Hydrochus variolatus LeConte 1852: 211
Hydrochus otvosi Makhan 1993: 67
Taxonomy of Central American water beetles in the genus Hydrochus Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera: Hydrochidae)
Perkins, Philip D.
Zootaxa
2021
2021-05-21
4974
3
459
503
3N6CY
LeConte
LeConte. The
1852
[151,528,582,609]
Insecta
Hydrochidae
Hydrochus
Animalia
Coleoptera
22
481
Arthropoda
species
variolatus
Figs. 2, 17, 18, 26, 34
Hydrochus variolatus LeConte 1852: 211. Hydrochus otvosi Makhan 1993: 67. New Synonymy.
Type material. There is only one specimenof Hydrochus variolatusLeConte, a male, in the LeConte collection at the MCZ. It is therefore the holotype, by monotypy. Imagesof the habitus, male genitalia, and labels of this specimen given herein ( Figs. 18, 26). Originallydescribed from San Diego, California, the following new records are from Mexico. Material examined (19): Mexico: Baja California, 17 mi.S. of Ensenada, 14.vi.1938, leg. Michelbacher& Ross(9 CAS); Norte, Arr. Santo Domingo, 5.7 mi. E. Hamilton Ranch, 23.iv.1963, leg. H. B. Leech, P.H. Arnaud, Jr.(4 CAS); Norte, Sa. Juarez, 1 mi. S. Laguna Hanson, elev. 5000 ft, 19.vii.1970, leg. P. D. Perkins(1 MCZ); San Jose del Castillo, 15.vi.1961, leg. E. L. Sleeper- 1 male(1 TAMU); Campeche, Escarcega, 18.v.1962, leg. F. IslasS. (1 NMNH); Jalisco, Chamela, Rio Chamela, 4.vi.1989, leg. G. Ortega(1 UNAM); Veracruz, 9 mi. W. Poza Rica, 27.viii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler(1 NMNH); Rio Metlaonr. El Fortin, 17.xii.1948, leg. H. B. Leech(1 CAS).
Differential diagnosis.Among Central American species, recognized by the combination of moderate size (ca. 3.10–3.46 mm), the deep pronotal depressions, the well raised and relatively impunctate pronotal reliefs, and the male genitalia ( Figs. 17, 18; described below). This species has a generalized Hydrochushabitus; reliable determinations will require dissection of males. The male genitalia have a very large adbl, and a unique character: the adbl and the continuing shaft of the aedeagus are on the same plane for about 1/3 the length of the aedeagus; this is best seen in lateral view. Male genitalia ( Figs. 17, 18). General characters: paramere tips slender and pointed, narrower in lateral view than in dorsal/ventral views, in dorsal/ventral views with medial margins at apex parallel or nearly so, then weakly arcuate away from midline, plsa absent or very slight; aedeagus in dorsal/ventral views moderately wide, parallelsided or nearly so; in lateral view wider, especially basally, adbl and continuing shaft of aedeagus on same plane for about 1/3 length of aedeagus, after which shaft dorsal margin is sinuate; lateral margins of aedeagus sclerotized; basal piece shorter than parameres, orifice strongly sclerotized. Dorsal surface: pdmm sinuate, slightly overlapping aedeagus; adbl very large, ca. ½ as wide as total genitalia width at that level; adtl at about midlength of shaft; paramere tips without sclerotized ridge. Ventral surface: pvmm approximating lateral margin of aedeagus; avtl near base.
Remarks. I have examined the holotypeof Hydrochus otvosiMakhan (HNHM), including the male genitalia, and have determined that it is a synonym of Hydrochus variolatusLeConte. The H. otvosi holotypespecimen is supposedly from Costa Rica. The non-type specimen of H. variolatusimaged ( Fig. 17) has this locality data: Baja California, Norte, Sa. Juarez, 1 mi.S. Laguna Hanson, elev. 5000 ft, 19.vii.1970, leg. P. D. Perkins.
3128194508
Mexico
California
Images
San Diego
22
481
1
holotype
3128194565
1938-06-14
CAS
Michelbacher & Ross
Mexico
Ensenada
22
481
1
Baja California
3128194460
1963-04-23
CAS
H. B. Leech & P. H. Arnaud Jr.
Mexico
Arr. Santo Domingo
Norte
22
481
1
Baja California
3128194404
[293,1383,1040,1067]
1970-07-19
MCZ
S. Laguna Hanson & P. D. Perkins
Mexico
1524
Sa. Juarez
Norte
22
481
1
Baja California
3128194377
1961-06-15
TAMU
E. L. Sleeper
Mexico
San Jose del Castillo
22
481
1
1
Baja California
3128194305
1962-05-18
NMNH
F. Islas
Mexico
Escarcega
22
481
1
Campeche
3128194407
[319,1094,1112,1138]
1989-06-04
UNAM
G. Ortega
Mexico
Rio Chamela
Chamela
22
481
1
Jalisco
3128194386
1965-08-27
NMNH
W. Poza Rica & Paul J. Spangler
Mexico
Veracruz
22
481
1
Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave
3128194433
[677,1390,1148,1175]
1948-12-17
CAS
El Fortin & H. B. Leech
Mexico
Rio Metlao
22
481
1
Veracruz