Copelatus cordovai, Megna & Epler, 2012

Megna, Yoandri S. & Epler, John H., 2012, A review of Copelatus from Cuba, with the description of two new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52 (2), pp. 383-410 : 391-392

Copelatus cordovai sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 , 21 , 27 , 34 )

Type locality. Cuba, Las Tunas Province, Amancio, Comunales, 20°49′59″N, 77°32′32″W, ca. 34 m a.s.l.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( CZCTR): ‘CUBA: Las Tunas: Comunales, 16.i.2009, Y.S. Megna leg. 20°49′59″N, 77°32′32″W, elevation ca. 34 m [printed] / Holotype, Copelatus cordovai sp. n., Megna det. 2012 [red, printed]’. PARATYPES (deposited in CZCTR if not stated otherwise): CUBA: LAS TUNAS: 4JJ 3♀♀, with same data as holotype ; 1 J 2 ♀♀, ‘CUBA: Las Tunas: Sábalo, 06.viii.2005, Y.S. Megna leg. 77°13′11″W 20°43′43″N, elevation ca. 5 m’; 1 J, ‘La Curva, 16.viii.2006, Y.S. Megna leg. 77°33′21″W 20°51′29″N, elevation ca. 33 m’; 2 ♀♀, ‘Comunales, 12.i.2009, Y.S. Megna leg. 77°32′32″W 20°49′59″N, elevation ca. 34 m’. ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD: 2 JJ, ‘CUBA: Isla de la Juventud: Nueva Gerona, 20.v.2006, Y.S. Megna leg. 82°49′24″W 21°53′00″N, elevation ca. 42 m’ . GRANMA: 1 J, ‘CUBA: Granma: Cauto Cristo, 12.vii.2004, L. Chávez leg. 76°28′56″W 20°33′36″N, elevation ca. 44 m’ ; 1J 2♀♀, ‘Cauto Cristo, 13.vii.2004, Y.S. Megna & L. Chávez leg. 76°28′56″W 20°33′36″N, elevation ca. 44 m’; 2 ♀♀, ‘Cauto Cristo, 03.viii.2004, L. Chávez leg. 76°28′54″W 20°33′33″N, elevation ca. 44 m’; 1 J, ‘Cauto Cristo, 24.vii.2004, Y.S. Megna & L. Chávez leg. 76°29′06″W 20°33′32″N, elevation ca. 44 m’; 1 J, 1 ♀ ( NMPC), ‘ Cauto Cristo, 10.viii.2004, L. Chávez leg. 76°28′54″W 20°33′33″N, elevation ca. 44 m’ ; 1 ♀, ‘ Cauto Cristo, 25.viii.2004, L. Chávez leg. 76°28′54″W 20°33′33″N, elevation ca. 44 m’. Each paratype is provided with its respective red paratype label .

Description. TL 4.0– 4.5 mm; EW 1.9–2.3 mm; see Table 1 for remaining body measurements.

Color. Dorsal surface yellow to testaceous. Elytra with broad basal diffuse band extended to lateral margins in some specimens ( Fig. 3 ); venter yellowish.

Sculpture and punctation. Elytron with a submarginal and 10 discal striae ( Fig. 3 ). First three abdominal ventrites with short curved strioles.

Structure. Prosternum rounded medially, with anterior margin sinuate; prosternal process short, oval, finely margined laterally, bluntly pointed apically, flattened apically and broadly contacting anteromedial metaventral process; rounded lobes of metacoxal processes covering base of trochanters. Male protibia with two ventrobasal emarginations; metatibial spurs acute apically; metatarsomeres 1 to 4 flattened ventrally; metatarsal claws equal.

Male genitalia. Median lobe with outside margin abruptly expanded in middle part ( Figs. 21a, b ); parameres broad, inner margin with short setae over apical half ( Fig.21c ).

Sexual dimorphism. Males with pro- and mesotarsomeres 1–3 widened, with sucker-like setae. Protibia with two ventrobasal emarginations. Female protibia without ventrobasal emargination.

Diagnosis. Adults of C. cordovai sp. nov. are recognized by the combination of the following characters: elytron with a posterolateral submarginal stria and 10 discal striae ( Fig. 3 ); male protibia with two ventrobasal emarginations; median lobe with abrupt widening in middle part ( Figs. 21a,b ); parameres with short setae on inner margin ( Fig. 21c ).

Copelatus cordovai sp. nov. can be confused with the Nearctic species C. glyphicus ( Say, 1823) due to the similar pattern of 10 discal striae, but can be separated from it by the thicker median lobe (the median lobe of C. glyphicus is slender and strongly curved to the side apically).

Etymology. The specific epithet cordovai is a noun in the genitive case which honors Yunier Córdova Cóbas (Barcelona, España) for his contribution and help to the senior author’s studies on aquatic coleopterans.

Ecology. Copelatus cordovai sp. nov. was collected in lentic (permanent and temporary) habitats with abundant aquatic vegetation, muddy bottom and high water temperatures, from lowlands up to 50 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 34 )

Distribution. In Cuba, Copelatus cordovai sp. nov. is recorded from both western (Isla de la Juventud) and eastern parts of the country (Las Tunas and Granma provinces) ( Fig. 27 ).

Figures

Figs.1–8. Habitus and color patterns of Copelatus species from Cuba.1 – C.barbouri Young, 1942; 2 – C. caelatipennis angustatus Chevrolat, 1863; 3 – C. cordovai sp. nov.; 4 – C. cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908; 5 – Copelatus darlingtoni Young, 1942; 6 – C. insolitus Chevrolat, 1863; 7 – C. montivagus Young, 1942; 8 – C. posticatus (Fabricius, 1801).

Figs. 20–23. Male genitalia of Cuban species of Copelatus. 20 – C. caelatipennis angustatus author, year; 21 – C. cordovai sp. nov.; 22 – C. cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908; 23 – C. posticatus (Fabricius, 1801). Parts of male genitalia: a – median lobe of aedeagus in left lateral view, b – left paramere in lateral view.

Figs. 24–27. Known distribution of Copelatus species in Cuba. 24 – C. barbouri Young, 1942; 25 – C. caelatipennis angustatus Chevrolat, 1863; 26 – C. caelatipennis princeps Young, 1963; 27 – C. cordovai sp. nov. See Appendix 1 for additional information on the localities reported in each map.

Fig. 34.Yoandri S. Megna colleting Copelatus cordovai sp. nov. at the type locality in Amancio (Cuba, Las Tunas). Photo B. Reyes-Tur.