Parhydraenopsis alta, Perkins, 2009

Perkins, Philip D., 2009, Revisions of the genera Parhydraena Orchymont, Protozantaena Perkins, Decarthrocerus Orchymont, and Parhydraenopsis nomen novum, aquatic and humicolous beetles from Africa and Madagascar, and comparative morphology of the tribe Parhydraenini (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 2038, pp. 1-119 : 50-51

Parhydraenopsis alta new species

( Figs. 79, 81, 102)

Type material. Holotype (male): Ethiopia: Abyssinia , Wolamo Prov., Mt. Damota, over 10,000 ft., from moss on wet rock-face of spring, 6° 55' N, 37° 47' E, 5.xi.1948, Hugh Scott. Deposited in the BMNH.

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar in habitus to P. cooperi ; distinguished therefrom by the more widely explanate pronotum with a larger difference between the basal width and greatest width (ca. 0.73/0.94 vs. 0.77/0.93), the more widely explanate elytra, and the shorter legs ( Figs. 78, 79). The comparatively simple aedeagus is very distinctive ( Fig. 81).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 2.34/1.07; head 0.35/0.66; pronotum 0.57/0.94, PA 0.81, PB 0.73; elytra 1.46/1.07. Dorsum of head and disc of pronotum dark brown to piceous; lateral areas of pronotum, elytra, and legs brown to dark brown; maxillary palpi light brown, distal 1/ 2 of last mere slightly darker.

Head with eyes moderately large, in dorsal aspect 9 convex facets in longest series. Ocelli distinct round small shining, each located at base of shallow oblique interocular fovea. Frons microreticulate, dull, irregularly punctate, largest punctures ca. 1xef, interstices co. 0.3–2xpd, area between interocular foveae and eye rugulose. Clypeus microreticulate, dull, punctures smaller and denser than on frons. Labrum dull, apicomedially notched to form rounded lobe on each side, anterior margin narrowly upturned. Maxillary palpi short, combined lengths of meres much less than width of head (ratio ca. 19/45); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 6/4/9; penultimate mere basally arcuate; last mere non-penicilate. Mentum and moderately submentum sparsely finely punctulate, interstices shining.

Pronotum wide, anterior margin almost straight, median ca. 1/3 with narrow hyaline border, margin laterally to hyaline border sloping away slightly. Anterior angles obtuse, rounded. Sides rounded, widest just before middle, behind middle rather markedly attenuate, very weakly sinuate. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Wide impression at each posterior angle. Pronotal discal punctures U-shaped, denser in impressions where some confluent; on discal relief punctures separated by about 1xpd or less, interstices microreticulate Sculpture laterally rugose, dull, punctures obsolete, or nearly so, granules prominent.

Elytra weakly shining, subovate, attenuate posterior, sides arcuate, explanate margins wide, distinct from shoulder for ca. 4/5 of length, very weakly emarginate posteriorly, apices separately rounded. Ten-seriate punctate, punctures ca. 2xef, interstices ca. 1xpd, granule of each puncture moderately large, very similar in size and spacing to unilinear row of granules on each interval. Intervals 2–3xpd. Each granule at its posterior side with short but distinct recumbent seta; setae of serial and interval granules very similar in length and density.

Metaventral disc almost flat, with shallow, narrow, midlongitudinal groove in post 1/2; midlongitudinal shining carina between anterior extreme of groove and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Ventrites 5 and 6 effacedly microreticulate, shining. Ventrite 5 hydrofuge pubescent in anterior 1/6, posterior 1/2 with very sparse pubescence in transverse band. Ventrite 6 weakly concave, very sparsely pubescent in transverse band across midlength. Last ventrite with free margin markedly arcuate; last tergite with shallow apicomedian notch, and bearing moderately long setae.

Legs moderately long, femora not especially broad; combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus greater than width of head (ratio ca. 56/45), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 35/21. Basal 3 protarsomeres, in male, with pad of suction setae. Female unknown.

Wings fully developed in holotype.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.82 mm; main-piece, in ventral view, straight, with small apical process, in lateral view arcuate, with subapical cluster of setae; distal process simple, consisting of very large, tube-like gonopore bearing process, and small basal lobe; parameres very small, lobate, each with two setae ( Fig. 81).

Etymology. Named in reference to the high altitude of the type locality.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality, Mt. Damota, Ethiopia ( Fig. 102).