Hydrocanthus (Hydrocanthus) paludimonstrus Miller, 1999

Miller, Kelly B., 2001, Hydrocanthus (Hydrocanthus) Paludimonstrus, A New Species From Bolivia (Coleoptera: Noteridae: Hydrocanthini) And Its Implications For Classification Of The Subgenera, The Coleopterists Bulletin 55 (3), pp. 363-368 : 364-366

Hydrocanthus (Hydrocanthus) paludimonstrus Miller , new species

Figs. 1–8

Diagnosis. Hydrocanthus paludimonstrus can be distinguished from other species by its relatively large size, the broad pronotum with lateral margins strongly curved ( Figs. 1–3 ) (best seen in dorsolateral aspect, Fig. 2 ) and very distinctive male genitalia ( Figs. 5–7 ). The median lobe is apically narrowed and truncate with a large dorsal spine ( Fig. 5 ). The left lateral lobe is broad and triangular ( Fig. 7 ) rather than narrow and medially bent as in most other Hydrocanthus of similar size.

Description. ( Figs. 1–8 ). Measurements. n = 14. Total length (TL) = 4.21–4.61 mm (X = 4.40 mm); greatest width (GW) = 2.16–2.34 mm (X = 2.25 mm); width at pronotal apex (PW) = 1.30–1.41 mm (X = 1.36 mm); length of pronotum medially (PL) = 1.15– 1.29 mm (X = 1.23 mm); length of prosternum and prosternal process (SL) = 0.80– 0.92 mm (X = 0.88 mm); width of prosternal process at apex (SW) = 0.56–0.64 mm (X = 0.59 mm); TL/GW = 1.89–2.03 (X = 1.95); PW/PL = 1.04–1.18 (X = 1.11); SL/SW = 1.35–1.61 (X = 1.48).

Coloration. Head yellow. Pronotum yellow with distinct black band medially along posterior margin in many male specimens ( Fig. 4 ). Elytron dark brown, contrasting strongly with pronotum and head, with irregular, interconnecting red lines making elytron dark red­brown overall. Antennae and palpi yellow. Legs yellow except mesofemur, mesotibia and anteroventral surface of metafemur black. Prosternum yellow; prosternal process yellow anteriorly, dark red­brown along posterior margin; metasternum black medially, yellow­red laterally and posteriorly. Metacoxa and abdominal sterna yellow.

Punctation and sculpture. Head, pronotum and elytron impunctate and smooth, slightly iridescent; pronotum very strongly rounded laterally, lateral bead widened anteriorly; elytra strongly broadened at humeral angles. Prosternum densely setose medially, less setose laterally; prosternal process densely setose on entire surface except along posterior margin. Metasternum and anterior margin of prosternum together shallowly impressed; impunctate except along lateral and posterior margins; without tumidities laterad of medial line. Metacoxae with lateral portion smooth, impunctate; medial portion densely setose over entire surface. Abdomen unmodified, apical sternum without oval matte area apically. Legs unmodified.

Male genitalia. ( Figs. 5–7 ). Median lobe in lateral aspect ( Fig. 5 ) strongly curved basally, abruptly narrowed subapically, apex truncate with large, dorsally­directed spine; in dorsal aspect moderately straight, narrow. Right lateral lobe in lateral aspect large, robust with distinct apical lobe ( Fig. 6 ); left lateral lobe broad, subtriangular, with fringe of setae along dorsomedial margin ( Fig. 7 ).

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 8 ). Spermatheca short, annulated, robust (sp, Fig. 8 ); spermathecal duct moderately broad, surface nearest fertilization duct strongly sclerotized (sd, Fig. 8 ); fertilization duct strongly sclerotized, sinuate (fd, Fig. 8 ); a triangular sclerite present on ventral surface of bursa copulatrix posteriorly at base of common oviduct (vs, Fig. 8 ). Laterotergite expanded and thin basally, slender medially and dorso­ventrally expanded and laterally compressed apically, extending anteriorly from base of gonocoxa (lt, Fig. 8 ); gonocoxa narrow in ventral aspect, broad basally and apically strongly narrowed in lateral aspect, with numerous, short setae, especially along medial margin (gc, Fig. 8 ). Gonocoxosternite apically pointed, medial margin sinuate, anterolateral projections moderately long, triangular and pointed (gs, Fig. 8 ).

Sexual dimorphism. Male ventrally with legs, prosternum and metasternum margined in black, female entirely yellow or yellow­red ventrally; female metasternum more punctate laterally and anteriorly than in male but with large smooth area anteriorly and medially; many males with posterior black pattern on pronotum ( Fig. 4 ), female without black area; and many males with elytra very dark red­brown or black, female with elytra red or red­yellow, similar in color to pronotum.

Variation. The color of the elytron varies between individuals from light red to nearly entirely black. Males are generally darker in color than females and usually have a black band along the basal margin of the elytra.

Etymology. This species is named paludimonstrus from the Latin, paludi and monstrus, together meaning ‘‘swamp monster’’ in reference to the habitat of this animal.

Natural History. Specimens were collected from weedy, shallow ponds in the Beni tropical lowlands.

Examined Material. Holotype: ♂ deposited in Coleccion Cientifica del Departamento de Entomologia, Museo de Historia Natural ‘‘Noel Kempff Mercado,’’ Santa Cruz, Bolivia ( MHNB), labeled, ‘‘ BOLIVIA: Beni. roadside pond 3.4 km W San Borja. 14 July 1998. K. B. Miller / 14 ° 52 ' 57 " S 66 ° 46 ' 03 " W #1­ 08 / HOLOTYPE Hydrocanthus (H.) paludimonstrus K. B. Miller 1999 [red label with double black line border].’’ Paratypes: (13) deposited in my collection and MHNB: (1) same data as holotype except ‘‘/ PARATYPE Hydrocanthus (H.) paludimonstrus K. B. Miller 1999 [blue label with black line border];’’ (1) ‘‘ Bolivia. Beni, weedy pond 1.7 km E San Borja 15 July 1998, K. B. Miller, colr./ 14 ° 52 ' 07 " S 66 ° 43 ' 53 " W #1­11 / PARATYPE Hydrocanthus (H.) paludimonstrus K. B. Miller 1999 [blue label with black line border];’’ (8) ‘‘ Bolivia: Dpto. Sta Cruz, Prov. Velasco, 2.0 km SSW San Ignacio , cattail pond, 24 Jun 1999, K. B. Miller colr/ 16 ° 23 ' 51 " S 60 ° 57 ' 28 " W #2­10/ PARATYPE Hydrocanthus (H.) paludimonstrus K. B. Miller 1999 [blue label with black line border];’’ (3) ‘‘ Bolivia: Dpto Sta Cruz, Prov. Velasco, San Ignacio , 23 Jun 1999, 16 ° 22 ' 21 " S 60 ° 57 ' 41 " W #2­9 / PARATYPE Hydrocanthus (H.) paludimonstrus K. B. Miller 1999 [blue label with black line border].’’

Figures

Figs. 1–8. Hydrocanthus paludimonstrus n. sp. 1) Body, dorsal aspect; 2) body, left dorsolateral aspect; 3) body, left lateral aspect; 4) pronotum, indicating black pattern present in many males; 5–7) male genitalia; 5) median lobe, right lateral aspect; 6) right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect; 7) Left lateral lobe, left lateral aspect; 8) female genitalia. bc = bursa copulatrix, co = common oviduct, fd = fertilization duct, gc = gonocoxa, gs = gonocoxosternite, lt = laterotergite, r = rami, sd = spermathecal duct, sp = spermatheca, vs = ventral sclerite. Scale bars; a = 1.00 mm for Figures 1–4; b = 0.25 mm for Figure 8.