Copelatus posticatus ( Fabricius, 1801 )

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 : 400-401

Copelatus posticatus ( Fabricius, 1801)

( Figs. 8 , 23 , 33 )

Dytiscus posticatus Fabricius, 1801: 268 .

Colymbetes elegans Babington, 1841: 11 . Synonymized by GEMMINGER & HAROLD (1868: 458).

Copelatus signatus Sharp, 1873: 53 . Synonymized by BRANDEN (1885: 85).

Copelatus posticatus: CHEVROLAT (1863: 200) , GUNDLACH (1891: 36), YOUNG (1963: 65), SPANGLER (1981:153), PECK et al. (1998: 158), NILSSON (2001: 62), PECK (2005: 44), LOZADA et al. (2004: 104), MEGNA & DELER- HERNÁNDEZ (2006: 154).

Type locality. Americae Insulis.

Material examined. CUBA: ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD: Nueva Gerona , 20.v.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 2 exs. ; 28.v.2006, Y.S. Megna leg., 9 exs. ; Punta del Este , 22.v.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 13 exs. ; Cerro Caudal , 22.v.2006, Y.S. Megna leg., 7 exs. ; 22.v.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 9 exs. PINAR DEL RÍO: Playa Antonio , 22.vii.2003, Y. S. Megna & O. Bello leg., 2 exs. ; Viñales , 20.xi.2007, Deler-Hernández leg., 3 exs. SANCTI SPÍRITUS: Codina, 01.vii.10, Y. S. Megna leg., 2 exs. ; Río Caburní , 29.vi.10, Y. S. Megna leg., 13 exs. HOLGUÍN: Cabonico , 08.ix.2004, Y. S. Megna leg., 15 exs. SANTIAGO DE CUBA: Loma Blanca , 27.vii.2005, Y. S. Megna leg., 5 exs. ; La Candelaria , 16.xi.2005, Y. S. Megna & A. Deler-Hernández leg., 17 exs. ; La Estrella , 01.xii.2005, Y. S. Megna leg., 18 exs. ; La Cubana , 02.xii.2005, Y. S. Megna leg., 2 exs. ; Dos Boca , 25.iv.2005, Y.T.Cambas leg., 6 exs. ; El Manguito , 16.iii.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 5 exs. ; Los Reynaldos , 17.iii.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 2 exs. ; Las Lagunitas , 18.iii.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 3 exs. ; San Rafael , 03.ix.2006, Y. S. Megna & A. Deler-Hernández leg., 42 exs. ; Los Morones , 18.vi.2008, Y. S. Megna leg., 1 ex. ; San Miguel de Parada , 26-VI-2008, A. Deler-Hernández leg., 1 ex. GUANTÁNAMO: Jiguaní , 5.ii.2004, Y. S. Megna leg., 75 exs. ; Pozo Prieto , 5.ii.2004, Y. S. Megna leg., 7 exs. ; Santa María , 6.ii.2004, Y. S. Megna leg., 3 exs., 3.x.2003, Y. S. Megna leg., 13 exs. El Yunque, 29.i.2010, A. Deler-Hernández & R. Correa leg., 25 exs., 30.i.2010, A. Deler- Hernández & R. Correa leg., 11 exs., 1.iii.2010, R. Correa leg., 3 exs. ; Cabacú , 16.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 12 exs., 21.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 22 exs. ; Guamá , 6.iii.2010, R. Correa leg., 19 exs. ; El Güirito , 06.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 3 exs. ; Jobo Dulce , 11.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 3 exs., 18.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 8 exs., 20.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 12 exs. ; La Alegría , 10.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 5 exs., 13.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 19 exs., 15.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 2 exs., 19.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 15 ; Nibujón , 03.ii.2010, R. Correa leg., 1 ex. ; El Manglerito , 04.ii.2010, A. Deler- Hernández & R. Correa leg., 3 exs.

Diagnosis. TL 6.0–7.0 mm; EW 3.0– 3.5 mm. Adults of C. posticatus can readily be distinguished by their large size, elytron with a posterolateral submarginal stria and 10 discal striae, with one, three, five, seven and nine almost complete ( Fig. 8 ), and median lobe in lateral aspect as in Figure 23a .

Copelatus posticatus , C. terminalis Sharp, 1882 , Copelatus integer Sharp, 1882 and C. distinctus Aubé, 1838 are externally similar ( YOUNG 1963). However, C. posticatus can be recognized by its large size and the shape of elytron. Examination of male genitalia, especially the shape of apical portion of the median lobe, is needed for a reliable identification of all species.

Ecology. Copelatus posticatus is generally found in the weedy margins of shallow ponds and ditches in Cuba ( SPANGLER 1981). However, this species was also found in the backwaters of small streams. C. posticatus appears to be a primary invader in newly formed water bodies and is predominantly associated with turbid waters and muddy bottom. It is the most frequently collected species of the genus in Cuba.

Distribution. Copelatus posticatus is one of the most common Copelatus species recorded from Cuba. It occurs widely in the Greater and Lesser Antilles, Central and South America ( SPANGLER 1981, PECK 2005). It is widely distributed in Cuba ( Fig. 33 ).

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. 32–33. Known distribution of Copelatus species in Cuba. 32 – C. montivagus Young, 1942; 33 – C. posticatus (Fabricius, 1801). See Appendix 1 for additional information on the localities reported in each map.