Exocelina knoepfchen Shaverdo, Hendrich & Balke

Shaverdo, Helena V., Surbakti, Suriani, Hendrich, Lars & Balke, Michael, 2012, Introduction of the Exocelina ekari-group with descriptions of 22 new species from New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae), ZooKeys 250, pp. 1-76 : 22-23

16. Exocelina knoepfchen Shaverdo, Hendrich & Balke sp. n. Figs 7 A–E, 33

Type locality.

Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands Province, Kainantu, Yoginofi, 06°21.80'S, 145°45.46'E.

Type material.

Holotype: male "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Kainantu, Yoginofi, 1900m, 9.v.1994, 06.21.799S, 145.45.463E, Balke & Sagata (PNG 55)" (ZSM). Paratypes: 40 males, 23 females with the same label as the holotype (NARI, NMHW, ZSM), 1 male, 1 female "VI 79 PNG/EHProv. Umg. Kainantu Onerunka" (NHMW). 1 male "IV 79 PNG/EHProv. Umg. Kainantu Onerunka" (NHMW). 9 males, 5 females "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Onerunka, small creek, red soil/rock, 1700 m 21.v.1994, 06.02936S 145.46.874E, John & Balke (PNG 71)" (NHMW, ZSM), one male additionally with a green label "DNA M.Balke 1303", 1 male "X 79 PNG/EHProv. Um. Kainantu" (NHMW). 1 female "18 VI 79 PNG/EHProv. Umg. Ofafina Jababari Riv." (NHMW). 9 males, 2 females "Papua New Guinea: Aiyura, 1787m, 15.i.2003, 06.21.411S, 145.54.340E, K. Sagata, (WB5)" (ZSM). 3 males, 4 females "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Aiyura, 1670m, 5.iv.1994, 06.21.131S, 145.54.398E, Balke & Sagata (PNG 32)" (ZSM). 6 males, 5 females "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Aiyura, ditch in forest, 1670 m, 20.v.1994, 06.21.131S, 145.54.398E, John & Balke (PNG 69)" (NHMW, ZSM). 13 males, 11 females "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Aiyura creek, 1670 m, 20.v.1994, 06.21.131S, 145.54.398E, John & Balke (PNG 70)" (NHMW, ZSM). 1 male "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Bena-pass to Goroka valley, 1550m, 5.iv.1994, 06.14.567S, 145.29.643E, Balke & Sagata (PNG 33)" (ZSM). 2 males, 3 females "Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands, Hogu, 1 km E Mt. Barola, 1900m, 9.v.1994, 06.17.556S, 145.45.036E, Balke & Sagata (PNG 56)" (ZSM).

Diagnosis.

Beetle middle-sized, uniformly dark brown or head and pronotum slightly paler; pronotum with distinct lateral bead; male antennomere 3 evidently larger than other; male protarsomere 4 with very small (smaller than more laterally situated large seta), thin, slightly curved anterolateral hook; median lobe with very weak submedian constriction, apex of median lobe almost rounded in lateral view; paramere without notch on dorsal side, with relatively short, sparse, thin setae. The species is well recognizable by its larger size, the modified antennae of the males, and paramere distinctly longer than median lobe.

Description.

Size and shape: Beetle middle-sized (TL-H 4.5-4.8 mm, TL 4.95-5.3 mm, MW 2.35-2.55 mm), with oblong-oval habitus, broadest at elytral middle. Coloration: Dorsally uniformly dark brown or head and pronotum slightly paler, with paler (yellowish-red to reddish-brown) anterior margin of head, lateral sides of pronotum, and narrow bands along elytral suture; head appendages yellowish-red to reddish-brown, legs slightly darker (Fig. 33).

Surface sculpture: Head with dense punctation (spaces between punctures 1-3 times size of punctures), evidently finer and sparser anteriorly; diameter of punctures smaller than diameter of cells of microreticulation. Pronotum with finer, sparser, and more evenly distributed punctation than on head. Elytra with very sparse and fine punctation, almost invisible. Head, pronotum, and elytra with weakly impressed microreticulation, dorsal surface, thus, shiny. Head with microreticulation stronger. Metaventrite and metacoxa distinctly microreticulate, metacoxal plates with longitudinal strioles and transverse wrinkles. Abdominal sternites with distinct microreticulation, strioles, and fine sparse punctation, coarser and denser on two last abdominal sternites.

Structures: Pronotum with distinct lateral bead. Base of prosternum and neck of prosternal process with strong, sharp ridge, without anterolateral extensions. Blade of prosternal process lanceolate, narrow, convex, with distinct bead and few setae; neck and blade of prosternal process evenly jointed. Abdominal sternite 7 broadly rounded apically.

Male: Antennomere 3 strongly enlarged, evidently larger than other, antennomere 4 distinctly enlarged (Fig. 7A); antennomeres 3 and 4 rugose ventrally. Protarsomere 4 with very small (smaller than more laterally situated large seta), thin, slightly curved anterolateral hook. Protarsomere 5 ventrally with anterior row (double apically) of 19 short setae and posterior row of 6 short setae (Fig. 7B). Abdominal sternite 7 with 6-11 lateral striae on each side. Median lobe with very weak submedian constriction in ventral view, apex of median lobe almost rounded in lateral view (Figs 7C, D). Paramere distinctly longer than median lobe, without notch on dorsal side, with relatively short, sparse, thin setae (Fig. 7E).

Female: Antennae simple, abdominal sternite 7 without striae.

Distribution.

Papua New Guinea. This species is known from Eastern Highlands Province (Fig. 50).

Etymology.

The species is named for an old friend of M. Balke. The name is a noun in the nominative singular standing in apposition.