Neobidessodes

HENDRICH, LARS, HAWLITSCHEK, OLIVER & BALKE, MICHAEL, 2009, The epigean Australasian species of Neobidessodes gen. n. diving beetles- a revision integrating morphology, cybertaxonomy, DNA taxonomy and phylogeny (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini), Zootaxa 2288 (1), pp. 1-41 : 38-39

Key to epigean species of Neobidessodes

1. Length> 3.7 mm. Elytron with a subapical lateral flange, pronotal striae very weak, N WA, NT, N QLD … grossus

- Length <3.7 mm ........................................................................................................................................................... 2

2. Elytron with a subapical lateral tooth ( Fig. 21 ), pronotal striae well marked, WA, NT, QLD, N NSW .... denticulatus

- Elytron lacking lateral tooth; pronotal striae present or absent .................................................................................... 3

3. Pronotal striae absent .................................................................................................................................................... 4

- Pronotal striae present................................................................................................................................................... 5

4. Length 2.55–2.65 mm, outline of junction of pronotum and elytra smooth, sides of pronotum evenly curved, maximum width at posterior angles, dorsal colour pattern usually diffuse ( Fig. 7 ), N WA, NT, N QLD ............... mjobergi

- Length 2.75–2.9 mm, outline of junction of pronotum and elytra slightly sinuate, maximum width of pronotum somewhat before base. Dorsal colour pattern strongly varying, when present, usually well marked ( Fig. 9 ). In some specimens pronotum yellow ( Figs 11, 12 ) in others pronotum and elytra all black ( Fig. 10 ), N WA, NT, N QLD....... .............................................................................................................................................................. thoracicus sp.n.

5. Males with mesotarsus curved. Pronotal striae moderately marked, dorsal colour pattern usually diffuse ( Fig. 8 ), length 2.2–2.25 mm, VIC, NSW, S QLD ................................................................................................................ bilita

- Males with mesotarsus straight, contrasting yellowish markings on black elytra ( Figs 3, 4 , 5 ) ................................. 6

6. Pronotal striae short but well marked ( Fig. 5 ), smallest species of the genus (length 2.0 mm), West Papua, Indonesia................................................................................................................................................................. samkrisi sp.n.

- Pronotal striae extremely weak and faint ( Figs 3, 4 ), length 2.35–2.65 mm, N WA, NT, N QLD........... flavosignatus

Figures

FIGURES 21. Denticulate tip of elytra in Neobidessodes denticulatus (Photo: L. Hendrich).

FIGURES 5–8. Habitus of 5) Neobidessodes samkrisi sp.n. (holotype, male); 6) N. grossus; 7) N. mjobergi; 8) Neobidessodes bilita (female) (scale bar = 1 mm) (Photos: A. Riedel).

FIGURES 9–12. 9) N. thoracicus sp.n. (paratype); 10) N. thoracicus sp.n. (paratype, “black specimen”); 11) N. thoracicus sp.n. (“light form”, WA, Kimberley Region, 50 km S Wyndham, Black Flag Creek); 12) N. thoracicus sp.n. (“light form”, NT, Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Gungurul Lookout) (scale bar = 1 mm) (Photos: A. Riedel).

FIGURES 1–4. Habitus of 1) N. denticulatus (WA, Pilbara, Millstream Chichester National Park, Fortescue River side branch); 2) N. denticulatus (NT, Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Gungurul Lookout); 3) N. flavosignatus (WA, East Kimberley, Gibb Range, Gibb River Road, Russ Creek Crossing); 4) N. flavosignatus (NT, Manton Dam Recreation Area, 46 km S Darwin) (scale bar = 1 mm), (Photos: A. Riedel).