Hydroporus kryshtali Bilyashiwski, 1993

Fery, Hans, 2009, New species of the Hydroporus longulus-group from Iran, Armenia and Turkey with a synopsis of the group (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 529-558 : 549-550

Hydroporus kryshtali Bilyashiwski, 1993

Hydroporus kryshtali Bilyashiwski, 1993: 15 (original description).

Type locality. Ukraine, Crimea, Kara-Dagh massif, ca. 44.9N 34.7E {24}.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, ‘Ukrainian SSR, Crimean oblast, mountain district Kara-Dagh, 8.VII 1997, leg.A.A. Petrenko’ {24}, ‘derelict well, in humid silty soil’ [both label texts in Cyrillic; translation by M. Bilyashiwski], ‘ Holotypus [printed], Hydroporus kryshtali J, det. Bilyashiwskiy [hw Bilyashiwski]’ [red] ( ZMUK). The holotype lacks the last seven segments of the right antenna and the last nine of the left one.

Diagnosis. Considering that the existence of this species or at least its description will be unknown to many colleagues, I provide here a translation of the original description (BILYA- SHIWSKI 1993: 15):

‘Material: Holotype J, Crimea, Kara-Dagh massif, derelict well (in humid clayey silt/soil), stored in the Zoological Museum of the Kiev University, Petrenkow leg. Male: Body black, legs, antennae, and mouth parts yellowish red, total length 3.6–3.7 mm, maximum width of elytra 1.8 mm. The whole dorsal surface shagreened, microsculpture formed by small and evenly punctured isodiametrical cells of equal size (the punctation is more sparse on frons). Segments of antennae thickened, almost like a string of pearls [the antennae seem to have been damaged only after the description]. Pronotum with broad beading, in particular anteriorly; posterolaterally near the base with weak impressions. Elytra with three puncture lines which are more marked anteriorly. The punctures larger than those on head and pronotum. Prosternal process lanceolate, provided with a transversal tubercle between procoxae, which is formed by a sloping edge of the process anteriorly. The sloping part with transversal carinae. The process is compressed in the anterior third, and its posterior part obtuse. The suture of posterior episterna provided with coarse punctures. Sides of metasternum and metacoxae as well as the first three abdominal sternites coarsely punctured, the punctation almost absent in the middle of the sternites. Fourth and fifth sternite provided with weak punctures, particularly at the sides and near the sutures. The microreticulation consists of a net of small transversal cells. Last visible abdominal sternite shagreened, totally covered by small scattered punctures. Posterior margin of the metacoxal processes prolonged medially. Anterior claws of same length, sickle-shaped; inner claw much broader than the external one, inner side sloping. Shape of the aedeagus closely related to that of Hydroporus gueorguievi Wewalka , nevertheless, in apical third and tip much narrower. Females unknown. Except the male genitalia, this species can be distinguished from related species by the strongly thickened segments of the antennae, the shape of the prosternal process and some less important details of the external morphology.’

Thanks to A. V. Putchkov (Kiev, Ukraine), I had the opportunity to study the holotype in 1996. The original description is quite appropriate, but the following remarks shall be added: The body shape is more parallel and elongate than that of H. jacobsoni and H. shaverdoae sp. nov. The sides of the pronotum have a dark brownish rim, the anterior and posterior margins are brownish translucent; the elytra are only indistinctly lighter next to the suture than elsewhere. The protarsal claws are very short, of equal length, strongly curved at base and otherwise straight.

JJ. Median lobe ( Fig. 8 ) in ventral view more tapering to tip and more shortly rounded than in H. shaverdoae sp. nov. ( Fig. 7 ). Paramere as in Fig. 15 . Pro- and mesotarsi not studied for sucker cups.

♀♀. So far unknown.

Measurements. TL: 3.6 mm, MW: 1.7 mm (not 1.8 mm as given in the original description), TL/MW: 2.12.

Distribution. So far known only from the type locality in the Kara-Dagh massif in Crimea, Ukraine ( Fig. 26 ). I have studied several H. longulus -group specimens from Crimea – all males proved to be H. dobrogeanus .

Etymology. Colleague Bilyashiwski kindly communicated that the species was named in honour of O.P. Kryshtal, a famous Ukrainian entomologist (noun in apposition in the genitive case).

Figures

Figs. 5–8. Median lobe of aedeagus in ventral and lateral view. 5 – Hydroporus jacobsoni Zaitzev, 1927; 6 – H. hajeki sp. nov.; 7 – H. shaverdoae sp. nov.; 8 – H. kryshtali Bilyashiwski, 1993.

Figs. 9–15. Left paramere. 9 – Hydroporus jelineki sp. nov. 10 – H. libanus Régimbart, 1901; 11 – H. holzschuhi sp. nov.; 12 – H. jacobsoni Zaitzev, 1927; 13 – H. hajeki sp. nov.; 14 – H. shaverdoae sp. nov.; 15 – H. kryshtali Bilyashiwski, 1993.

Fig. 26. Distribution of Hydroporus jelineki sp. nov. (1–6), H. hajeki sp. nov. (7), H. holzschuhi sp. nov. (8–9), H. shaverdoae sp.nov.(10–15), H. jacobsoni Zaitzev, 1927 (16–23), H.kryshtali Bilyashiwski, 1993 (24), H. libanus Régimbart, 1901 (25–26).