Novochares latus, 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 latus sp. nov.

Figs 8M-O , 10C

Type material.

Holotype (male): "BRAZIL: Rondônia / -8.92368, -62.12491; 82 m/ Tabajara (c. 7.5 km W) on RO-133/ 8.vii.2018. leg. Short; river/ w/sandy bottom and rocks/ BR18-0708-04A", "DNA Voucher/ Extraction #/ SLE-2039" (INPA). Paratypes: (4 exs.): Brazil: Rondônia: same data as holotype (4, INPA, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

This taxon has one of the most distinctive aedeagal forms within the species group. The extremely broad, parallel sided parameres with a ‘birdhead’ form at the apex, paired with a uniquely short and deeply cleft apical region of the dorsal plate of the median lobe (Fig. 8M-O ) make this species easy to recognize; we did not see any other variations that were similar to this one.

Description.

Body length 7.2-8.1 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces pale brown, sometimes with weakly paler (yellowish) clypeus and margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps nearly 1.3 × width of head, uniformly yellow to orange in color. Thorax: 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 broadly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite broadly and somewhat triangularly elevated, transversely weakly impressed posteriorly, with low medial longitudinal ridge extending anteriorly. Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite moderately deep and relatively narrow. Aedeagus: (Fig. 8M-O ) Overall shape sub-rectangular; apical region of each paramere relatively broad, rounded at apex, with outer margin laterally pointed; dorsal plate of median lobe with long and narrow neck, bifurcated at apical region; each arm of the fork somewhat triangular, relatively broad, and short; ventral plate of median lobe triangular, strongly sclerotized, reaching to second 1/3 of dorsal plate.

Etymology.

Latus (L.) meaning broad, referring to the shape of each arm of the apical region of the dorsal plate of the median lobe.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality in Brazil (Fig. 10C ).

Habitat.

The single collection of this species was from the sandy margin of a forested creek with some detritus.

Figures

Figure 8. Aedeagi of the Novochares abbreviatus species group A-L N. abbreviatus A-C Nicaragua D-F Argentina G-I Venezuela J-L Guyana M-O N. latus P-R N. pilatus A, D, G, J, M, P dorsal view B, E, H, K, N, Q ventral view C, F, I, L, O, R lateral view.

Figure 10. Distribution of Novochares abbreviatus species group A N. abbreviatus: examined specimens (red) and literature / unconfirmed records (blue) B N. oculatus: examined specimens (red) and literature / unconfirmed records (blue) C N. pallipes (red), N. latus (yellow), N. baca (blue), N. pilatus (green).