Parhydraena mpumalanga, Perkins, 2009

Perkins, Philip D., 2009, Revisions of the genera Parhydraena Orchymont, Protozantaena Perkins, Decarthrocerus Orchymont, and Parhydraenopsis nomen novum, aquatic and humicolous beetles from Africa and Madagascar, and comparative morphology of the tribe Parhydraenini (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 2038, pp. 1-119 : 35-36

Parhydraena mpumalanga new species

( Figs. 60, 62, 97)

Type material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Mpumalanga Province, Fanie Botha Trail, Maritzbos Hut area , SW Sabie, afromontane forest in ravine; FMHD #2004-058, berl., stream-edge debris, & direct collecting, elev. 1270 m, 25° 5' S, 30° 40' E, 11.ii.2004, Solodovnikov, Clarke, Newton (1093). Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes (31): Same data as holotype (10 MCZ, 13 FMNH, 8 TMSA) .

Differential diagnosis. Similar in dorsal habitus to the broad-shouldered species P. brunovacca and P. brahma ( Figs. 59, 60, 63). Distinguished from P. brahma by the longer maxillary palpi (palpus length/head width ca. 0.57 vs. 0.44), the larger size (length ca. 1.97 mm vs. 1.80 mm), the less broad-shouldered shape of the elytra, the much more finely punctate pronotal relief, and the very different aedeagi ( Figs. 62, 65). Differentiated from P. brunovacca by the more finely punctate and more convex pronotal relief, the larger size (length ca. 1.97 mm vs. 1.78 mm), and the lighter color. The male genitalia clearly show that P. mpumalanga and P. brunovacca are sister species ( Figs. 61, 62).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.97/0.93; head 0.34/0.53; pronotum 0.44/0.77, PA 0.60, PB 0.64; elytra 1.24/0.93. Dorsum brown to dark brown, except lateral margins of pronotum light brown; legs brown; maxillary palpi light brown to testaceous, distal mere acuminate, apex not darker.

Head with eyes moderately large, in dorsal aspect 8 rather small, convex facets in longest series. Ocelli distinct round small shining, each located at base of shallow oblique interocular fovea. Frons finely punctate, ca. 1xef, interstices shining, ca. 1–4xpd; area between interocular foveae and eye, punctate, microreticulate, dull. Clypeus dull, microreticulate, very finely and very sparsely punctate. Labrum dull, length subequal that of clypeus, apicomedially emarginate to form rounded lobe on each side; laterally fringed with short arcuate setae. Maxillary palpi very short, combined lengths of meres much less than width of head (ratio ca. 20/35); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 7/4/9. Mentum and submentum densely, moderately coarsely punctulate, very sparsely setose, interstices effacedly microreticulate, weakly shining.

Pronotum broad, anterior margin over median 1/3 weakly emarginate and with narrow hyaline border. Anterior angles obtuse, rounded. Sides rounded, widest just before middle, behind middle gradually attenuate, straight or very weakly sinuate. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Disc with relief moderately high, very finely and very sparsely punctate, 0.5xef or less, interstices strongly shining; impressions shallow, anterior weakly V-shaped, posterior broadly U-shaped, very few punctures confluent, some jointly forming short transverse rows. Each puncture with anterior margin extended posteriorly as narrow ridge, dividing puncture into a pair of two smaller punctures each of which about 1xef, or smaller, short recumbent or decumbent seta arising from posterior extreme of dividing ridge. Very shallow wide impression at each posterior angle. Sculpture laterally subrugose, dull.

Elytra moderately shining, broad, attenuate posteriorly, sides arcuate, margins distinct from shoulder for 4/5 of length, sutural angle more acute in female than in male. Ten-seriate punctate, punctures ca. 2–3xef, interstices ca. 1xpd, non-granulate or granules minute and indistinct; intervals ca. 2xpd, each with unilinear row of minute, widely spaced punctures; setae of serial punctures and intervals very similar in length and density, small, decumbent or recumbent.

Metaventrite moderately short, with moderately deep median elongate oval impression in basal 1/2, deepest at anterior extreme, midlongitudinal carina between anterior extreme of oval impression and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Male: ventrite 5 hydrofuge pubescent in basal 1/3 laterally, posterior margin of pubescent area extended in middle to about 1/2 length of ventrite, shining part very sparsely pubescent in band across posterior 1/2; ventrite 6 simple, with band of sparse setae across midlength; last ventrite asymmetrical, apex markedly lobiform and setose; last tergite with tuft of setae on each side of apicomedian notch into which fits lobe of last ventrite. Female: ventrite 5 basal 1/4 hydrofuge pubescent, effacedly microreticulate, weakly shining part sparsely pubescent in band across posterior 1/2; ventrite 6 simple, with transverse band of sparse setae across posterior 1/2; last ventrite non-pubescent, margin sharply rounded; last tergite with small tuft of setae on each side of weak apicomedian emargination.

Legs moderately short, femora stout, tarsi very short, claws very small, combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus slightly greater than width of head (ratio ca. 39/35), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 25/ 14. Basal 3 tarsomeres setose beneath in both sexes, those of male protarsi forming pad of suction setae.

Wings fully developed in holotype and all dissected males.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.49 mm, markedly arcuate in lateral view; main-piece, in ventral view, with pointed lobe apically; distal piece multi-lobed, one very strongly sclerotized and sharply pointed; parameres longer than main-piece, right paramere markedly arcuate apically, left paramere slightly sinuate apically and pointed; gonopore bearing process comparatively thick ( Fig. 62).

Etymology. Named in reference to the type locality.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in Mpumalanga Province ( Fig. 97).