Novadessus viracocha Miller

Miller, Kelly B., 2016, Novadessus viracocha, a new genus and species of Bidessini Sharp from Peru (Coleoptera, Adephaga, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae), ZooKeys 623, pp. 125-130 : 126-129

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Novadessus viracocha Miller sp. n. Figs 1-4, 5

Type locality.

Peru, Department Huanuco, Shishmay.

Diagnosis.

Monotypic. The male median lobe in lateral aspect is expanded medially and evenly curved to a narrowed, apically narrowly rounded apex (Fig. 2). The coloration is overall brownish.

Description.

Measurements. TL = 2.0-2.2mm, GW = 0.9-1.0mm, PW = 0.8-0.9mm, HW = 0.6-0.7mm, EW = 0.4-0.5mm, TL/GW = 2.1-2.2, HW/EW = 1.4-1.5. Body elongate oval, lateral outline somewhat discontinuous between pronotum and elytron (Fig. 1).

Coloration. Head, including appendages, evenly brown. Pronotum brown, somewhat darker along anterior and posterior margins. Elytron brown, lighter brown laterally. Ventral surfaces brown, legs, head and epipleuron lighter brown than thoracic and abdominal sternites.

Sculpture and structure. Head surface finely but distinctly microreticulate and micropunctate; without occipital line or modifications to evenly rounded clypeal margin. Pronotum surface smooth and shiny with few micropunctures scattered across surface; lateral margins broadly rounded with bead narrow; broadest anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly; lateral striae distinctive, extending anteriorly more than half distance across pronotum. Elytron smooth and shiny with fine, distinctive punctures distributed evenly; lateral margins subparallel anteriorly, narrowed to posteriorly pointed apex; basal and sutural striae absent. Prosternum moderately broad; prosternal process nar row, apically sharply pointed, medially rounded. Mesoventrite and metacoxal surfaces smooth and shiny with few, scattered fine punctures; metacoxal lines anteriorly somewhat divergent. Abdominal surfaces smooth and shiny with few scattered punctures. Metatrochanter small, ventrally rounded, not strongly offset from line of metafemur; metafemur slender, unmodified.

Male genitalia. Median lobe in lateral aspect evenly curved, medially distinctly and broadly expanded, apically narrowed to elongate, narrowly rounded apex (Fig. 2); in ventral aspect slender with lateral margins somewhat sinuate to narrowly rounded apex (Fig. 3). Lateral lobe with apical segment elongate slender with small ventral hook apically; ventral segment shorter, moderately broad (Fig. 4).

Variation. Specimens vary somewhat in intensity of coloration, but are otherwise similar.

Etymology.

This species is named viracocha after the Inca creator god.

Distribution.

The species is known from two series. The type series bears label data indicating it is from "Vic. of Shishmay." Shishmay is a small town in the Andes of Peru (Fig. 5). The other series has label data indicating "Vic. San Domingo," in Huanuco, Peru. This second locality could not be located.

Habitat.

The type series was collected from "highland lakes." Nothing else is known of the habitat of Novadessus viracocha .

Type material.

Holotype in United States National Entomological Collection, Smithsonian Institution (USNM), male labeled, "Peru, S. A. Sept. 15-20, 1937 F. Woytkowski. No. 3787/ Dept. of Huanuco Vic. of Shishmay Andes 3600-4100 m Highland Lakes/ HOLOTYPE Novadessus viracocha Miller, 2016 [red label with black line border]." Paratypes (in USNM and The Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico), 4 labeled same as holotype. Nine labeled, "Peru, S. A. Nov. 11-23, 1937 F. Woytkowski No. 3812/ Dept. Huanuco Vic. San Domingo Andes 3000 M. el./ PARATYPE Novadessus viracocha Miller, 2016 [blue label with black line border]."