Novochares dicranospathus, Short & Girón, 2023

Short, Andrew Edward Z. & Giron, Jennifer C., 2023, Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Novochares Giron & Short (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 1171, pp. 1-112 : 1

Novochares dicranospathus sp. nov.

Figs 20G-I , 22A

Type material.

Holotype (male): "PERU: Tambopata Prov./ 15 km NE Pto. Maldonado/ 30 June 1989, 200 m/ J. Ashe, R. Leschen, #336/ ex. at light" (SEMC). Paratypes (1 ex.): Bolivia: Cochabamba: Puerto Villarroel env., “6.12.2001”, leg. O. Safranek (1, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

The aedeagus of this species is rather distinct, with the expanded and bifid, spoon-like shape of the apex of the dorsal plate of the median lobe (Fig. 20G-I ). The strong dorso-ventrally sinuate form of the dorsal plate of the median lobe (seen easily in lateral view, Fig. 20I ) is most similar overall to N. chaquensis (Fig. 20C ) and N. garciai .

Description.

Body length 5.6-6.0 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces brown to dark brown, with slightly paler (brown to orange) margins of pronotum, and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps 1.2-1.4 × width of head, uniformly orange to brown in color. Thorax: Ground punctation on pronotum and elytra relatively dense and very shallowly impressed. Elytra without rows of serial punctures, each with very faint rows (one dorsal and two or three lateral) of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures. Prosternum medially weakly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite weakly, broadly, and somewhat longitudinally elevated, with low medial longitudinal ridge extending anteriorly. Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite relatively deep and broad, U-shaped. Aedeagus: (Fig. 20G-I ) Overall shape elongated-oval, 2.8 × longer than greatest width, with outer lateral margins of parameres nearly evenly convex up to apical region; apical region of each paramere rounded, with outer margin smooth, not pointed; at closest point, dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by distance slightly wider than greatest width of a paramere; dorsal plate of median lobe with neck 0.2 × as broad as base; dorsal plate of median lobe dorsally concave along apical 1/3, with arms nearly 0.1 × length of dorsal plate of median lobe; each arm nearly uniformly wide along entire length, apically obliquely truncate (outer margin shorter); notch between arms at base nearly 0.3 × width of an arm at base; gonopore placed at base of dorsal plate of median lobe; ventral plate of median lobe not visible; basal piece 0.27 × length of a paramere. In lateral view, aedeagus oblique at base, with ventral outline of parameres 3 × longer than greatest width near base; dorsal outline of aedeagus in lateral view somewhat concave along basal 1/3.

Etymology.

A combination of the Greek dikranon (pitchfork) and spathe (paddle for stirring); referring to the spoon-like shape of the dorsal plate of the median lobe that bifurcates at apex.

Distribution.

Known from a pair of localities in Peru and Bolivia (Fig. 22A ).

Habitat.

Nothing is known about the habitat of this species.

Figures

Figure 20. Aedeagi of the Novochares sallaei species group A-E N. chaquensis F N. garciai G-I N. dicranospathus J-L N. atratus M-R N. sallaei A-C Argentina D Costa Rica E Trinidad M-P Guatemala Q, R Mexico A, D-G, J, M, Q dorsal view B, H, K, N, R ventral view C, I, L, O lateral view P oblique view.

Figure 22. Distribution of Novochares sallaei species group A N. cochlearis (red: circles, examined specimens; squares, literature / unconfirmed records), N. dicranospathus (yellow), N. pastinum (blue) B N. atratus (red: circles, examined specimens; squares, literature / unconfirmed records), N. clavieri (yellow), N. bisinuatus (blue), N. garciai (green) C N. chaquensis (red: circles, examined specimens; squares, literature / unconfirmed records), N. pichilingue (yellow) D N. fernandezae (red), N. tridentis (yellow), N. quadrispinus (blue), N. unguis (green).