Exocelina pulukensis, Shaverdo, Helena, Wild, Michael, Sumoked, Bob & Balke, Michael, 2017

Shaverdo, Helena, Wild, Michael, Sumoked, Bob & Balke, Michael, 2017, Six new species of the genus Exocelina Broun, 1886 from Wano Land, New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae), ZooKeys 665, pp. 93-120 : 103-104

9. Exocelina pulukensis sp. n. Figs 10, 18

Type locality.

Papua: Puncak Jaya Regency, Puluk area, 03°37'28.5"S; 137°28'35.8"E.

Type material.

Holotype: male "Indonesia: Papua, Wano Land, S of pass to lake plains, 1700m, 2.ix.2014, -3,6117913 137,5277983, Balke & Wild (Pap022)" (MZB). Paratypes: 13 males, 3 females with the same label as the holotype, one male with an additional label "M.Balke 6514" [green text] (NHMW, ZSM). 6 males, 4 female "Indonesia: Papua, Wano Land, N of pass to lake plains, 2000m, 2.ix.2014, -3,6117913 137,5277983, Balke & Wild (Pap023)", one male with an additional label "M.Balke 6509" [green text] (NHMW, ZSM).

Additional material.

3 males, 1 female "Indonesia: Papua, Wano Land, Puluk, 1320m, 1.ix.2014, -3.660272 137.5207436, Balke & Wild (Pap020)", one male with an additional label "M.Balke 6521" [green text] (ZSM). 1 male "Indonesia: Papua, Wano Land, red clay creek nr cave, 1100m, 3.ix.2014, nr -3.587955 137.5114945, Balke & Wild (Pap024)", "M.Balke 6515" [green text] (ZSM).

Diagnosis.

Beetle medium-sized, piceous, with pronotum paler anteriorly and laterally, dorsal punctation dense and coarse, microreticulation strongly impressed; pronotum without lateral bead; male antennomeres 3-10 stout; protarsomere 4 with large, thick, strongly curved anterolateral hook-like seta; protarsomere 5 slightly concave ventrally; median lobe slightly curved, with apex rounded, slightly curved downwards in lateral view, in ventral view narrowed subdistally, with subparallel sides and slightly asymmetrical, concave apex; paramere without dorsal notch, subdistal setae numerous, long, dense, strong, three isolated setae of the paramere with distinct basal prolongations, proximal setae thin and sparse, inconspicuous.

The species is similar to E. wigodukensis sp. n. but differs from it in having less modified antennae, different shape of the median lobe (broader and without apical “beak” in lateral view and narrowed subdistally and with slightly asymmetrical apex in ventral view), and in having three isolated setae of the paramere with distinct basal prolongations.

Description.

Size and shape: Beetle medium-sized (TL-H 3.7-4.25 mm, TL 4.1-4.6 mm, MW 2-2.25 mm), with oblong-oval habitus, broadest at elytral middle. Coloration: as in E. wigodukensis sp. n. (Fig. 10).

Surface sculpture: as in E. wigodukensis sp. n.

Structures: as in E. wigodukensis sp. n. Abdominal ventrite 6 broadly rounded apically.

Male: Antenna only slightly modified (Fig. 10): antennomeres 3-10 stout. Pro- and mesotarsomeres 1-3 slightly dilated. Protarsomere 4 not modified, with large, thick, strongly curved anterolateral hook-like seta. Protarsomere 5 slightly concave ventrally, with anterior band of ca. 30 and posterior row of six relatively long, not pointed setae (Fig. 18D). Median lobe slightly curved, with apex rounded, slightly curved downwards in lateral view; in ventral view, narrowed subdistally, with subparallel sides and slightly asymmetrical, concave apex. Paramere without dorsal notch, subdistal setae numerous, long, dense, strong, the three most proximal of them standing isolated and strongly modified having distinct basal prolongations; proximal setae thin and sparse, inconspicuous (Fig. 18 A–C). Abdominal ventrite 6 with 4-7 lateral strioles on each side.

Holotype: TL-H 4.2 mm, TL 4.6 mm, MW 2.2 mm.

Female: Antennae distinctly more slender than in males. Pro- and mesotarsi not modified. Abdominal ventrite 6 without lateral strioles.

Variability.

The males from the localities Pap020 and Pap024 (see "Additional material") have thicker and shorter median lobe, with its apex distinctly broader in lateral view and more concave in ventral view. More material from the region is necessary to conclude whether two distinct but very similar species occur here or it is just a matter of variability.

Distribution.

Papua: Puncak Jaya Regency. The species is known from Puluk area (Fig. 19).

At Puluk (1370 m), there are three permanent Wano families living, and near their houses, the small trees and bushes are kept trimmed back. The soil is dark, and very fertile. Off into the jungle, around their houses in a circumference of approximately 30-50 m, secondary growth is always encroaching on the hamlet site. Outwards to 250 m beyond the secondary growth, the jungle is lush, but somewhat thinned out, since they clear out smaller trees, and underbrush for firewood and materials for building houses and gardens. Their gardens are out beyond that, and are roughly made and maintained. Beyond that, the jungle is pristine. Just in the jungle to the west of the hamlet site is a small stream where Exocelina abound (the villagers nearest drinking and bathing source). To the north of the hamlet in the mountains, there are many smaller streams and puddles coming teeming with beetles.

Etymology.

The name refers to Puluk area where the species were found. The name is an adjective in the nominative singular.