Oocyclus catarata, Short, A. E. Z. & Perkins, P. D., 2004

Short, A. E. Z. & Perkins, P. D., 2004, A revision of Oocyclus Sharp of Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), Zootaxa 783, pp. 1-45 : 8-9

Oocyclus catarata n. sp.

( Figs. 2–3 , 17 )

Type Locality. 15.4 km SE of Poasito, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica, 10° 7.314’N, 84° 9.812’ W, 960m elevation. ( Fig. 30 ).

Type Material. Holotype. Male. “ COSTA RICA: Alajuela Prov./ Rt. 126, 15.4 km SE of Poasito/ rock seep/ waterfall by road/ 16.I.2004; AS­04­056; 960m elv./ A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin”, “ HOLOTYPE / Oocyclus / catarata / Short & Perkins” ( INBIO). Paratypes (27). COSTA RICA: Alajuela Prov., 9.4 km S. Vara Blanca on rt. 126, 25.vi.2003, rock face seeps, A. E. Z. Short, leg. (6 AEZS, 12 INBIO); 7 km N. Bajos del Toro at Catarata del Tora, 1210m elev., 15.i.2004, on seeps, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin, leg., AS­04­052 (1 INBIO); same data as type — (1 AEZS, 2 INBIO); Cartago Prov., Tapantí N. P., 3.1 km after gate, 1600m elev., 8.i.2004, wall seep, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­013 (1 AEZS, 3 INBIO); Puntarenas Prov., Coto Brus, Pittier Station, 1660m elev., 15.i.2001, waterfall, R. González leg. (1 INBIO). Representative specimens deposited in BMNH, CUIC, ESMC, MCZ, NMW, and USNM.

Diagnosis. Characterized by the pale anterolateral corners of the pronotum, the mentum and stipes darker than the venter of the head, protibia with 7–9 spines on the dorsal face, and faint (sometimes absent) green iridescence on the dorsal surface. Similar to the distinctly smaller O. tapanti , but with fewer spines on the dorsal face of the tibiae.

Description: Size and Form. Length= 3.4–3.8mm. EL/EW=1.18. Elongate oval, moderately convex. Elytra longer than wide. Color. Dorsum black; head and pronotum with mottled green iridescence. Elytra slightly iridescent laterally, sometimes with a small, round, green iridescent patch on each elytron; some specimens are without any distinct iridescence. Maxillary palpi yellow, with tip of apical segment slightly darkened. Labial palpi yellow. Mentum and stipes dark brown, same color as venter of head. Anterolateral corners of pronotum with pale white to yellow spot. Sternum dark brown; legs moderately to extremely paler except for base of femora. Epipleura and pseudoepipleura yellow. Each ventrite dark brown with light brown patches laterally. Head. Punctation on frons, clypeus, and labrum moderately fine; clypeus slightly more densely punctuate anteriorly. Scape subequal in length to slightly longer than segments 2–5, segment 2 equal in length to segments 3–5, segments 3 and 4 equal in length; segments 6 and 7 subequal in length with apical segment slightly longer. Maxillary palpi ¾ length of width of labrum; segments 2 and 3 subequal with apical segment slightly longer. Labial palpi ¾ length of mentum; apical two segments subequal in length. Labrum usually with 2–4 faint systematic punctures centrally, sometimes bearing short setae. Clypeus with systematic punctures absent or indistinct from surrounding punctation. Frons with a faint, irregular row of systematic punctures mesad of each eye. Mentum quadrate, anterior margin slightly convex, with several punctures of mixes sizes, a few bearing long erect setae. Thorax. Dorsal punctation of pronotum and elytra moderately fine, uniform in size; distance between punctures 2– 3 x the width of one puncture. Posterolateral corners of pronotum rounded. Lateral margin of pronotum with row of short setiferous punctures; anterior and posterior series of systematic punctures, with recumbent setae; largely obscured by general punctation. Sutural punctation of elytra extremely fine, single dense irregular row, not bearing setae. Rows of punctures on elytra diffuse and almost obsolete, blending with surrounding punctation; only slightly larger then general punctation and sometimes bearing a short seta. Lateral margin of elytra with row of setiferous punctures, more dense in posterior half and appearing as a short yellow fringe. Prosternum carinate medially, with two long hairs anteromedially which are longer than narrowest point of prosternum. Mesosternal process about as long as wide; with aggregation of 6–8 punctures bearing long hairs at apex. Metasternum with elongate­oval glabrous area posteromedially, slightly longer than wide; slightly less than half the width of metasternum. Procoxae densely pubescent, without spines. Protibia with 7–9 spines of dorsal face. Protarsal segments 1–4 small, subequal in length; segment 5 as long as segments 1–4. Hind femora glabrous. Abdomen. Ventrites sparsely to moderately pubescent with setae mostly suberect; fifth exposed ventrite more densely punctuate and slightly rugose posteromedially. Setae on ventrites equal to or longer in length to longest setae around margin of metasternal glabrous area. Fifth exposed ventrite entire. Aedeagus ( Fig. 17 ) with ventral sides of parameres noticeably broader and almost touching basally than dorsal sides; tip weakly curved inward. Tip of median lobe bifid, nearly reaching the apex of the parameres. Basal piece moderately narrowed and rounded basally.

Variation: The iridescent green patches on the elytra are nearly or completely undetectable in some specimens, making the dorsum appear shiny black.

Distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Catarata , or waterfall in Spanish, refers to the common habitat of these beetles. It is used here as a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Oocyclus catarata n. sp. holotype. Dorsal and lateral habitus.

FIGURE 3. Oocyclus catarata n. sp. holotype. Ventral habitus.

FIGURES 16 – 19. Oocyclus aedeagi, dorsal views. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. – 16. O. brevicornis Sharp (specimen from Guatemala). – 17. O. catarata n. sp. (holotype). – 18. O. funestus n. sp. (holotype). – 19. O. grandis n. sp. (holotype).

FIGURES 30 – 31. Habitat of Oocyclus species. Photos by A. E. Z. Short. – 30. Type locality & habitat of O. catarata n. sp., Costa Rica: Alajuela Province, 15.4 km S. Poasito, 16 January 2004. – 31. Collecting locality for O. catarata n. sp., O. funestus n. sp., & O. maculatus Sharp, Costa Rica: Alajuela Province, Catarata del Toro, 15 January 2004.