Microdytes sabitae Vazirani

Miller, Kelly B. & Wewalka, Günther, 2010, Microdytes Balfour-Browne of India with description of three new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae), Zootaxa 2420, pp. 26-36 : 33

Microdytes sabitae Vazirani

Microdytes sabitae Vazirani 1968: 103 ; Vazirani 1969: 304; Vazirani 1977: 24; Biström, Nilsson & Wewalka 1997: 75; Wewalka 1997: 31; Nilsson 2001: 229.

Material examined. 10 ex., INDIA: Maharashtra, Mulshi, 26.ix.2004, 18º26.665’N 073º25.654’E, KB Miller, colr. ( MSBC, USBC, CGWW); 109 ex., INDIA W, 30.ix.-2.x.2005, Maharashtra state, Mahabaleshwar env., 70 km SSW of Pune, 1400 m, J. Bezděk leg. ( NMPC, CGWW).

The description and the figure provided by Vazirani (1968) are inadequate for identification and diagnosis of this species. Therefore, a redescription and figures of the habitus, elytral markings and male genitalia are given here.

Diagnosis. Microdytes sabitae is similar to M. belli and M. svensoni in habitus, metacoxal punctation and male genitalia but it is larger and the pronotum and elytra are predominantly yellowish-brown,

Description. Measurements. TL = 1.90–2.15 mm, GW = 1.35–1.45 mm, TL/GW = 1.38–1.45. Body robust, globular, strongly rounded; lateral outline continuous between pronotum and elytron; lateral margins of elytron broadly curved ( Fig. 4 ).

Coloration. Head red-brown, blackish along posterior margin and around eyes. Pronotum yellowishbrown with dark brown to black at anterior, posterior and lateral margins. Elytron yellowish-brown with large, brown to black maculae ( Fig. 4 ). Prothoracic sterna and ventral surfaces of head yellow; meso- and metathoracic sterna, metacoxae and abdominal ventrites dark red-brown; legs, antennae and palpi yellowishbrown.

Sculpture and structure. Head with medium fine, inconspicuous, irregular punctation; other microsculpture absent; clypeus with indistict lateral, subapical depressions, but without distinct marginal bead; eyes medium in size. Pronotum somewhat more strongly punctate than head, with course punctures along the posterior margin; without other microsculpture; with posterior angles weakly produced posteriorly; lateral bead of even width throughout. Elytron distinctly and relatively strongly punctate, consisting of punctures of different sizes; with discal series of punctures; without other microsculpture. Lateral part of metaventrite, metacoxae and lateral part of abdominal ventrite I and II coarsely and regularly punctate; rest of abdomen without punctation; ventral side without other microsculpture.

Male genitalia. Median lobe in ventral aspect ( Fig. 8 a), lateral aspect ( Fig. 8 b). Lateral lobes in ventral aspect weakly fused apically ( Fig. 12 a), lateral aspect ( Fig. 12 b).

Variation. This species varies considerably in the extent of the elytral maculae, but maculae appear to always be present.

Habitat. This species was collected from small, torrential headwater streams in the Western Ghats in silt bottomed pools. It was collected in the same locality and habitat as M. whitingi .

Distribution. India: Maharashtra ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Distribution of Microdytes in India.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Dorsal habitus and variations of color patterns of Microdytes species: 1) M. svensoni; 2) M. cameroni; 3) M. whitingi; 4) M. sabitae.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Median lobe of aedeagus: a) dorsal aspect, b) right lateral aspect: 5) M. svensoni; 6) M. cameroni; 7) M. whitingi; 8) M. sabitae.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Lateral lobes of aedeagus: a) dorsal aspect, b) lateral aspect: 9) M. svensoni; 10) M. cameroni; 11) M. whitingi; 12) M. sabitae.