Liodessus bogotensis bogotensis Guignot, 1953

Balke, Michael, Neven, Katja, Villastrigo, Adrian, Ospina-Torres, Rodulfo, Prieto, Carlos, Gutierrez Rubiano, Nicolas, Lotta, Ingrid, Duenas, Luisa F. & Hendrich, Lars, 2023, Eastern Colombian Paramo Liodessus Guignot, 1939 diving beetles are genetically structured, but show signs of hybridization, with description of new species and subspecies (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 1143, pp. 165-187 : 165

Liodessus bogotensis bogotensis Guignot, 1953

Figs 5A , 8A , 10A

Liodessus bogotensis Guignot, 1953: 111; Pederzani 2001: 298; Nilsson and Hajek 2022: 122; Megna et al. 2019: 103.

Type locality.

Colombia, “Bogota”.

Material studied.

Colombia • 10 specimens; Bogota, Usme ; 3,100 m alt.; 17.iv.2017; 4.379, -74.12; Megna & Stiven leg.; UNAL, ZSM • 10 specimens; Cundinamarca, Humedal La Florida , 2,400 m alt.; 22.xi.2018; 4.729, -74.143; Ospina, Balke & Megna leg.; COL_MB_2018_12; UNAL, ZSM • 25 specimens; Bogota DC, UNAL campus; 2,500 m alt.; 10.v.2022; 4.6409, -74.0819; Gutierres & Balke leg.; COL_MB_2022_004; UNAL, ZSM .

Identification notes.

This subspecies was redescribed by Megna et al. (2019). This is a slightly larger subspecies with a total length of 2.1-2.3 mm. The dorsal color is generally of lighter appearance; the head is chestnut colored to dark orange, the pronotum is yellow with darker marking in the middle, and the elytron is yellow or orange with darker bands or vice versa (Fig. 5A ). The median lobe is slender and simply curved in lateral view, with some variation in the degree of tapering at the apex. The median lobe simply narrows towards apex in ventral view (Figs 8A , 10A ).

An occipital line is present, but sometimes it is faint. Females are sometimes with the entire dorsal surface with strong, dense microreticulation so that they appear dull (mesh-like as in Fig. 11A ) or more frequently with the entire dorsal surface with faint, dense microreticulation and appearing shinier. Metathoracic wings are large.

In the COLLI sequence database, only analyzing L. bogotensis data, the subspecies has one diagnostic character different from the other subspecies (Table 1 ).

Variation.

Measurements (N = 20). Total length 2.1-2.3 mm (mean 2.18); length without head 1.8-2.0 mm (mean 1.89); maximum width 0.9-1.0 mm (mean 0.96).

Distribution.

Known from the Altiplano around Bogotá, from 2,400 to 3,100 m, but most likely with wider distribution at moderate altitudes (Fig. 1 ). See below for possible higher elevation occurrence and hybridization in the Matarredonda area.

Habitat.

Exposed, shallow, stagnant densely vegetated water bodies. Collected from swampy areas with thick mats of grass, black mud, and foul water.

Figures

Figure 1. Map of sampling localities A overview of northwestern South America showing are of sampling depicted in " B " B colored areas represent districts in Paramo: Santanderes (blue), Boyaca (green), and Cundinamarca (brown).

Figure 5. Variation in size and dorsal coloration of subspecies of Liodessus bogotensis A Liodessus b. bogotensis B Liodessus b. almorzadero C Liodessus b. chingaza. Scale bar: 2 mm.

Figure 8. Median lobes in lateral view of Liodessus species A L. bogotensis bogotensis B L. b. almorzadero C L. b. chingaza. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Tips of median lobes in ventral view of Liodessus subspecies A L. bogotensis bogotensis B L. bogotensis almorzadero C L. bogotensis chingaza D L. b. lacunaviridis E L. b. matarredonda F L. b. sumapaz. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figure 11. Liodessus bogotensis chingaza females showing detail of surface reticulation A head and pronotum of dull specimen B elytral tip of shinier specimen. Not to scale.