Desmopachria singhae Miller and Wolfe, 2018

Miller, Kelly B. & Wolfe, G. William, 2018, Nine New Species in the Desmopachria nitida Species-Group of the Neotropical Genus Desmopachria Babington, 1841 (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Hyphydrini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (1), pp. 97-112 : 106

Desmopachria singhae Miller and Wolfe , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0ECF957F-7032-4A12-A571-B8ED3079434E ( Figs. 26–28 , 71 )

Type Locality. Venezuela, Sucre, approx. 5 km SE El Pilar , 10°31.419ʹ N, 63°07.070ʹ W .

Diagnosis. This species differs from all other species in the group in the male genitalia. In particular, the male lateral lobe is apically only shallowly bifid ( Fig. 28 ). The male median lobe is deeply bifid in ventral aspect with the lateral rami apically elongate and slender, apically pointed with each ramus apically directed laterally to a very narrow point ( Fig. 27 ). In lateral aspect, the median lobe is elongate and apically strongly sinuate to the narrowly pointed and curved apex ( Fig. 26 ). Specimens are relatively pale with the head and pronotum yellow-orange and the posterior margin of the pronotum narrowly dark brown. The elytra are brown with darker brown along the anterior margin and medially along the suture.

Description. Measurements: TL = 1.6 mm, GW = 1.1 mm, HW = 0.6 mm, EW = 0.3 mm, TL/ GW = 1.5, HW/EW = 2.1–2.3. Coloration: Head and pronotum yellow-orange, posterior margin of pronotum medially narrowly darker brown. Elytron brown, darker brown along anterior margin and medially along suture. Ventral surfaces and appendages yellow-orange except metacoxal plates brown. Male genitalia: Male median lobe in lateral aspect with elongate, broadly rounded lobate base, apical portion elongate, tapered and curved, apex slender, sharply recurved, apically sharply pointed ( Fig. 26 ). Median lobe in ventral aspect broad, lateral margins broadly convex to apically convergent to elongate slender, apically sharply pointed rami, medial emargination deep ( Fig. 27 ). Lateral lobe in lateral aspect broad, apically abruptly curved, apex oblique, apically shallowly and broadly bifid, each ramus sharply pointed ( Fig. 28 ); in ventral aspect narrow, sinuate, apically pointed.

Variation. The darkness of the coloration of the posterior margin of the pronotum and the elytral suture varies somewhat among the few specimens examined.

Etymology. This species is named singhae in honor of Dr. Vinita Singh, MD.

Distribution. This species is known only from one locality in Sucre in northern Venezuela ( Fig. 71 ).

Habitat. According to label data, specimens were collected from a “forested swamp by road.”

Comments. The main character uniting the D. nitida species-group is the deeply bifid lateral lobe of the male aedeagus. Desmopachria singhae species has the lateral lobe apically bifid, but not deeply so ( Fig. 32 ). However, the median lobe is somewhat similar to other species in the genus, including its deep medial emargination in ventral aspect ( Fig. 31 ), suggesting it should be placed in this group.

Type Material. Holotype in MIZA, male labeled, “ VENEZUELA: Sucre State 10°31.419ʹN, 63°07.070ʹW, 2 m ca. 5 km SE EL Pilar; 29.i.2010 leg. Short & Garcia; forested swamp by road; VZ10- 01129-04A/ SEMC0891088 KUNHM-ENT [label with barcode]/ HOLOTYPE Desmopachria singhae Miller and Wolfe, 2017 [red label with black line border].” Paratypes: Two labeled same as holotype, but with different specimen barcode labels [ SEMC0891096 and SEMC0891080 ] and each with “… PARATYPE Desmopachria singhae Miller and Wolfe, 2017 [blue label with black line border].”

Figures

Figs. 1–32. Male genitalia of Desmopachria species in the D. nitida species-group. D. curseenae: Median lobe – 1) Right lateral aspect; 2) Ventral aspect; Right lateral lobe – 3) Right lateral aspect; 4) Ventral aspect. D. delongi: Median lobe – 5) Right lateral aspect; 6) Ventral aspect; Right lateral lobe – 7) Right lateral aspect; 8) Ventral aspect. D. gingerae: Median lobe – 9) Right lateral aspect; 10) Ventral aspect; 11) Right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect. D. gyrationi: Median lobe – 12) Right lateral aspect; 13) Ventral aspect; 14) Right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect. D. hardyae: Median lobe – 15) Right lateral aspect; 16) Ventral aspect; 17) Right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect. D. kemptonae: Median lobe – 18) Right lateral aspect; 19) Ventral aspect; Right lateral lobe – 20) Right lateral aspect; 21) Ventral aspect. D. lloydi: 22) Median lobe, ventral aspect; 23) Apices of median lobe, anterior aspect; Right lateral lobe – 24) Right lateral aspect; 25) Ventral aspect. D. singhae: Median lobe – 26) Right lateral aspect; 27) Ventral aspect; 28) Right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect. D. vohrae: Median lobe – 29) Right lateral aspect; 30) Ventral aspect; Right lateral lobe – 31) Right lateral aspect; 32) Ventral aspect.

Figs. 71–72. Distribution of Desmopachria species in the D. nitida species-group. 71) D. curseenae, D. singhae, and D. vohrae; 72) D. lloydi.