial stripe on vertex; frontoclypeal 
suture entirely visible; vertex and frons impressed with 
circular foveolate punctation (punctations separated by their 
diameter or greater), clypeus smooth; ventral surface of 
head smooth, gular sutures long, strongly convergent; eyes 
reasonably small, laterally convex, deeply emarginate in 
front (kidney-shaped when viewed laterally), separated by 
3.75 eye-widths, facets small but not particularly fine, several 
interfacetal setae present; terminal palpomeres securiform, 
distal margins of terminal maxillary palpomeres about as 
long as inner margins, distal margins of terminal labial 
palpomeres slightly longer than inside margins; antennae 
long, reaching beyond pronotal base, 11-segmented, A-3-8 
slender filiform, A9-11 forming a gradual club, A9 elongate, 
A10 sub-cupuliform, All sub-ovate. Prothorax slightly 
elongate (length:width = c. 1.2:1), about as wide as head and 
base of elytra; sides divergent in basal third, apical two-thirds 
weakly convergent (as viewed from above); pronotal disc 
with a brown medial stripe, widely distributed with foveolate 
punctation (similar to those on head); lateral carina virtually 
absent, vaguely present at extreme base; prostemum smooth, 
obscurely darkened; procoxal cavities closed, prosternal 
process posteriorly expanded. Elytra elongate (length:width 
= c. 2.5:1), sub-parallel, widest near apical third, apices 
reasonably acute; post basal region flat; each elytron with a 
longitudinal marking near the suture along most its length; 
