Hydroscapha Hot Creek Falls

Maier, Crystal A., Ivie, Michael A., Johnson, James B. & Maddison, David R., 2010, A New Northern-Most Record for the Family Hydroscaphidae (Coleoptera: Myxophaga), with Description of a New Nearctic Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 64 (4), pp. 289-302 : 300

Hydroscapha Hot Creek Falls /Indian Bathtub/ Bruneau Population

Material Examined. IDAHO: Owyhee Co.; Indian Bathtubs ; 17 APR 1976; R. C. Biggam (3 JBJC) A.D. Allen ; 4 AUG 1974 (2 WFBM) IDAHO: Owyhee Co.; Hot Springs Falls ; 16 APR 1976; G.A. Shook (4 CIDA) ; 21 MAY 1976 (7 CIDA) ; 24 APR 1977 (8 CIDA) ; 23 APR 1978 (7 CIDA) ; A.D. Allen ; 4 APR 1974 (1 CIDA) IDAHO: Owyhee Co.: Bruneau Hot; Falls ; Elev 2500′; 4 OCT 1977; W. H. & M. H. Clark (20 CIDA) .

This population, which was studied by Reichardt and Hinton (1976), can be distinguished from all other currently known populations, except the Kirkham Hot Springs population, by their light brown color ( Fig. 19E ), wide tentorial bridge, which is approximately one sixth the width of the head, and rounded lateral points of the disc of the mesoventrite.

This particular complex of springs was severely degraded by a flooding event (Myler and Minshall 2000) and water removal for irrigation, so that water does not currently flow over hydroscaphid habitat. Presumably, this population is now extinct. Lacking material preserved in ethanol, a genetic evaluation of the species may not be possible, making it difficult to know whether this is a species distinct from the nearby Kirkham Hot Springs population.

Figures

Fig. 19. Diversity in Hydroscapha populations in the United States: A) H. natans, Arizona, Santa Cruz Co., B) H. natans, California, Arroyo Mocho, C) H. natans, California, Alameda Co., D) Hydroscapha sp., Nevada, Amargosa Hot Springs, E) Hydroscapha sp., Idaho, Hot Creek Falls, F) Hydroscapha sp., Idaho, Sunbeam Hot Springs, G) H. redfordi, Idaho, Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, H) H. redfordi, Idaho, Weir Hot Springs.