Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908

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 : 392-393

Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908

( Figs. 4 , 22 , 28 )

Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908: 18 .

Copelatus cubaensis: YOUNG (1963: 60) , SPANGLER (1981: 167), EPLER (1996: 3.33, 2010: 5.45), LARSON et al. (2000: 47), NILSSON (2001: 68), PECK (2005: 44).

Type locality. Cuba, Cienfuegos Province, Cayamas.

Material examined: CUBA: ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD: Nueva Gerona , 28.v.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 1 ex. Las Tunas. Sábalo, 06.viii.2005, Y. S. Megna leg., 1 ex. ; Comunales , 12.i.2009, Y. S. Megna leg., 2 exs. SANTIAGO DE CUBA: San Rafael , 03.ix.2006, Y.S. Megna & Deler-Hernández leg., 17 exs.

Diagnosis. TL 4.5–5.4 mm; EW 2.3–2.7 mm; see Table 1 for other body measurements.Adults of this species are recognized by the following combination of characters: elytron with one posterolateral submarginal stria and six discal striae ( Fig. 4 ); elytra lighter than pronotum; genitalia with broad parameres and median lobe with broad lobate apex ( Fig. 22 ).

Copelatus cubaensis is very similar to C. blatchleyi , but differs from it by the characters given in the identification key, the slightly different coloration of elytra, which are usually lighter than pronotum, the male genitalia and the generally larger size (TL 4.5-5.4 mm). The two species have similar genitalia with broad parameres, but the median lobe of C. cubaensis is more truncate apically ( Fig. 22a ) while that of C. blatchleyi is more rounded (see YOUNG 1963: Fig. 7 ). Copelatus blatchleyi has the elytra usually darker than the pronotum and TL 4.5–4.8 mm ( EPLER 2010).

Ecology. YOUNG (1963) reported that this species was collected using a blacklight trap in Florida. In Cuba, the species was collected in lentic (permanent and temporary) habitats located in lowlands, where it was predominantly associated with turbid waters with muddy bottom.

Distribution. In the USA known from southern Florida ( EPLER 1996, 2010; LARSON et al. 2000). Until now, all Cuban records of C. cubaensis were from western Cuba only ( SCHAEFFER 1908, YOUNG 1963, PECK 2005), but the distribution range of the species is now extended to the Isla de la Juventud and the eastern parts of the country ( Fig. 28 ).

Remarks. This species is similar to C. blatchleyi Young, 1953 , which is not recorded from Cuba. However, the presence of C. blatchleyi in extreme southern Florida and the Bahamas ( YOUNG 1953a, EPLER 2010) indicates that it may occur in Cuba.

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. 28–31. Known distribution of Copelatus species in Cuba. 28 – C. cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908; 29 – C. danyi sp. nov.; 30 – C. darlingtoni Young, 1942; 31 – C. insolitus Chevrolat, 1863. See Appendix 1 for additional information on the localities reported in each map.