Hydrochus variabiloides, Perkins, 2019

Perkins, Philip D., 2019, Taxonomy of Venezuelan water beetles in the genus Hydrochus Leach, 1817, and an analysis of male genitalia morphology (Coleoptera: Hydrochidae), Zootaxa 4708 (1), pp. 1-59 : 32-34

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4708.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:09F24F0B-5090-4089-A525-8E5150C91EF7

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A587E7-A87C-FFC5-0CBA-11F5FB3F951B

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Hydrochus variabiloides
status

sp. nov.

Hydrochus variabiloides View in CoL new species

Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3 View FIGURE 3 , 19 View FIGURE 19

Type Material. Holotype (male): “Venezuela: Barinas State: 8° 28.477’ N, 70° 32.194’ W, 205m, E. Los Pasitos, marshy pond on hacienda, 14.vii.2009, leg. Short et al.; VZ09-0714-05A” ( MIZA) GoogleMaps . Paratypes (87): Venezuela: Anzoategui: VZ10-0204-01A (8 SEMC) . Apure: VZ09-0118- 02X (7 SEMC, MALUZ) . Barinas: Same data as holotype (10 SEMC, MIZA) . Bolivar: El Dorado (65 km S), 1 Nov. 1982, John L. Hellman (2 NMNH) . Cojedes: VZ12-0121-02A (1 SEMC) . Guarico: Calabozo (44 km S), Hato Masaguaral , 6 Mar 1986, gate lagoon, PJSpangler, colln#28 (38 NMNH) ; Corozo Pando , (8kmN), 17–18 June 1984, blacklight, F. W. Eiland & V. Linares (1 NMNH) ; Calabozo (44 km S), Hato Masaguaral , 6 Mar 1986, PJSpangler & SBeaujon, colln#31 (16 NMNH) ; San Fernando , II-12-1969, P. & P. Spangler (2 NMNH) ; 15 km S. Calabozo II-9-13-1969, collected in Lago de Los Patos , P. & P. Spangler (1 NMNH) . Miranda: Guatopo NP, El Lucero , 28km N Altagracia, 620m, 1–14.VI.1987, S&J Peck, UV light trap 87-17 (1 CMN) .

Differential Diagnosis. Among Venezuelan species, recognized by the combination of moderate size (ca. 2.38– 3.62 mm), the very low and relatively impunctate pronotal reliefs, and the distinctive male genitalia, with elongate parameres, the apices of which are laterally produced ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 ; described below). Externally, and male genitalically, quite similar to H. variabilis . This species has a generalized Hydrochus habitus; reliable determinations will require dissection of males.

Description. Habitus as illustrated ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 ). Size: holotype (length/width, mm): (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 3.11/1.06; head width 0.71; pronotum l/w 0.69/0.74; PA 0.66; PB 0.60; elytra 1.89 /1.06. Size range ca. 2.38–3.62 mm. Dorsum grey, with slight iridescence, elytra with few elongate black spots. Legs testaceous, with tibiofemoral joints darker. Punctation on elytra ca. 1– 2x that of pronotum. Elytra interstriae ca. 1–1.5x strial puncture diameter. Interstria 9 th more convex than others, not overhanging 10 th interstria. Usual area of callus on 5 th very slightly raised.

Pronotum slightly wider than long, widest at behind anterior margin, narrowed at base, sides arcuate or very weakly sinuate, smooth; depressions very shallow to moderately deep, more densely punctate than very low reliefs between depressions, latter almost entirely impunctate.

Spaces between elytral strial punctures ca. 0.5– 2x their diameter; apices rather sharply conjointly rounded in dorsal view, in lateral view outer margin with slight angulation.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 ) general characters: parameres extending well beyond distal end of aedeagus; paramere apices in dorsal and ventral views slightly widened and turning outward, medial margins of paramere tips parallel, in lateral view tips narrow, slightly sinuate, with tips slightly widened subapically, and distal ends sharply pointed; aedeagus almost parallel-sided; basal piece comparatively short and robust, rim of orifice strongly sclerotized and produced in very small process apicoventrally.

Dorsal surface: adtl subapical; pdmm sinuate and overlapping lateral margins of aedeagus; adbl large, shape as illustrated.

Ventral surface: avtl V-shaped, near basal 1/3 of aedeagus; pvmm more widely separated than pdmm. Etymology. Named in reference to the similarity of the male genitalia to that of H. variabilis .

MIZA

Museo del Instituto de Zoologia Agricola Francisco Fernandez Yepez

SEMC

University of Kansas - Biodiversity Institute

NMNH

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

CMN

Canadian Museum of Nature

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Hydrochidae

Genus

Hydrochus

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