Neobidessodes denticulatus ( Sharp, 1882 ) HENDRICH, LARS, HAWLITSCHEK, OLIVER & BALKE, MICHAEL, 2009

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 : 15-17

Neobidessodes denticulatus ( Sharp, 1882) comb.n.

( Figs 1, 2 , 19 , 21 , 22 , 27 , 28 , 31, 32 , 37, 38, 39 )

Bidessus denticulatus Sharp, 1882 : Sharp (1882: 359); Zimmermann (1920: 62).

Bidessodes denticulatus ( Sharp, 1882) : Watts (1978: 32); Watts (1985: 24); Lawrence et al. (1987: 335); Biström (1988: 7); Larson (1993: 50); Weir (1998: 311); Hendrich (1997: 107); Larson (1997: 274); Nilsson (2001: 111); Watts (2002: 31, 43); Hendrich (2003: 51, 56).

Type locality. Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

Type material. Lectotype. Male: “ Lectotype ”, “Type”, “Type 97”, “Rockhampton”, “ Queensland Australia ”, “australia n.sp.”, “ Bidessus denticulatus ”, “ Bidessus denticulatus det. C. Watts 1979” ( NHML).

Paralectotype. “ Lectotype ”, “Type”, “97”, “Rockhampton”, “ Queensland Australia ”, “ Australia ”, “ Bidessodes denticulatus (Shp) det. C. Watts 1979” ( NHML) .

Additional material studied. 1806 specimens. Western Australia. 103 exs., Pilbara, Millstream Chichester National Park, Fortescue River side branch, SE Visitor Centre, 21.37S 117.07E, 26.VIII.2002, leg. Hendrich ( CLH, NMW) ; 4 exs., Pilbara, Millstream Chichester National Park, Gregory Gorge , Palm Pool at Fortescue River Crossing, 26.VIII.2002, 21.33S 117.03E, leg. Hendrich ( CLH) ; Pilbara, Eaglehead Falls near Newman , 26.I.2007, C.H.S. Watts leg., “DNA M.Balke 1891” [green printed label] ( ZSM) ; 13 exs., East Kimberley, Gibb River Road, Durack River Crossing , 250 m, 13.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./ Loc. 6/106 ( CLH, ZSM) ; 59 exs., Shire of Wyndham, East Kimberley, Gibb Range , Gibb River Road , Russ Creek Crossing, 380 m, 14.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 8/108 ( CLH) ; 285 exs., Shire of Wyndham, East Kimberley, Gibb River Road, Drysdale River Crossing , 380 m, 14.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 9/109 ( CLH) ; 1 ex., Shire of Wyndham, East Kimberley, Gibb River Road, King Edward River Crossing , 280 m, 15.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 10/110 ( CLH) ; 16 exs., Shire of Wyndham, East Kimberley, Kalumburu Road , Meelarie Creek , 5 km N Drysdale Crossing, 350 m, 18.–19.VI.1999, L. Hendrich leg./loc. 15/115 ; 1 ex., Shire of Wyndham, East Kimberley, Gibb River Road 10 km W Hann River, Snake Creek 470 m, 19.VI.1999 Hendrich leg./loc. 16/116 ( CLH, ZSM) ; 3 exs., Shire of Wyndham, East Kimberley, Gibb River Raod, Barnett River Gorge , 450 m, 19.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 17/117 ( CLH) ; 1 ex., Drysdale River Station, Miners Pool Camp , 1.V.1992, P.J.Gullan leg. ( ANIC) ; 10 exs., West Kimberley, Shire of Derby, Gibb River Road , Galvan´s Gorge , 420 m, 21.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 19/119 ( CLH) ; 5 exs., West Kimberley-Shire of Derby, Gibb River Road, Saddler Spring near Iminji Aboriginal Community , 350 m, 22.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 20/120 ( CLH) ; 1 ex., West Kimberley, Shire of Derby, Gibb River Road , Bell Gorge / Bell Creek , 340 m, 22.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 21/121 ( CLH) ; 302 exs., Shire of Derby, West Kimberley, Fitzroy Crossing Brooking Channel , 50 m, 25.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 25/125 ( CLH) ; 2 exs., East Kimberley , N.N. Creek 40 km W Kununurra, 50 m, 29.VI.1999, Hendrich leg./ Loc. 30/130 ( CLH) .

Northern Territory. 1 ex., Alligator River on road to Daly , 5.IX.2002, G.L.Challet leg. ( CGC) ; 1 ex., Adelaide River , Australia, J.J. Walker, G.C. Champion leg., Coll. B.M. 1927-409 ; 1 ex., Adelaide River 92-2, 4948 ; 1 ex., Adelaide River 92-2, 5568 ; 2 exs., Australia N.Q., Koombaloomba , 10.I.1962, E.B. Britton leg. B.M. 1962-153 ( NHML) ; 1 ex., Kakadu N.P., Nourlangie District, Gubara , 50 m, monsoonal rainforest stream, 12.50.101S 132.52.501E, 25.X.1996, Hendrich leg/loc. 1 ( CLH) ; 4 exs., Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Jim Jim Falls Camping Area , Jim Jim Creek , 60 m, 13.16.218S 132.49.276E, low-gradient stream, 26. & 27.X.1996, Hendrich leg./loc. 2a ( CLH) ; 8 exs., Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Jim Jim Falls Camping Area , Jim Jim Creek , 60 m, 13.16.218S 132.49.276E, floodzone pools, 26. & 27.X.1996, Hendrich leg./loc. 2b ( CLH) ; 10 exs., Kakadu N.P., East Alligator District, Ubirr Rock Camping Area , 30 m, at Blacklight Trap, 12.26.506S 132.57.304E, 27. & 28.X.1996, Hendrich leg./loc. 4 ( CLH) ; 2 exs., Kakadu N.P., Nourlangie District, Arnhem Highway , 12 km WNW Jabiru, 50 m, pool of intermittent creek, 12.37.937S 132.38.134E, 29.X.1996, Hendrich leg./loc. 5 ( CLH) ; 17 exs., Kakadu N.P., Mary River District, Old Darwin Road, Black Jungle Spring , 30 m, spring fed slow flowing stream, 13.02.908S 132.09.715E, 30.X.1996, Hendrich leg./loc. 7 ( CLH) ; 222 exs., Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Old Darwin Road, Barramundi Creek , 30 m, shaded rest pool of Barramundi Creek , 12.59.652 S 132.22 .928 E, 30.X.1996, Hendrich leg. (loc. 8) ( CLH) ; 282 exs., Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Gungurul Lookout , 50 m, 13.59.359S 132.19.904E, 1.XI.1996, Hendrich leg. (loc. 11) ( CLH) ; 88 exs., Kakadu N.P., Muirella Park, Wasserstelle Billabong , 28.–30.VIII.1986, S. Kiener leg. ( NHMB) ; 1 ex., Kakadu N.P., Muirella Park, Nourlangie Creek , 13.VII.1994, T. Weir & A. Roach leg. ( ANIC) ; 6 exs., 38 km WSW Katherine, King River Bridge , 50 m, 12.V.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 2/102 ( CLH, ZSM) ; 1 ex., Old Stuart Hwy, Scenic Drive, Anniversary Creek south of Adelaide River , 50 m, 8.VII.1999, Hendrich leg./loc. 38/138 ( CLH) ; 7 exs., Manton Dam Recreation Area , 46 km S Darwin, 35 m, 19.VIII.2006, 12.50.270S 131.08.050 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 1) , one specimen with “DNA M. Balke 1664” [green printed label] ( CLH, ZSM) ; 1 ex., Finnis River 10 km W Batchelor, 43 m, 20.VIII.2006, 13.01.278S 130.57.217 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 2) ( CLH) ; 8 exs., Fenton Creek at Scenic Route , 54 km S Adelaide River, 103 m, 22.VIII.2006, 13.35.176S 131.20.544 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 10) ( CLH, ZSM) ; 1 ex., Kakadu Hwy, Harriet Creek at Hwy Cross. , 153 m, 24.VIII.2006, 13.44.512S 131.54.012 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 14) ( CLH) ; 1 ex., Kakadu Hwy, Bowerbird Creek , 5 km W Mary River Roadh., large pool, 20m, 24.VIII.2006, 13.38.142S 132.10.345 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 15b) ; 100 exs., Kakadu NP, Old Jim Jim Road, Barramundi Creek , 50 m, 26.VIII.2006, 12.59.652S 132.22.928 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 19) ( CLH, ZSM) ; 50 exs., Magela Creek upstream, Jabiru East, 38 m, 29.VIII.2006, 12.40.458S 132.55.853 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (NT 21) ( ZSM) .

Queensland. 1 ex., 43.5 km W. Kennedy Creek , pool, 7.XII.1997, G.L. Challet leg. ( CGC) ; 1 ex., N Queensland, pond n. Caldwell , 7.XII.1997, G.L. Challet leg. ( CGC) ; 2 exs., N Queensland, Hann River 110 km S of Coen, 27.VI.1970, J.C. Le Souef leg. ( NMV) ; 2 exs., SE Queensland, 60 km S Brisbane, 10 km NNW Canungra , 27°57´18.1´´S 153°08´56´´E, 25.VIII.2004, leg. M. Jäch (AU 11) ( NMW) ; 21 exs., Lakefield NP, unnamed tributary of Normanby River , S 15.11 E 144.24, 27.VII.1998, A.A. Calder leg. ( ANIC) ; 11 exs., Mungkan Kandiju NP, Langi Lagoon , S 13.27 E 142.42, 29.VI.–5.VII.1998, T. Weir leg. ( ANIC) ; 4 exs., Lakefield NP, 6.5 km ESE New Laura Ranger Station, S 15.11 E 144.25, at light, 26.-29.VII.1998, A.A. Calder leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., N Queensland, 28 km N by E Musselbrook Camp , S 18.21 E 138.11, at light, 12.V.1995, I.D. Naumann leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 exs., N Queensland , 13 km SE Mt. Carbine, 15.XI.1990, D.J. Larson leg. ( ANIC) ; 4 exs., N Queensland, Luster Creek , 15 km SE Mt. Carbine, 15.XI.1990, D.J. Larson leg. ( ANIC) ; 2 exs., N Queensland , 43.5 km W Kennedy Creek pool, 7.XII.1997, G.L. Challet leg. ( ANIC) ; 2 exs., N Queensland, pond near Cardwell , 7.XII.1997, G.L. Challet leg. ( ANIC) ; 2 exs., N Queensland, Mulgrave River near Hwy , small pool, 9.XI.1990, D.J. Larson leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., N Queensland, Nicolas Creek near Molanda , 6.XI.1990, D.J. Larson leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., N Queensland, Saddle Bag Creek SE Mt. Carbine , 15.XI.1990, D.J. Larson leg. ( ANIC) ; 2 exs., N Queensland, Lake Mitchell R., 40 km N Mareeba, 21.IX.1990, D.J. Larson leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Batavia Downs Homestead , 17.–23.VI.1992, at light, T.A. Weir leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Bertie Creek Xing, 12 km SW Heathlands, 15.–26.I.1992, T.A. Weir & I.D. Naumann leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Bertiehaugh Creek , 13.VIII.1993, water sweep, P. Zborowski & J. Balderson leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Capsize Creek , 17.VI.1993, water sweep, P. Zborowski. & I.D. Naumann leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Cardstone , 29.XII.1965, E Gaz, K. Hyde leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Catfish Ck. Lakefield NP ( Catfish waterhole), 29.X.1992, waterhole with water lilies, T.A. Weir & P. Zborowski leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Coleman River , 26.VI.1993, water sweep, P. Zborowski & I.D. Naumann leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Edward River , 14.IX.1993, water sweep, P. & S.O. Shattuck leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Hann River , 14.I.1994, at light, P. Zborowski & E.D. Edwards leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Heathlands , 15.–26.I.1992, at light, T.A. Weir & I.D. Naumann leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Holroyd River , 13.IX.1993, by hand, P. Zborowski & S.O. Shattuck leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Jardine River Xing, 19.X.1992, flowing river edge, T.A. Weir & P. Zborowski leg., ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Kennedy River , 24.IV.1994, water sweep, P. Zborowski leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Kennedy River Xing, 16.VI.1992, temporary pool in dry river bed, sandy base T.A. Weir leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Mary Creek , 4.XII.1968, at light, E.B. Britton & S. Misko leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Moonlight Creek , 22.VI.1993, water sweep, P. Zborowski & I.D. Naumann leg. ( ANIC) ; 3 exs., Moreton, 10.XII.1992, at light, Riverine forest , P. Zborowski & W. Dressler leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Moreton [Telegraph Station], 10.XI.1993, at light, P. Zborowski & M. Horak leg. ( DPIM) ; 1 ex., Myall Creek , 25.V.1993, water sweep, P. Zborowski & A. Roach leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Pappan Creek , 18.II.1994, at light, P. Zborowski ( ANIC) ; 1 ex. Pretender Creek , 14.IX.1993, lagoon, P. Zborowski & S.O. Shattuck leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Rokeby Homstead , 23.VI.1993, light, I.D. Naumann, & P. Zborowski leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Saltwater Creek , Lakefield NP, 28.X.1992, stagnant pools with debris, T.A. Weir & P. Zborowski leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., St. George River , 17.XI.1993, water sweep, P. Zborowski & M. Horak leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Wenlock River Stone Crossing, 14.VIII.1993, P. Zborowski & J. Balderson leg. ( ANIC) ; 1 ex., Wheeler Creek , 11.IX.1993, light, P. Zborowski & S.O. Shattuck leg. ( DPIM) ; 1 ex., N QLD, 3 km E Little Mulgrave, Atherton Road at Mulgrave River Crossing, 100 m, 19.IX.2006, 17.08.369S 145.44.384 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 37) ( CLH) ; 45 exs., C QLD, 19 km S Ayr, Bannister Lagoon at Bruce Hwy , swamp, 20 m, 21.IX.2006, 19.33.403S 147.15.078 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 43) ( CLH, ZSM) ; 3 exs., C QLD, 10 km S Mizani, Lake Kinchant , seapage, 48 m, 24.IX.2006, 21.11.580S 148.53.522 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 46) , one specimen with “DNA M. Balke 1769” [green printed label] ( CLH, ZSM) ; 2 exs., Australia: C QLD, Mackay, 33 km S Sarina, Bolingbroke Road at Railway Cross. , 221 m, 24.IX.2006, 21.38.378S 149.08.183 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 48), “DNA M.Balke 1699” and “DNA M.Balke 2000” [green printed labels] ( ZSM) ; 25 exs., S QLD, N Brisbane, Caboolture / Beerburrum road, near King John Creek , 29 m, 9.X.2006, 27.03.014S 152.57.021 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 62) ( CLH, ZSM) ; 12 exs., S QLD, 8 km SE Miriam Vale, road to Agnes Water, Oyster Creek , 18 m, 25.IX.2006, 24.20.393S 151.46.436 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 50) ( CLH, ZSM) ; 11 exs., S QLD, 15 km S Agnes Water, entrance Errimbula NP, 15 m, 25.IX.2006, 24.15.193S 151.49.222 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 51) ( CLH, ZSM) ; 1 ex., S QLD, 30 km NW Bundaberg, Yandaran Road , swampy meadow near creek, 58 m, 26.IX.2006, 24.42.291S 152.08.333 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 55) ( CLH) ; 1 ex., S QLD, 20 km SE Maryborough, Little Tuan Creek , 14 m, 28.IX.2006, 25.39.520S 152.50.551 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. (QLD 58) ( CLH) .

New South Wales. 3 exs., N NSW, 23 km SE Grafton, Pillar Valley, Pillar Valley Creek , 21 m, 14.X.2006, 29.45.364S 153.07.352 E, L. & E. Hendrich leg. ( NSW 73 ) ( CLH) .

Re-description. Measurements. TL = 2.80–2.90 mm, TL-H = 2.50–2.60 mm; MW = 1.30–1.40 mm.

Colour: Antennae, palpi and head testaceous with two darkened spots on clypeus anteriorly. Pronotum testaceous with thin blackish band basally. Elytron dark red-brown with some well marked elongate yellow markings ( Figs 1, 2 ). Ventral side, including legs and epipleura, reddish-yellow, prosternal process and metacoxal plates somewhat darkened.

Sculpture and structure. Elongate oblong. Head quite strongly punctate behind, punctures smaller and weaker anteriorly. Pronotum and elytron moderately microreticulate and with moderately dense strong punctures. Length of pronotal striae 1/3 to 1/2 of that of pronotum, a little incurved, finely but usually clearly impressed. Elytra lacking basal and sutural striae. Elytron with a subapical flange, terminating in a small but marked tooth. Underside laterally with scattered moderate to strong punctures, midline with dense small punctures. Metacoxal lines raised, well separated, diverging slightly in anterior half.

Male. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 19a, b ). Protarsus a little expanded, mesotarsus less so. Inner edge of mesotibia a little curved.

Female. Tarsi slim, mesotibia straight on inner edge.

Affinities. The denticulate elytra ( Fig. 21 ) readily distinguish this species from all others. Furthermore, N. denticulatus can be separated by the shape of the median lobe from all other species of the genus ( Fig. 19 ).

Distribution. Northern Australia (NT, QLD), along the east coast south to northern NSW. In Western Australia from the Kimberley region, the Pilbara south to Geraldton ( Watts 1985, 2002; Lawrence et al. 1987, Weir 1998, Larson 1997, Hendrich 2003) ( Fig. 22 ).

Habitat. The most widespread species of the genus and also one of the commonest dytiscids in tropical northern Australia during the dry season. Mainly collected from isolated pools of seasonal rivers and creeks without any aquatic vegetation but collections of single specimens or small numbers of beetles were made from almost all habitat types. The bottom of these habitats consisted of gravel, sand and a thin layer of decaying vegetation, mainly leaves. In the Pilbara, the Kimberley region and in Kakadu the species was collected in slow flowing streams with seasonally inundated fringing Melaleuca woodland and numerous isolated, shallow and shaded pools (up to 20 cm depth) in river or creek beds. The species seems to be quite resistant to habitat degradation and nitrification as larger series were obtained from eutrophic and shallow cattle holes (10 m ²) in temporary and partly shaded creeks without any aquatic vegetation ( Figs 31, 32 , 37, 38, 39 ). Neobidessodes denticulatus shared its habitat with all other Neobidessodes distributed in tropical northern Australia. The species is also frequently attracted to light.

Figures

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

FIGURES 22. Distribution of Neobidessodes: 22) N. bilita (squares) and N. denticulatus (dots).

FIGURE 27. Phylogram of the tree obtained using GARLI and cox1 and 16S data for Australasian Bidessini, Neotropical Bidessodes and outgroups. Node support, when above 50%: bold (GARLI bootstrap), italics (MrBayes posterior propablities>0.5, x100), normal font (TNT jackknife values). Note: “Clypeodytes migrator” will be transferred to Leiodytes in a forthcoming revision (Hendrich et al. in prep.).

FIGURE 28. Phylogram of the tree obtained using GARLI and with cox1 data for Neobidessodes alone. Node support, when above 50%: bold (GARLI bootstrap), normal font (TNT parsimony jackknife values). Abbreviations behind N. thoracicus sp.n.: “b.s” = black specimens; “l.f.” = “light form”.

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).

FIGURES 18–20. Median lobe of aedeagus in ventral (a) and lateral view (b), and right paramere in lateral view (c): 18) Neobidessodes bilita; 19) N. denticulatus and 20) N. grossus (scale bar = 0.5 mm) (Photos: L. Hendrich).

FIGURES 30–35. Habitats of Neobidessodes: 30) Slow flowing stream and rest pool in monsoonal rainforest at Gubara (Kakadu NP, NT), habitat of “black specimens” of Neobidessodes thoracicus sp.n.; 31) NT, Manton Dam Recreation Area, 46 km S Darwin (NT 1), habitat of N. denticulatus, N. flavosignatus and N. mjobergi; 32) NT, Finnis River 10 km W Batchelor (NT 2), habitat of N. mjobergi and N. denticulatus; 33) NT, Litchfield NP, Shady Creek, Florence Falls (NT 3), habitat of N. grossus; 34) NT, Nitmiluk NP, Edith Falls, Upper Pool (NT 12), habitat of N. grossus; 35) NT, Kakadu Hwy, Harriet Creek at Hwy Crossing (NT 14), habitat of N. grossus and N. thoracicus sp.n. (Photos: L. Hendrich).

FIGURES 36–41. Habitats of Neobidessodes: 36) NT, Kakadu NP, Creek on the way to Gunlom (NT 16), habitat of black specimens and the typical form of Neobidessodes thoracicus sp.n.; 37) Restpools in river at Gungurrul Lookout in Kakadu NP, October 1996, habitat of N. denticulatus, N. flavosignatus, N. mjobergi and N. thoracicus sp.n.; 38) S QLD, 8 km SE Miriam Vale, road to Agnes Water, Oyster Creek (QLD 50), habitat of N. denticulatus; 39) S QLD, N Brisbane, Caboolture/Beerburrum road, near King John Creek (QLD 62), shallow roadside swamp, habitat of N. denticulatus; 40) S NSW, 6.5 km SW Eden, Towamba Road 2 km N Nullica, 556 m (NSW 111), habitat of N. bilita; 41) S VIC, Simpsons Creek 12 km SW Orbost at Princess Hwy (VIC 116), habitat of N. bilita (Photos: L. Hendrich).