Desmopachria amyae Miller, 2000

Miller, Kelly B., 2001, Descriptions Of New Species Of Desmopachria Babington (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Hyphydrini) With A Reassessment Of The Subgenera And Species Groups And A Synopsis Of The Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 55 (2), pp. 219-240 : 220-224

Desmopachria amyae Miller , new species

Figs. 1–4 , 15–16

Diagnosis. Very distinctive based on color pattern, lateral inflations and

distinct furrows in elytra ( Fig. 1 ), and distinctive male genitalia ( Figs. 2–4 ). Median lobe in dorsal aspect robust, apically slightly expanded and with apex truncate ( Fig. 2 ); in lateral aspect relatively straight ( Fig. 3 ). Lateral lobe with distinct, medially­directed stout spine at apex ( Fig. 2 ).

Description. Measurements. n = 3, TL = 1.93–1.97 mm (x = 1.96mm); GW = 1.43–1.46mm (x = 1.45mm); TL/GW = 1.33–1.38 (x = 1.35).

Habitus ( Fig. 1 ). Moderately large for genus; broadly rounded laterally in dorsal aspect; greatest width slightly anterior of middle, posteriorly rounded; slightly flattened dorsoventrally.

Coloration. Head yellow. Pronotum yellow with posterior margin narrowly black. Elytron yellow with dark brown to black pattern ( Fig. 1 ), dark brown or black along suture, black area expanded medially and along anterior margin, middle of disk extensively brown with fasciae extending posteriorly, apical region light brown. Antennae and palpi yellow. Pro­ and mesothoracic legs yellow; metathoracic legs brown. Thoracic sterna yellow­brown. Abdominal sterna yellow.

Sculpture and structure. Head very finely and inconspicuously punctate; clypeal margin anteriorly produced and distinctly margined; antennae moderately short, antennomeres 4–9 anteroapically lobed. Pronotum impunctate except moderately but distinctly punctate laterally and broadly along posteromedial margin; without basal striae; lateral pronotal margin strongly rounded; lateral bead broad posteriorly, narrowed anteriorly. Elytron variably punctate, moderately and inconspicuously punctate over most of disk, apical area with punctation of two sizes, very fine and moderately coarse, interspersed; with four relatively distinctly impressed, longitudinal furrows near suture, medially, sublaterally and laterally ( Fig. 1 ), punctures in furrows confluent; elytron laterally with elongate inflation extending along apical half, distinctly demarcated from disk of elytron by lateral furrow; epipleuron impunctate. Prosternum very short, with posteromedial tubercle. Prosternal process broad, apically pointed, shallowly concave. Metasternum, metacoxa and abdominal sterna impunctate. Legs unmodified.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 2–4 ). Median lobe in ventral aspect broad basally, narrowed slightly medially and apically expanded and broadly truncate ( Fig. 2 ); in lateral aspect moderately broad, tapered gradually to slightly rounded apex ( Fig. 3 ). Lateral lobe in ventral aspect apically recurved with apex directed medially, apex with stout, robust spine directed medially, medial margin with long setae, apex with few long setae and numerous short setae ( Fig. 2 ); in lateral aspect broad basally, evenly narrowed to slightly rounded apex ( Fig. 4 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs. 15–16 ). Gonocoxal apex with several long setae, apicomedial margin with series of short setae ( Fig. 15 ); gonocoxosternite with extremely long and apically bent anterior lobe, apicolateral margin with series of robust setae with apices curved, apicomedial margin with few long, stout setae ( Fig. 16 ). Other structures not examined.

Variation. This species is variable in extent of the maculation, degree of fragmentation and the relative darkness of color of the various regions of maculae.

Taxonomy. I have placed this species in the D. striola group based on the presence of elytral striae, but it does not resemble most of these species. This species may be similar to D. varians (which I have not seen) since Young (1980) mentions that it is dorsally patterned like members of the D. variegata group (see Discussion below for clarification of group classification) and lacks pronotal striae. Young (1990b) indicates that D. varians has very course punctures laterally on the base of the pronotum which are lacking in D. amyae .

Etymology. This beetle is named amyae after my wife, Amy Miller, because both are beautiful creatures.

Natural History. This species was collected from pools in a small, rocky, steep stream in a canyon in the Andean foothills of central Bolivia.

Material Examined. Holotype: ϐ in MHNB, labeled, ‘‘ BOLIVIA: Dpto Sta Cruz. Prov. Florida, Rio del Sauce, 4.3km ENE Samaipata 01 Jul 1999 KB Miller, colr./ 18°10'25̎ S 63°50'13 ̎W 1669 m #2–21 / HOLOTYPE Desmopachria amyae K.B. Miller, 2000 [red label with double black line border].’’ Paratypes, 2 ♀♀, same data as holotype. The genitalia of the two female paratypes were damaged during dissection, and only a portion of the structures are described here.

Figures

Fig. 1. Desmopachria amyae, habitus. bar = 1.0 mm.

Figs. 2–14. Desmopachria spp., male genitalia. 2–4) D. amyae; 2) median lobe and left lateral lobe, dorsal aspect; 3) same, median lobe, right lateral aspect; 4) same, right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect; 5–7) D. challeti; 5) median lobe and left lateral lobe, dorsal aspect; 6) same, median lobe, right lateral aspect; 7) same, left lateral lobe, left lateral aspect; 8–10) D. signatoides; 8) median lobe and left lateral lobe, dorsal aspect; 9) same, median lobe, right lateral aspect; 10) same, right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect; 11–13) D. volatidisca; 11) median lobe, dorsal aspect; 12) same, median lobe, right lateral aspect; 13) same, right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect; 14) Desmopachria signatoides, left antenna, dorsal aspect. bars = 0.1 mm

Figs. 15–20. 15–16) D. amyae, female genitalia; 15) right gonocoxosternite; 16) same, right gonocoxa; 17–20) Desmopachria species, female genitalia, ventral aspect; 17) D. challeti; 18) D. volatidisca; 19) D. convexa; 20) D. youngi; al = anterior lobe of gonocoxosternite, bc = bursa copulatrix, co = common oviduct, ds = spermathecal disc, fd = fertilization duct, fs = fertilization sac, gc = gonocoxa, gs = gonocoxosternite, ra = ramus, sd = spermathecal duct, sp = spermatheca, va = vagina. bars = 0.1 mm.