Desmopachria vohrae 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 : 106-111

Desmopachria vohrae Miller and Wolfe , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:069E8378-18A1-46C6-B1B8-321A5C9F30AA ( Figs. 29–32 , 71 )

Type Locality. Venezuela, Bolivar, ca. 25 km E El Burro , 6°13ʹ4.6ʺ N, 67°14ʹ26.4ʺ W, 60 m.

Diagnosis. This species differs from others in the group by the elongate, slender male median lobe. In lateral aspect, the lobe is moderately broad medially but abruptly narrowed and apically very slender and sinuate ( Fig. 29 ). In ventral aspect, it is moderately broad with the lateral margins broadly convergent to an elongate bifid apex ( Fig. 30 ). The lateral lobe has the ventral ramus elongate and apically rounded, the dorsal ramus elongate and apically sharply pointed ( Figs. 31, 32 ). The shape of the median lobe is somewhat similar to that of D. gingerae ( Fig. 9 ) but the apex in D. vohrae , though narrow, is broader and more clearly apically bifid with the lateral margins somewhat more evenly convergent, not sinuate ( Fig. 30 ). This is one of few members of the D. nitida species-group with some distinctive color patterning dorsally. Specimens are relatively dark with the head dark orange, the pronotum orange with the posterior margin darker medially, the elytra dark brown, darker along the suture then distinctly paler anteriorly and along lateral margins.

Description. Measurements: TL = 1.4 mm, GW = 1.0 mm, HW = 0.5 mm, EW = 0.3 mm, TL/ GW = 1.4, HW/EW = 1.9. Coloration: Head and pronotum evenly dark orange dorsally, posterior margin of pronotum medially narrowly brown. Elytron with base color dark brown with orange anterior and lateral margins, elytron grading into wide darker brown region medially along suture. Ventral surfaces dark orange except head appendages and meso- and metathoracic legs, prosternum and epipleuron more pale orange. Male genitalia: Male median lobe in lateral aspect slender, broader basally, apical portion elongate, bisinuate, very slender, apically sharply pointed ( Fig. 29 ). Median lobe in ventral aspect broad basally, lateral margins convergent to linear, slender apex, apically slightly bifid ( Fig. 30 ). Lateral lobe in lateral aspect very broad basally, apically with 2 long rami; ventral ramus elongate, apically rounded, dorsal ramus curved, apically sharply pointed ( Figs 31 ); in ventral aspect moderately broad, ventral ramus straight, apically narrowly rounded, dorsal ramus abruptly curved mediad, apically sharply pointed ( Fig. 32 ).

Variation. Specimens vary somewhat in the extent of the pale anterior and lateral regions.

Etymology. This species is named vohrae in honor of Dr. Pamela D. Vohra-Khullar, MD.

Distribution. This species is known from southwestern Venezuela ( Fig. 71 ).

Habitat. Specimens have been collected from a “rocky morichal.”

Type Material. Holotype in MIZA, male labeled, “ VENEZUELA: Bol´ıvar State 6°13ʹ4.6ʺN, 67°14ʹ26.4ʺW, 60m ca. 25 km E. El Burro 12.i.2009; leg. Short et al. rocky morichal; VZ09-0113-01X/ SEMC0876594 KUNHM-ENT [label with barcode]/ HOLOTYPE Desmopachria vohrae Miller and Wolfe, 2017 [red label with black line border].” Paratypes: Two labeled same as holotype except with different specimen barcode labels ( SEMC0876546 , SEMC0876547 ) and each with “… PARATYPE Desmopachria vohrae 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.