Deronectes propedoriae, Aykut & Yildirim & Tusun & Fery, 2019

Aykut, Medený, Yildirim, Ýbrahým Halýl, Tusun, Sadreddýn & Fery, Hans, 2019, Deronectes kabilcevz sp. n. and D. propedoriae sp. n. from south-eastern Anatolia (Turkey) (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae), Zootaxa 4691 (5), pp. 589-600 : 598-599

Comparison of D. propedoriae sp. n. with D. doriae Sharp, 1882

We compared the holotype of D. propedoriae sp. n. with the lectotype of D. doriae (female; locus typicus “Cauca- sia”, stored in the BMNH) and numerous specimens of the latter from Turkish localities (cf. Fery & Brancucci 1997: 275, Fery & Hosseinie 1998: 269) and with specimens from northern Iran (cf. Hájek et al. 2011: 472).

Both species can be distinguished easily by the distinctly more elongate and parallel body shape of D. propedoriae sp. n. (compare Figs 3 and 4 ). Additionally, the shape of the pronotum of D. propedoriae sp. n. is much more cordiform due to its great maximum width and strongly constricted shape near the base (PMW/PBW: 1.25 in the new species and only 1.07 in D. doriae ). The sublateral impression on the pronotum is somewhat weaker in the new species. On the ventral surface the shape of the suture between the metaventrite and the metacoxae is remarkably different in both species, and the metaventral wing of the new species is longer in the new species (compare Figs 7 and 8 ). The first four protarsomeres of D. propedoriae sp. n. are distinctly broader than those of D. doriae ; in particular, the width of the second protarsomere is much broader than its length. Differences in shape of the gonocoxae and gonocoxosterna are also present (compare Figs 19–20 with 21–22), but should not be used for a reliable identification, in particular because those of the holotype of D. propedoriae sp. n. are very little sclerotised.

The most striking difference is, however, the shape of the apex of the last abdominal ventrite.As far as we know, it has never been reported that the last abdominal ventrite of the females of D. doria e is very unusually shaped—the apex is slightly indented and the hind margin ends in a short upwards curved pointed lobe ( Fig. 12 ; specimen from Çam pass, Artvin province, Turkey). This shape has been observed in female specimens from all Turkish and the Iranian specimens as well as in the lectotype. In several–but not in all–females studied, the lobe is provided with a little shiny protuberance. Such shape of the apex is unknown of any other Deronectes species as well as it is its function. Males of D. doriae do not show any unusual modification of the abdomen. The apex of the last abdominal ventrite of D. propedoriae sp. n. is also quite unusually shaped, but in a totally different way (see Fig. 11 ). Additionally, we want to mention that both kinds of shape are not present in females of the third member of the doriae -group ( D. wittmer i Wewalka, 1971) as well as it is unknown to us from any other diving beetle.

Notes: The distance (direct line) between the type locality of D. propedoriae sp. n. and the closest locality of all D. doriae studied is ca. 250 km (near Gümüşhane, Köse district of Gümüşhane province, ca. 40.20N 39.65E). Both localities belong to different mountain ranges—Eastern Taurus (Güney Doðu Toroslar) for the former and Black Sea Mountains (Doðu Karadeniz Daðlarý) for the latter.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Habitus of: (1) Deronectes kabilcevz sp. n. (holotype); (2) Deronectes schuberti Wewalka, 1971 (paratype); (3) Deronectes propedoriae sp. n. (holotype); (4) Deronectes doriae Sharp, 1882 (holotype).

FIGURES 5–8. Ventral surface in part of: (5) Deronectes kabilcevz sp. n. (holotype); (6) Deronectes schuberti Wewalka, 1971 (paratype); (7) Deronectes propedoriae sp. n. (holotype); (8) Deronectes doriae Sharp, 1882 (female from Çam pass, Artvin province, Turkey).

FIGURES 15–22. Median lobe of aedeagus in ventral and lateral view and left paramere of: (15–16) Deronectes kabilcevz sp. n. (holotype); (17–18) Deronectes schuberti Wewalka, 1971 (paratype). Gonocoxa and gonocoxosternum of: (19–20) Deronectes propedoriae sp. n. (holotype); (21–22) Deronectes doriae Sharp, 1882 (female from Çam pass, Artvin province, Turkey).

FIGURES 9–12. Last abdominal ventrite of: (9) Deronectes kabilcevz sp. n. (holotype); (10) Deronectes schuberti Wewalka, 1971 (paratype); (11) Deronectes propedoriae sp. n. (holotype); (12) Deronectes doriae Sharp, 1882 (oblique view; female from Çam pass, Artvin province, Turkey);