Hydraena neblina, Perkins, Philip D., 2011

Perkins, Philip D., 2011, New records and description of fifty-four new species of aquatic beetles in the genus Hydraena Kugelann from South America (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 3074, pp. 1-198 : 18-19

Hydraena neblina , new species

Figs. 8 (habitus), 10 (aedeagus), 157 (spermatheca), 193 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Venezuela : Territorio Federal Amazonas, Cerro de la Neblina , 1 km SE. Basecamp, 140 m.; 0.50N 66.10W, along small whitewater stream; pools of dead leaves & sticks, elev. 140 m, 0° 50' N, 66° 10' W, 17 ii 1985, P. J. Spangler, P. M. Spangler, R. A. Faitoute, W. E. Steiner. Deposited in the MIZA. Paratypes (6): Venezuela : Territorio Federal Amazonas, same data as holotype (1 USNM); Cerro de la Neblina , Basecamp, 140 m.; 0.50N 66.10W, flight-intercept pan trap in rainforest, 0° 50' N, 66° 10' W, 10–20 ii 1985, P. J. Spangler, P. M. Spangler, R. A. Faitoute, W. E. Steiner (2 USNM); Cerro de la Neblina , Basecamp, flight-intercept pan trap across small stream in forest, elev. 140 m, 0° 50' N, 66° 10' W, 24 ii 1985, P. J. Spangler, P. M. Spangler, R. A. Faitoute, W. E. Steiner (2 USNM); Cerro de la Neblina , Basecamp, flight-intercept pan trap along open weedy river bank, elev. 140 m, 0° 50' N, 66° 10' W, 17 ii 1985, P. J. Spangler, P. M. Spangler, R. A. Faitoute, W. E. Steiner (1 USNM).

Differential Diagnosis. Differentiated from other members of the Paeminosa Group by the distinctive dorsal habitus ( Fig. 8 ), the large size (ca. 1.96 mm; largest in the Paeminosa Group), the very densely coarsely punctate frons and pronotum, and, in males, the arcuate metatibiae. Somewhat similar to H. punctilata in coarseness of dorsal punctation, but with a much less transverse pronotum and less randomness of the elytral punctation. The aedeagus of H. neblina differs markedly from that of other members of the Paeminosa Group ( Fig. 10).

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.96/0.84; head 0.31/0.44; pronotum 0.46/0.56, PA 0.48, PB 0.53; elytra 1.20/0.84. Dorsum of head with frons dark brown to piceous, clypeus brown; pronotum brown in front of and behind very faint, diffusely margined slightly darker brown fascia, ratios of color bands, as measured in midline, ca. 8/12/8; elytra brown; legs brown; palpi testaceous, with fine sheen, tip not darker.

Dorsum of head microreticulate, dull. Frons punctures large, deep, separated by narrow walls, ca. 1.5xef. Clypeus punctures smaller and less dense than those of frons. Mentum microreticulate and punctate, dull; postmentum very coarsely densely punctate, dull. Genae punctate, dull; posteriorly raised in ridge on each side of midline, each ridge with median part extended anteriorly.

Pronotum and elytra coarsely densely punctate, subscabrous, interstices microreticulate, more markely on pronotum than elytra. Pronotum behind eyes straight and with a fringe of short, arcuate setae; median 1/3 of anterior margin emarginate and with narrow hyaline border; scintilla absent; PF1 and PF2 absent; PF3 and PF4 deep, confluent, separated from lateral margin by distinctive ridge. Elytra with summit of posterior declivity slightly past midlength; lateral explanate margins moderately wide; punctures random on basal 1/4 of disc, and basal 1/2 laterally, otherwise more or less serial. Apices in dorsal aspect weakly separately rounded, in posterior aspect margins forming moderately deep angle with one another.

Ratios of P2 width and plaque shape (P2/w/l/s) ca. x/2.5/7/4. P1 laminate between coxae, slightly widened posteriorly; median carina sinuate in profile. P2 very narrow, tapering to sharp point, tip contiguous with low median carina of metaventrite. Plaques moderately wide posteriorly, tapering anteriorly, narrowly separated, parallel, weakly raised, located at sides of median depression. Metaventrite with median carina in anterior 1/2, also with very short point on each side, extended posteriorly from margin of each mesocoxal cavity. AIS width at slightly arcuate posterior margin ca. equal plaque separation. All tibiae slightly arcuate, moderately slender. Metatibia distal 1/2 of medial margin with sparse row of recumbent setae. Male abdominal apex symmetrical, sharply rounded; last tergite with small apicomedian notch. Female (microslide mount, n=1): last tergite broadly rounded, without apicomedian notch, ca. 17 hooked, long, widely spaced setae, median gap between hooked setae with two hair-like setae; gonocoxite divided by weakly sclerotized midlongitudinal area, apical margin almost transverse, lacking transverse ridge; spermatheca disc type ( Fig. 157).

Etymology. Named in reference to the type locality.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality and sites very nearby ( Fig. 193 ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Hydraena neblina, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.

FIGURES 193 – 194. 193. Geographical distributions of species in the Paeminosa Group. 194. Geographical distributions of species in the Curvosa and Multispina Groups.