Peschetius toxophorus Guignot, 1942

Sheth, Sayali D., Ghate, Hemant V., Dahanukar, Neelesh & Hajek, Jiri, 2021, Integrative taxonomic review of the genus Peschetius (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae) from India with description of two new species, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79, pp. 535-553 : 535

3.3.4. Peschetius toxophorus Guignot, 1942

Figs 5D , 6D , 8D

Peschetius toxophorus Guignot, 1942: 20 (original description; Mysore: Shimoga); Vazirani 1967: 108 (faunistics); 1970a: 113 (description); 1972: 295 (faunistics, taxonomic notes); 1977a: 48 (catalogue); 1977b: 44 (faunistics); 1977c: 126 (faunistics, taxonomic notes); Brancucci 1979: 198 (discussion); Vazirani 1981: 261 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 181 (catalogue); Biström and Nilsson 2003: 132 (description); Ghosh and Nilsson 2012: 33 (catalogue); Jaiswal et al. 2020: 114 (diagnosis); Nilsson and Hájek 2021: 127 (catalogue);

Peschetius andrewesi Balfour-Browne 1946: 104 (original description; India: Nilgiri Hills); synonymy by Guignot 1949: 16.

Specimens examined.

Holotype: P. toxophorus : INDIA • ♀; Mysore [Karnataka], Shimoga [13°55′54″N, 75°34′4″E]; [ca 590 m. a.s.l.]; May 1936; MNHN. P. andrewesi : INDIA • ♂; Tamil Nadu; H.L. Andrewes leg.; BMNH • Paratypes: P. andrewesi : INDIA • 2 spec., Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri Hills; H.L. Andrewes leg.; BMNH • Other material: INDIA - Maharashtra • 3 spec.; Satara ; 17°40′56″N, 73°58′16″E; ca 750 m. a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2013; S. D. Sheth leg.; HVGC • 4 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; UASB • 1 spec.; Medha ; 17°50′16″N, 73°49′22″E; ca 1250 m .a.s.l.; 30 Aug. 2013; S. D. Sheth leg.; ZSIP • 2 spec.; 40 km W Pune, Mulshi env., [18°30′5″N, 73°30′50″E]; [ca 650 m. a.s.l.]; 7 Oct.-11 Oct. 2005; J. Bezděk leg.; NMPC • 7 spec.; 4 km S Lonavala, Bushi [Bhushi] Dam env.; [18°42′8″N, 73°25′3″E]; 500 m. a.s.l.; 12 Oct.-15 Oct. 2005; J. Bezděk leg.; NMPC. - Karnataka • 2 spec., Chikkangalur ; [13°19′1″N, 75°46′21″E] 1900 [ca 1050 m.a.s.l.]; Tabourel leg.; HFCB • 24 spec.; Chikmugalur ; 12 Jun. 2004; ZSMG . - Madhya Pradesh • 1 spec., Hoshangabad Distr., Satpura Range, N part of Satpura NP, head of River Denwa Reservoir , Lagdha Beta , Sona Bhadra (stream); 22°31′38″N 78°11′18″E; 350 m. a.s.l.; 29 Feb. 2008; M. Jäch, S. and P. Sharma leg.; NHMW. - Tamil Nadu • 1 spec., Coimbatore ; [11°1′1″N, 76°57′21″E]; 1400 ft [ca 450 m. a.s.l.]; Dec.1966; P.S. Nathan leg.; ZSMG • 3 spec., Nilgiri Hills, 15 km SE Kotagiri, Kunchappanai ; 11°22′N 76°56′E [11°22′0″N, 76°55′60″E], 900 [ca 1000] m.a.s.l.; 13 May-20 May 1994; Z. Kejval leg.; NMPC • 124 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; 7 May-22 May 2000; D. Hauck leg.; JSCL, NMPC • 3 spec.; Vellore ; [12°55′9″N, 79°7′56″E]; [ca 200 m. a.s.l.]; 10 Jun. 2004; Verner leg.; ZSMG .

Redescription.

Total length 2.70-3.00 mm and maximum width 1.65-1.85 mm (N = 25). See also Supplementary file 4.

Head black except testaceous occipital part posterior to eyes (Fig. 5D ). Pronotum testaceous with bilobed black band near posterior margin extending to posterior corners. Elytron blackish with typical testaceous markings consisting of two subbasal spots, premedian and postmedian transverse bands and preapical spot. Punctation of head dense, distance between punctures smaller than puncture diameter. Punctures fine on clypeus, become progressively larger posteriorly on frons, occipital part posterior to eyes impunctate. Setiferous punctures present in shallow but distinct fronto-clypeal depressions and as a row along inner margin of eyes. Reticulation consisting of polygonal meshes, impunctate occipital part coarsely microreticulate. Pronotal disc with posterior depression less prominent but distinguishable. Punctation dense, distances between punctures smaller than puncture diameter. Punctures setiferous, finer on disc, becoming coarser on margin and sides. Surface between punctures microreticulate with well impressed, polygonal meshes. Elytra broadest at midlength, keels prominent. Punctation dense, distance between punctures smaller than puncture diameter. Punctures finer along suture, costae and lateral margin, coarser on disc. Surface between punctures microreticulate, reticulation consisting of polygonal meshes. Prosternal process elongate, narrowed at apex, apically keeled, tuberculate in males. Abdomen with five ventrites (V1 to V5); V1 with 7-9 macropunctures arranged in one row while V2 with 4-7 macropunctures on each side, arranged in two rows randomly; punctation on V2 to V5 consisting of setiferous punctures; lateral depression on V3 to V5 prominent; reticulation of V2 to V5 consists of polygonal meshes. Ventral surface with large setiferous punctures. Median lobe strongly curved, tapering apically, apex pointed; with a basal process (Fig. 6Da). Parameres with long setae in apical 3/5th, apex rounded, inner margin strongly bisinuate (Fig. 6Db). Spermatheca as in (Fig. 8D )-spermathecal spine straight, short and broad.

Collection circumstances.

The species was found inhabiting pools, ponds, tanks, reservoirs and slow flowing streams. In northern Maharashtra, the species was sometimes found sympatrically with P. nilssoni sp. nov.

Distribution.

India; we have verified records from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The records from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Orissa and Rajasthan mentioned by Ghosh and Nilsson (2012) need to be revised with respect to P. nilssoni sp. nov.

Figures

Figure 5. Dorsal habitus of Indian Peschetius. A P. bistroemi sp. nov. (Holotype) B P. nilssoni sp. nov. (Paratype- a longitudinal spot, b transverse spot; Amboli, Maharashtra) C P. quadricostatus (Amboli, Maharashtra) D P. toxophorus (a uninterrupted transverse band; Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu). (Body length: A 3.04 mm, B 3.15 mm, C 3.40 mm, D 3.35 mm).

Figure 6. Male genitalia of Indian Peschetius (a. median lobe; b. paramere; bx. tapering of paramere). A P. bistroemi sp. nov. (holotype) B P. nilssoni sp. nov. (holotype) C P. quadricostatus (Jejuri, Maharashtra) D P. toxophorus (Satara, Maharashtra). Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B, C, D).

Figure 8. Female spermatheca of Indian Peschetius. A P. bistroemi sp. nov. (paratype; Mukkada, Kerala) B P. nilssoni sp. nov. (a spermathecal spine; paratype; Ane, Maharashtra) C P. quadricostatus (Ane, Maharashtra) D P. toxophorus (a spermathecal spine; Satara, Maharashtra). Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B, C, D).