Copelatus latipes Sharp, 1882

Hájek, Jiří & Sheth, Sayali D., 2024, A review of the Oriental Copelatus latipes complex, with the description of two new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae), Zootaxa 5481 (1), pp. 119-130 : 128

Copelatus latipes Sharp, 1882

( Figs 6 , 17–18 )

Copelatus latipes Sharp, 1882: 580 ; Régimbart 1899: 296; Vazirani 1970: 307.

Type locality. “Malacca” [Malaysia, Malacca State] .

Type material. Lectotype ♂ (designated by Vazirani 1970: 307; BMNH), labelled: “Type [p, round label with red frame] // Malacca / 691 [hw] // Sharp Coll. / 1905-313. [p] // Type 691 / Copelatus / latipes n.sp. / Malacca [hw]”.

Additional material examined. CAMBODIA: 1 ♀, Siem Reap, light trap, 1.–11.xi.2002, P. Kočárek leg. ( NMPC) . LAOS: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Khammouane Province, Nakai env., 17°43’N 105°09’E, 500–600 m, 22.v.–8.vi.2001, E. Jendek & O. Šauša leg. ( NMPC) . INDONESIA: 1 ♂, E Kalimantan, PT Silva Rimba Lestari [area], camp “ Limbang ”, 00°07.4’N 116°18.1’E, 60 m, 3.–4.+ 6.xii.2011, J. Hájek, J. Schneider & P. Votruba leg. ( NMPC) . MALAYSIA: 12 ♂, 12 ♀, Pahang, 50 km NE Kuala Rompin, Endau Rompin NP, G. Keriung ( Kg. Tebu Hitnam ), 400 m, 9.–30.iv.2008, Z. Linek leg. ( NMPC) .

Diagnosis. TL: 5.1–6.0 mm. Head black, clypeus paler, reddish; pronotum black, laterally brownish, pale colouration extending anteriorly; elytra black with reddish apex and sides laterally from elytral striae, and indistinct reddish pattern consisting of: two basal spots between striae 2–3 and 4–6, and longitudinal spot in middle third of elytra between striae 4–5. Pronotum with coarse punctures laterally. Each elytron with six discal striae and one submarginal stria: stria 1 largely absent, present only in apical fifth of elytral length; striae 2, 3 and 5 ending subapically; stria 6 shortest, ending at apical fifth; submarginal stria long, beginning at elytral mid-length and ending subapically at level of striae 2, 3 and 5 ( Fig. 6 ). Male longer spur on metatibia weakly sinuate in apical third. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view ( Fig. 17 ) broad and parallel-sided in basal 2/3; apical third sickle-shaped, almost regularly curved in middle, apex bifid; in 2/3 of its length with two distinct ‘teeth’ on ventral side—broad acute proximal one, and narrower, incised, apically obtuse distal one. Parameres with distinct lobe on inner margin ( Fig. 18 ). Females identical to males in habitus, punctation of elytra slightly coarser, weakly impressed short striolae present in middle part of elytra laterally from stria 3.

Collecting circumstances. The single specimen from Kalimantan was collected in a shallow pool in open oligotrophic wetland on sandy ground, surrounded with shrubs.

Distribution. The species was so far known only from Peninsular Malaysia. Here we present new records from central Laos, Cambodia and Indonesian part of Borneo Island, documenting that C. latipes is relatively widespread in Southeast Asia ( Fig. 19 ). Régimbart (1899) and Zimmermann (1919) mentioned also India, which was later doubted by Vazirani (1970).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Map of distribution of Copelatus latipes species complex.

FIGURES 3–6. Habitus of Copelatus latipes species complex. 3. C. brivioi (♂; West Bengal, India); 4. C. kopetzi sp. nov. (holotype ♂; Nepal); 5. C. lanxangensis sp. nov. (holotype ♂; Laos); 6. C. latipes (♂; Pahang, Malaysia). Scale bar 2 mm.

FIGURES 7–18. Male genitalia of Copelatus latipes species complex. 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17. median lobe in lateral (a) and ventro-lateral (b) view; 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18. paramere. 7–8. C. bezdeki (holotype; Maharashtra, India); 9–10. C. schereri (Sri Lanka); 11–12. C. brivioi (paratype; Bangladesh); 13–14. C. kopetzi sp. nov. (holotype; Nepal); 15–16. C. lanxangensis sp. nov. (holotype; Laos); 17–18. C. latipes (Pahang, Malaysia). Scale bar 0.5 mm.