Coelometopon balfourbrownei, Perkins, 2005

Perkins, Philip D., 2005, A revision of the African hygropetric genus Coelometopon Janssens, and description of Oomtelecopon new genus (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 949 (1), pp. 1-103 : 1-103

Coelometopon balfourbrownei new species

(Figures 31–33, 81)

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Cape Prov., George District, near George, steep dry water­course, rocks damp after rain, stn. 48, 3/15/1954, J. Balfour­ Browne ; deposited in the BMNH . Paratypes (276): South Africa: Cape Prov., Albany District, Grahamstown , on water trickling over sheer rock, elev. 569.976 m, 33° 18' S, 26° 32' E, 23 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne (stn 91) — (1 BMNH) ; Eastern Cape, Amatola Mts. 20km NNE Alice, 32° 47' S, 26° 50' E, 9 March 1997, Hess & Heckes (25) — (6 NMW) ; Eastern Cape, Natureís Valley, Salt River, elev. 76 m, 33° 57' S, 23° 30' E, 9 June 2001, Lee & Philips — (7 NMW); George District , near George, steep dry water­course, rocks damp after rain, 33° 57' S, 22° 28' E, 15 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne (stn. 48) — (50 BMNH); Swellendam District , Langeberge Mountains , Tradouw Pass, on damp rocks, stn. 42, elev. 426.72 m, 33° 57' S, 20° 42' E, 13 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne — (11 BMNH); Swellendam District , Langeberge Mountains , Tradouw Pass, on waterfall and in stony stream below, elev. 457.2 m, 33° 57' S, 20° 42' E, 13 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne (stn. 43) — (11 BMNH); Xalanga District , Cala Pass, tributary of Tsomo River , on wet rocks, 31° 31' S, 27° 41' E, 26–27 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne (stn. 102) — (2 BMNH); Natal Prov ., Mpumalanga, Graskop , 28 km N, wet rockface, elev. 1400 m, 24° 43' S, 30° 51' E, 4 February 1997, Endrödy­Younga (3275) — (61 TMSA) ; Mpumalanga, Graskop 28 km N, wet rockface, 24° 43' S, 30° 51' E, 4 February 1997, Endrödy­Younga (3276) — (1 TMSA); Port Shepstone District , Plains , Otterdurn , on wet rockfaces, elev. 457.2 m, 30° 45' S, 30° 17' E, 29 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne (stn. 119) — (4 BMNH); Zulu Drakensberg, Nogome For. Res., 5 km N, blasted wet rockface, 27° 49' S, 31° 23' E, 22 February 1997, Endrödy­Younga (3280) — (118 TMSA); Transvaal Prov. , Blouberg, 23° 5' S, 29° 0' E, 9 January 1955, C. Rudebeck — (1 LUM); N. Transvaal, Soutpansberg, Entabeni, river stones, 22° 59' S, 30° 15' E, 21 April 1976, Endrödy­Younga (#1135) — (1 TMSA); N. Transvaal, Soutpansberg, Entabeni, shore washing, 22° 58' S, 30° 15' E, 15 March 1973, Endrödy­Younga (#56) — (2 TMSA). Representative specimens deposited in AMG, CMNH, FMNH, MCZ , and USNM.

Diagnosis. Refer to the diagnosis of C. punctipennis .

Description. Size (length/width, mm x 100) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 237/107, head 56/63, pronotum 56/86, elytra 152/107. Dorsum piceous to black.

Eyes comparatively large, eye length/separation of eyes as 15/27. Maxillary palpus slightly shorter than width of anterior margin of clypeus, last three palpomeres subequal in length and maximum width. Mentum weakly produced apicomedially; depressed on each side of midline near base. Granules of frons disc slightly larger than those of pronotal disc, granules of clypeus and pronotal lateral depressions much finer and sparser. Pronotum with sides emarginate in front of and straight behind angulation at midlength.

Elytral intervals: 2nd with three slightly raised sections, middle section as long as areas separating sections; 4th with unilinear row of granules, interrupted in two or three short sections; 6th unilinear row of granules slightly raised except in front of midlength; odd numbered intervals each with unilinear row of granules.

Metasternum with elongate oval depression. Male clypeus anterior angles produced and setose. Female last sternite apicomedially strongly emarginate, subapical depression not rimmed posteriorly; last tergite weakly bilobate, each lobe bearing a group of strong short spines.

Aedeagus length 0.60–0.66 mm; mainpiece markedly sinuate, ridged process angulate, large; gonopore process moderately angulate, bearing accessory lobe at angulation; gonopore process and membranous process subequal in length, margin between them curved; membranous process widened at tip (Fig. 32).

Etymology. Named in honor of the late J. Balfour­Browne.

Distribution. Rather widely but sparsely distributed in the Cape, Natal and Transvaal Provinces (Fig. 81).

Notes. This species has one of the largest distribution patterns and also shows variation in aedeagal form. The shape of the distal portion of the aedeagus in the holotype from the Cape and in specimens from Soutpansberg in northern Transvaal are rather distinct, but intermediates have been seen. All aedeagal variants are similar in having an accessory lobe on the gonopore process (Figs. 32, 33) .