Oocyclus miza

Short, Andrew Edward Z., Greene, Luke & Garcia, Mauricio, 2013, New species and new records of the hygropetric water beetle genus Oocyclus Sharp from South America (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), Zootaxa 3741 (3), pp. 349-358 : 355-356

Oocyclus miza SHort, Greene & García sp. n.

Fig. 1 C, 2C.

Type material. Holotype (male): “ VENEZUELA: Bolivar State/ 4°31’19.1”N, 61°31’34.0”W, 860 m / Gran Sabana, E. Pauji, Salto/ Catedral; rock pools & seeps/ on trail; leg. Short & Tellez/ 15.vii.2010; VZ10-0715-03A”, “[barcode]/ SEMC0910856/ KUNHM-ENT” ( MIZA ). Paratypes (7): VENEZUELA: Bolivar State: Same data as holotype (6 exs.: MALUZ , MIZA , SEMC); Suorape, 80 km N. Santa Elena, 17.ix.1999, leg. J. Wewalka (1 ex., NMW).

Diagnosis. Medium to large-sized species ( Fig. 1 C). Posterolateral corners of pronotum broadly rounded. Procoxae set with a few spine-like setae. Elytra with rows of systematic punctures, which bear short setae. Elytral suture not raised in posterior half. Elytral margins not explanate, and without a dense fringe of yellow setae.

Among Venezuelan species, the only other taxon to possess a pale spot on the posterior region of the elytra is O. sapphirus , which is restricted to the Coastal Range and also has numerous bright blue maculae, which O. miza lacks. It can easily be distinguished from the similar O. trio (known from neighboring Guyana and Suriname) by the pale abdominal ventrites (dark brown in O. trio ).

Description. Size and form. Body length = 4.7–4.9 mm. Body broadly oval, slightly convex ( Fig. 1 C). Color. Dorsum of head, pronotum, and elytra dark brown to black, with a faint green sheen. Pronotal margins broadly pale along anterior half to three-fifths. Elytra with a row of conspicuous rounded black (without iridescent sheen) spots along suture. Each elytron with a small circular pale spot posteriorly. Maxillary and labial palps yellow; ventral face of head dark brown to black. Lateral margins of prosternum and epipleura dark brown, legs dark brown to nearly black. Abdominal ventrites pale yellow to light brown. Head. Ground punctation on clypeus and frons moderately fine, distance between punctures 1.5–2.0× the width of one puncture. Systematic punctures on labrum consisting of a widely spaced row bearing short setae. Clypeus with a few very indistinct systematic punctures along anterolateral margins, subequal to slightly larger than surrounding punctation. Frons with irregular row of systematic punctures with short setae mesad of each eye. Maxillary palps subequal in length to the width of labrum; segment 3 slightly longer than 2 in length, apical segment longer than penultimate. Labial palps about three-quarter as long as width of mentum. Mentum nearly smooth, with scattered punctures; subquadrate, anterior margin slightly convex and depressed. Thorax. Ground punctation on pronotum and elytra evenly distributed and moderately fine. Pronotal and elytral surface flat and even, without elevations or grooves. Pronotal systematic punctures similar in size to and blending with surrounding ground punctures and each bearing a short fine setae. Posterolateral corners of pronotum broadly rounded. Sutural punctation on elytra absent or unmodified from ground punctation; sutural interval not raised. Systematic punctures on elytra present and moderately distinct which bear fine, short setae. Margins of elytra set with a few sparse setae, but not a dense fringe. Prosternum with a clearly defined median carina; slightly elevated anteromedially, the elevation set with 2 thickened spine-like setae. Elevated process of mesoventrite narrow and elongate, more than two times as long as wide; with 7 coarse spinelike setae. Metaventrite with narrow oval glabrous area posteromedially, ca. twice as long as wide, length of glabrous area ca. half the length of metaventrite. Procoxae with fine short pubescence and set with coarse, short spine-like setae. Abdomen. Ventrites with rather dense long setae of varying lengths; each ventrite with scattered very long erect setae, distinctly longer than the longest setae on the metaventrite. Aedeagus as in Fig. 3 C.

Etymology. Named in recognition of the Museo del Instituto de Zoologia Agrícola of the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Maracay, abbreviated as MIZA , the largest insect collection in the country and the primary partner in the Aquatic Insects of Venezuela project. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Known only from two localities along Venezuela’s extreme southeastern border with Brazil.

Biology. The series of specimens that includes the holotype was collected on wet granite seepages that were partly covered with algae and other vegetation. They were only collected on horizontal or flat surfaces, and not on or around nearby waterfalls.

Remarks. The key to Venezuelan Oocyclus species (Short & García 2010) is modified as follows:

2(1) Pronotum and elytra usually with a marginal fringe of dense yellow setae (e.g. Short & García 2010: Fig. 4B–C) (except O.

maculatus). Elytra without a white posterior spot (e.g. Fig. 1 A, B)............................................... 3 - Pronotum and elytra without a marginal fringe of dense yellow setae. Elytra with a distinct white spot posteriorly (e.g. Fig. 1 C)

................................................................................................... 2’ 2’(2) Elytra without blue iridescent maculae. Guiana Shield region.......................................... .. miza sp. n. - Elytra with bright blue iridescent maculae. Coastal mountains.............................. sapphirus Short & García

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus photos of Oocyclus spp. A) O. brunneus sp. n. (dorsal and lateral), B) O. maluz sp. n. (dorsal), C) O. miza, sp. n. (dorsal). All specimens are paratypes.

FIGURE 3. Elytral detail of Oocyclus spp. A) O. maluz sp. n., B) O. andinus.