Ereboporus naturaconservatus Miller, Gibson and Alarie

Miller, Kelly B., Gibson, James R. & Alarie, Yves, 2009, North American Stygobiontic Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) with Description of Ereboporus naturaconservatus Miller, Gibson and Alarie, New Genus and Species, from Texas, U. S. A, The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (2), pp. 191-202 : 195-196

Ereboporus naturaconservatus Miller, Gibson and Alarie , new species

( Figs. 1–5 , 17 )

Type Locality. United States of America, Texas, Terrell County, Independence Creek Nature Conservancy Preserve, Caroline Springs .

Diagnosis. This is the only member of the genus known and is characterized by the diagnostic combination unique to the genus (see above).

Description. Measurements (in mm). TL 5 2.3–2.4; TL/GW 5 2.2–2.4; HL 5 0.7; HW 5 1.0; HL/HW 5 0.7; PL 5 0.4; PW 1 5 1.0–1.1; PW 2 5 0.8–0.9; PL/ PW 1 5 0.4; PW 1 /PW 2 5 0.8–1.2; EW 5 0.9; EL 5 1.4; FL 5 0.6; RL 5 0.2; RL/ FL 5 0.3.

Habitus. Body elongate, greatest body width at head, dorso-ventrally depressed; body lightly sclerotized; coloration yellow over entire body.

Sculpture and structure. Head ( Figs. 1, 2 ) very large in proportion to body (L/ W); eyes absent; anterior margin of clypeus concave, with continuous marginal bead; length of scape and pedicel each about 2X width; length of flagellomeres I– VIII about 1.2X width, apical flagellomere length about 2.5X width. Pronotum ( Figs. 1, 2 ) short and broad, greatest width anteriorly; anterolateral corners sharply pointed, extending anteriorly along lateral margins of head; submedially prominently constricted; posterolateral corners acute. Scutellum not externally visible. Elytron ( Figs. 1, 2 ) elongate, elytra medially weakly fused along elytral suture, though not strongly so; lateral margin evenly and broadly curved anteriorly, elytra together slightly tapered posteriorly; elytral epipleuron very broad throughout length, extending medially, covering significant portions of lateral areas of metacoxae and abdominal sternites. Metathoracic wings absent. Head, pronotum, and elytron covered with microsculpture composed of fine, isodiametric cells making surface matte in appearance. Prosternum ( Fig. 2 ) narrow; prosternal process very small, apically rounded, length about equal to width, not extending between mesocoxae to metasternum. Metacoxa ( Fig. 2 ) large; metacoxal lines absent; apical lobes of posterior metacoxal process short and rounded; metacoxal bridge not differentiated (posterior margin of metacoxal process without delimiting margin), medially evenly sloped to abdomen; metatrochanter ( Fig. 2 ) large, distinctly offset from metafemur, apex bluntly pointed, remote from metafemur; metafemur ( Fig. 2 ) slender and elongate; metatibia ( Fig. 2 ) slender, slightly and gradually expanded apically. Visible abdominal sternites II and III fused with suture absent medially ( Fig. 2 ). Conspicuous sensory setae absent over entire body. Series of spinous setae present only on legs, but natatory setae entirely absent.

Male genitalia. Median lobe in lateral aspect ( Fig. 3 ) short, robust, broad, apex abruptly curved dorsad, apically broadly pointed; in ventral aspect ( Fig. 4 ) broad, lateral margins evenly convergent to apex which is distinctly but shallowly emarginate. Lateral lobe ( Fig. 4 ) relatively narrow, medially expanded, apex rounded.

Female genitalia. Gonocoxosternite ( Fig. 5 ) with posterior portion rhomboid, anterior portion elongate, moderately broad, slightly curved medially near anterior end; gonocoxa ( Fig. 5 ) elongate, slender, medially bent; bursa copulatrix ( Fig. 5 ) elongate, anteriorly broadly expanded, with elongate ring-like sclerotized structure on right side (receptacle); spermathecal duct ( Fig. 5 ) elongate, slender; spermatheca ( Fig. 5 ) robust, expanded on end near fertilization duct; fertilization duct ( Fig. 5 ) elongate, slender.

Etymology. The species name, naturaconservatus , comes from the Latin words natura, meaning ‘‘nature’’ and conservatus, meaning ‘‘keep’’ or ‘‘conserve,’’ in honor of The Nature Conservancy for their extensive work in the promotion of biodiversity and specifically in honor of the Independence Creek Nature Conservancy Preserve, the type locality for the species.

Distribution and Habitat. Same as for the genus (see above).

Material Examined. Holotype: Oi labeled, ‘‘ U.S.A.: Texas, Terrell Co., Independence Creek Preserve , Caroline Springs , 24.3 km S Sheffield, 30 ° 27 9 10 0 N 101 ° 44 9 10 0 W, 19 May 2007, J. R. Gibson and E. Chappell, colrs ./ HOLOTYPE: Miller, Gibson and Alarie, 2008 [red label with double black line border].’’ Paratypes: 2 labeled same as holotype except ‘‘/ PARATYPE: Miller, Gibson and Alarie, 2008 [blue label with black line border].’’

Other subterranean Dytiscidae in North America

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Ereboporus naturaconservatus, habitus. 1) dorsal aspect; 2) ventral aspect. Scale bar 5 0.5 mm.

Figs. 3–5. Ereboporus naturaconservatus. 3) male genitalia, right lateral aspect; 4) male median lobe, ventral aspect; 5) female genitalia. BC 5 bursa copulatrix, CO 5 common oviduct, FD 5 fertilization duct, GC 5 gonocoxa, GS 5 gonocoxosternite, RE 5 receptacle, SD 5 spermathecal duct, SP 5 spermatheca.

Fig. 17. Map of state of Texas, U.S.A. showing extent of several related aquifer systems and known distribution of Comaldessus stygius, Haideoporus texanus and Ereboporus naturaconservatus.