Hydraena propria, Perkins, Philip D., 2011

Perkins, Philip D., 2011, New records and description of fifty-four new species of aquatic beetles in the genus Hydraena Kugelann from South America (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 3074, pp. 1-198 : 67-68

Hydraena propria , new species

Figs. 143 (habitus), 145 (aedeagus), 202 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Ecuador: Zamora-Chinchipe, Paquisha (20km SE), elev. 1010 m, 3° 59' S, 78° 35' W, 21 ix 1990, P. J. Spangler & K. Bastidas. Deposited in the USNM. Paratypes: Same data as holotype (2 USNM).

Differential Diagnosis. A distinctive species, having a subcordiform pronotum, rather convex elytra, and random elytral punctures. The pronotum has a small fascia (color band ratios ca. 6/10/4) that is bordered by brown areas and therefore not as distinctive as in species with testaceous borders. The habitus is somewhat similar to that of H. clystera ( Figs. 91 , 143 ), and the two species are approximately the same size; however, H. propria has a more distinctly cordiform pronotum, random elytral punctures, and different color (among many other differences). The aedeagi of the two species do not indicate a close relationship ( Figs. 94, 145).

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.25/0.51; head 0.19/0.31; pronotum 0.33/0.42, PA 0.37, PB 0.33; elytra 0.74/0.51. Dorsum of head with frons dark brown to piceous, clypeus brown; pronotum brown in front of and behind dark brown to piceous fascia, ratios of color bands, as measured in midline, ca. 6/10/4; elytra dark brown; legs brown; maxillary palpi testaceous, tip not darker.

Eyes small, rather coarsely faceted. Frons punctures ca. 0.5–1xef, slightly larger and denser near eyes than medially; interstices shining, 0.5–1xpd laterally, 2–4xpd medially. Clypeus microreticulate laterally, very finely sparsely punctulate medially. Mentum and postmentum very sparsely very finely punctulate, shining. Genae raised, shining, without posterior ridge.

Pronotum subcordiform, moderately arcuate laterally; anterior margin straight behind eyes, emarginate behind frons, scintilla absent; punctures on disc ca. 1xpd those of frons, interstices shining, 2–5xpd, punctures larger and slightly denser at anterior and posterior; PF1 and PF2 absent; PF3 shallow; PF4 very shallow.

Elytra moderately convex, weakly arcuate laterally; summit of posterior declivity slightly before midlength; lateral explanate margins narrow; punctures random, on basal 1/3 punctures ca. 1xpd largest pronotal punctures, punctures becoming finer and more widely spaced toward posterior. Intervals not raised, shining, on basal 1/3 ca. 2–4xpd. Apices in dorsal aspect rather sharply conjointly rounded, in posterior aspect margins forming very shallow angle with one another.

Ratios of P2 width and plaque shape (P2/w/l/s) ca. 4/1/4/5. P1 slightly wider than laminate; median carina sinuate in profile. P2 wide, l/w ca. 1/1, sides slightly converging toward blunt apex, apex raised to same level as mesoventral intercoxal process. Plaques narrow, slightly arcuate, converging toward one another anteriorly, weakly raised, located at sides of deep median depression. Metaventrite with midlongitudinal ridge between mesoventral intercoxal process and median depression. Metaventrite also with very short longitudinal ridge on each side, extended posteriorly from margin of each mesocoxal cavity. AIS width at straight posterior margin ca. 1.5x P2. Profemur with small, sharply pointed tubercle next to trochanter. Protibia slightly widened on medial margin at about midlength, and here bearing a long spine. Meso- and metatibia slender, straight. Male abdominal apex symmetrical. Female (microslide mount, n=1): last tergite subrectangular, without apicomedian notch, setae not hooked; gonocoxite not midlongitudinally divided, apical margin sharply rounded, no transverse ridge evident at border of microreticulation; spermatheca type C1, but "extra" sclerite where duct joins bursa copulatrix.

Etymology. "Alone, particular"; named in reference to the unusual external and aedeagal morphology.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality ( Fig. 202).

Figures

FIGURE 91. Hydraena clystera, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.

FIGURE 143. Hydraena propria, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.