Pneuminion semisulcatum, Perkins, Philip D., 2004

Perkins, Philip D., 2004, A revision of the South African endemic water beetle genus Pneuminion Perkins (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 538, pp. 1-38 : 11

Pneuminion semisulcatum new species

( Figures 7 , 8 , 17, 24 )

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Cape Prov. Table Mountain, Platteklip Gorge, 21.iii.54; deposited in the SAM. Paratypes: Same data as holotype, (8 SAM). Representative duplicate specimens deposited in MCZ

Diagnosis. Recognized by the semisulcate elytra with unilinear row of setae on intervals, the dull, micropunctulate head and pronotum, the deep, strongly micropunctulate pronotal foveae, and the relatively long elytra, about three times as long as the pronotum ( Fig. 7 ).

Description. Size (mm x 100; length/width): body (length to elytral apices) 174/74, head 26/44, pronotum 37/65, elytra 111/74.

Dorsum dark brown to piceus, legs and maxillary palpi dark brown; dorsal setae conspicuous on elytra, whitish. Dorsum of head and pronotum dull, micropunctulate, strongly so in impressions Frons disc punctate, interpunctal surface dull, punctures separated by narrow walls. Fovea in front of ocellus strongly micropunctulate, median margin rather abrupt.

Pronotum with foveae and lateral areas rugulose, granules at bases of setae apparent but punctures obsolete; relief in front of U­shaped fovea very convex, punctures small, granule of each distinct; oblique anterior fovea on each side shallowly connecting to midlongitudinal fovea; posterior U­shaped fovea well­developed; setae at lateral margin flat on cuticle in dry specimens. Pronotal postocular emargination deeper and less symmetrical in females than males.

Elytra relatively long, pronotal length/elytral length as 37/111; subsulcate, intervals raised; each seta granule­based; each interval with a distinct unilinear row of slightly overlapping setae, each elytron with 8 rows in addition to sutural row; serial punctures moderately large, but narrower than intervals, separated serially by less than puncture diameter, each with a short seta, setae not overlapping and not forming uninterrupted line like setae of intervals. Explanate margin narrow in males, slightly wider in females.

Aedeagus: main­piece length 45, total length 66; parameres comparatively setose, right paramere as wide as distal part of main­piece, left paramere with about six short, strong, arcuate setae near apex, in addition to long slender setae; main­piece with ridge/ groove to support duct; duct very slender in distal one­half ( Fig. 17).

Etymology. Named in reference to the semisulcate elytra.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Pneuminion semisulcatum holotype. Dorsal and lateral habitus.

FIGURE 8. Pneuminion semisulcatum holotype. Ventral habitus.

FIGURES 23 – 25. Pneuminion distribution maps. — 23. P. velamen. — 24. P. semisulcatum. — 25. P. t u b u m.