Exocelina ascendens (Balke, 1998)

Shaverdo, Helena, Wild, Michael, Sumoked, Bob & Balke, Michael, 2017, Six new species of the genus Exocelina Broun, 1886 from Wano Land, New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae), ZooKeys 665, pp. 93-120 : 93

1. Exocelina ascendens (Balke, 1998) Figs 3, 11

Copelatus (Papuadytes) ascendens Balke, 1998: 322; Nilsson 2001: 76 (catalogue).

Papuadytes ascendens (Balke, 1998): Nilsson and Fery 2006: 56 (comb. n.).

Exocelina ascendens (Balke, 1998): Nilsson 2007: 33 (comb. n.).

Type locality.

Papua: Pegunungan Bintang Regency, trek between Aipomek and Diruemna, 04°25'S; 139°57'E, 2600 m a.s.l.

Type material studied.

Holotype: male "IRIAN JAYA, 3.9.1992 Aipomek - Diuremna [sic!] 139°57'E 04°25'S 2600m, leg.Balke (35)", “HOLOTYPUS” [red], " Copelatus ascendens Balke des. 1997" [red] (NHMW). Paratypes: 4 males, 2 females with the same label as the holotype and additionally with red labels "Paratypus Copelatus ascendens Balke des. 1997", one of the males with an additional label "M.Balke 3282" [green], another male with two additional labels "M.Balke 3283" [green] and "M.Balke 6409" [green text] (NHMW). 1 male, 2 females "IRIAN JAYA, 9.9.1992 Kono - Angguruk 139°47'E 04°19'S 2600m, leg.Balke (44)", "Paratypus Copelatus ascendens Balke des. 1997" [red] (NHMW), note: the original description says "2 males and 1 female", it is probably a mistake in the sex identification or type error. 4 males, 3 females "IRIAN JAYA, 24.-26.9.1993 Eipomek [sic!] Gebiet Eipomek [sic!] - Diruemna", "ca. 140°01'E 04°27'S 1800-2600m, leg. M. Balke (21 [crossed out] -22)", "Paratypus Copelatus ascendens Balke des. 1997" [red] (NHMW, CGW).

Diagnosis.

Beetle large (TL-H 5.3-5.75 mm), elongate; piceous, with dark brown pronotal sites and head anteriorly; submatt, with fine but evident punctation and rather strongly impressed microreticulation; pronotum with distinct lateral bead; male antennae simple, slender (Fig. 3); male protarsomere 4 with small (slightly larger than more laterally situated large seta), weakly curved anterolateral hook-like seta; male protarsomere 5 ventrally with anterior row of 23 and posterior row of 8 short, strong, spine-like setae (Fig. 11D); median lobe evenly curved, pointed in lateral view and evenly tapering, with broadly pointed apex in ventral view, on both lateral sides with numerous fine setae situated linearly on anterior half of distal part of median lobe; paramere robust, with notch on dorsal side and very dense, strong setae on subdistal part; proximal setae sparse and fine (Fig. 11 A–C). For complete description, see Balke (1998).

Distribution.

Papua: Pegunungan Bintang Regency. The species is known only from the type material (Fig. 19).