Novochares tectiformis ( Fernandez , 1982)

Short, Andrew Edward Z. & Giron, Jennifer C., 2023, Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Novochares Giron & Short (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 1171, pp. 1-112 : 1

Novochares tectiformis ( Fernandez, 1982)

Figs 5B , 6A , 24A , 25G-L , 29C

Helochares (s. str.) tectiformis Fernández, 1982b: 88; Fernández 1989: 148 [in key].

Novochares tectiformis ( Fernández, 1982); Girón and Short 2021: 206.

Type material.

Holotype male from Argentina (Corrientes, Santo Tomé) deposited in MACN (not seen).

Material examined

(310 exs). Bolivia: Beni: Cercado Province, 9.5 km N of Trinidad, 14°46'34"S, 64°58'00"W, 17.vi.1999, leg. K.B. Miller (1, SEMC), 7 km SW of Trinidad, 14°52'12"S, 64°57'32"W, 163 m, 18.vii.1998, leg. K.B. Miller (9, SEMC). Santa Cruz: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora y Fauna , 23-30.iv.2004, leg. A.R. Cline, MV +HG lights (56, SEMC, TTU-Z); same data but 1-12.v.2004 (39, SEMC) . Brazil: Amapá: Oiapoque (ca. 22 km S) on BR-156, leg. Short, forested detrital pools, BR18-0720-01B (20, INPA, SEMC, TTU-Z); Calcoene (ca. 50 km NW) on BR-156, 2.67956, -51.35353, 46 m, 21.vii.2018, leg. Short, detrital pool in forest by creek, BR18-0721-01B (1, SEMC). Amazonas: Apui (ca. 43 km NW), -6.96828, -60.06702, 60 m, 4.vii.2018, leg. Short, backwater margin of river, BR18-0704-02C (1, SEMC, DNA voucher SLE1905); Tapauá, Humaita (ca. 240 km N) on BR-319, -5.50298, -62.12392, 54 m, 11.vii.2018, leg. Short, forested detrital pool, BR18-0712-01A (1, SEMC, DNA Voucher SLE1981); same data except margins of small forested stream, BR18-0712-01B (5, SEMC). Matto Grosso do Sul: MS-243, 3 km SW of jct with BR-262, -20.09539, -56.78108, 147 m, 26.vi.2018, leg. Hamada & team, small drying marsh along road by cattle pasture; BR18-0626-02A (19, SEMC, including DNA voucher SLE2095); Aquidauana (ca. 5 km S) on MS-174, -20.53416, -55.76038, 166 m, 27.vi.2018, leg. Hamada & team, small shallow pond with dense vegetation, BR18-0627-02A (1, SEMC, DNA voucher SLE2093). Paraná: Curitiba, 28.vi.1969, leg. P. & P. Spangler (1, UNSM). Rondônia: Novo Uniao, Vale do Cachoeiras , -10.91764, -62.377, 359 m, 10.vii.2018, leg. Short, small sandy-bottom stream margin, BR18-0710-02A (1, SEMC, DNA voucher SLE2089). Roraima: BR-401, ca. 26 km NE of Boa Vista, 2°56.191'N, 60°28.017'W, 92 m, 12.i.2018, leg. Short, pooled up morichal, BR18-0112-06B (2, SEMC); BR-401, ca. 6 km SW of Bonfim, 3°21.615'N, 59°53.361'W, 100 m, 12.i.2018, leg. Short, Benetti & Santana, large marsh with abundant vegetation, BR18-0112-02A (1, SEMC); BR-174, ca. 50 km NW Boa Vista, 3°18.348'N, 60°51.458'W, 100 m, 13.i.2018, leg. Short, marsh, BR18-0113-02A (1, SEMC); Amajari, ca. 16 km W on RR-203, 3°36.874'N, 61°33.470'W, 125 m, leg. Short, Benetti & Santana, marsh, BR18-0113-04A (43, INPA, SEMC). São Paulo: Guaratingueta, at light, 17.iv.1960, leg. B. Malkin #1 (7, UNSM); “São Paulo", “10-57”, V. N. Alin (1, USNM) . Ecuador: Pastaza: AGIP platform Villano B, along transect 1 & 2, 24.v.2008; leg. A.E.Z. Short, small forest stream, AS-08-008b (1, SEMC) . French Guiana: Anapaike Village, Lawa River, 22-25.ix1963, leg. B. Malkin (2, USNM); Carbet ONF Montagne de fer, Piste de montagne de fer (formerly road Degrad Florian), Crique Petit Laussat, 5.40697°N, - 53.55468°W, 10 m, leg. Short, detrital pools, FG20-0302-01C (6, SCC, SEMC); Carbet communal St-Elie, Route de Saint-Elie , tributary of Crique Toussaint, 5.29653°N, - 53.05205°W, 42 m, leg. Short & Neff, margins of clearwater stream, FG20-0305-03B (3, SEMC); Paracou, Station de recherche CIRAD, Crique Verlot, 5.27966°N, - 52.92846°W, 8 m, leg. Short & Neff, forested detrital pools, FG20-0306-01A (3, SEMC); same data except margins and detrital snags in stream; FG20-0306-01B (1, SEMC) . Guyana: Region 7: Takatu Mts, logging site, forest puddle, 8.xii.1983, leg. P.D. Perkins (1, SEMC), same data but without logging site and only “xii.1983” (5, SEMC). Region 9: Tributary of the Takatu River , NW of Kusad Mts., 2°50.563'N, 59°59.113'W, 109 m, 24.x.2013, leg. Short, Isaacs, & Salisbury, vegetated creek margins, GY13-1024-02B (11, CBDG, SEMC); Ziida Karisihizi (Lake), nr. Kusad Mts. , 2°49.793'N, 59°48.361'W, 123 m, 25.x.2013, leg. Short, Isaacs, & Salisbury, large vegetated marsh, GY13-1025-01A (30, SEMC, including DNA voucher SLE1220); Ziida Wao Creek near Kusad Mountains , 2°49.724'N, 59°48.546'W, 121 m, 25.x.2013, leg. Short, Isaacs, and Salisbury, stagnant vegetated creek, GY13-1025-02A (12, SEMC); nr. Kusad Mts. , 2°50.955'N, 59°58.353'W, 115 m, 27.x.2013, leg. Short, Isaacs, & Salisbury, vegetated pond, GY13-1027-02A (1, SEMC); nr. Kusad Mts. , 2°51.193'N, 59°55.336'W, 117 m, 28.x.2013, leg. A. Short, muddy margins of vegetated farm ponds, GY13-1028-02A (1, SEMC); N. Parabara, 2°10.902'N, 59°20.547'W, 260 m, basecamp area, 31.x.2013, leg. A. Short marshy puddles & rivulets; GY13-1031-03A (1, SEMC) . Suriname: Para: Along Martin Luther King Highway, marsh by road, 23.vii.2012, leg. Short & team, SR12-0723-02A (1, SEMC). Sipaliwini: Camp 3, Werehpai , 2°21.776'N, 56°41.861'W, 237 m, 3-7.ix.2010, leg. Short and Kadosoe, pooled up detrital creek, SR10-0903-01A (1, SEMC, DNA voucher SLE448); Raleighvallen Nature Reserve , base of Voltzberg, 4°40.432'N, 56°11.079'W, 86 m, 16.iii.2016, leg. Short et al., pooled up stream, SR16-0316-01B (1, SEMC); Upper Palumeu , Camp 1, 2.47700°N, 55.62941°W, 275 m. leg. A. Short, 10-16.iii.2012, Flight Intercept Trap, SR12-0310-TN1 (1, SEMC); same data except small forest pool, SR12-0310-02A (2, SEMC); Kasikasima, Camp 4 (low), 2.97731°N, 55.38500°W, 200 m, 20-25.iii.2012 leg. A. Short, detrital pools along trail to METS camp, SR12-0320-03A (4, SEMC); Raleighvallen Nature Reserve Voltzberg Station , 04°40.910'N, 56°11.138'W, 78 m, 29.vii.2012, leg. A. Short and C. McIntosh, detrital side pool, SR12-0729-02B (3, SEMC); same data as previous except: 29.vii.2012, leg. Short, Maier, McIntosh, and Kadosoe, stream margins, SR12-0729-02A (4 NZSC, SEMC) . Suriname: Krakka-Phedra Road , 25.x.1962, leg. B. Malkin, "tiny pool in forest, much fallen foliage" (92, UNSM) . Venezuela: Bolívar: Guri, Rio Caroni, 100 m, 16.xi.1966, leg. J. & B. Bechyne & E. Osuna (1, MIZA); Gran Sabana, E. Pauji, 4°36.635'N, 61°26.133'W, 894 m, 17.vii.2010, leg. Short, roadside puddles, VZ10-0717-01B (1, SEMC); Gran Sabana, N. Santa Elena, Rio Guara at Rt. 10, 17.vii.2010, leg. Short, Tellez, & Arias, marshy area, VZ10-0717-02A (3, SEMC) .

Differential diagnosis.

This common and widespread species has an aedeagal form that is similar to two relatively rare and (so far as we know) localized species: N. tambopatense (Fig. 28K ) and to a lesser extent N. pume (Fig. 28G ). The ventral plate of the median lobe is strongly extended into a long spine in both of those species, which projects distally making the median lobe appear trifid. In N. tectiformis , the ventral plate of the median lobe does not project distally (e.g., Fig. 25K ) or only very little (e.g., Fig. 25L ) and is never in the form of a narrow spine. In N. pume , the projections of the ventral and dorsal plates are subequal in size, while in N. tambopatense , the projection of the ventral plate does not reach the apex of the projections of the dorsal plate.

Description.

Body length 6.2-9.5 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces dark brown and sheeny, with slightly to sharply paler margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps 1.1-1.5 × longer than width of head, uniformly orange to brown in color (Fig. 24A ). Thorax: Ground punctation on pronotum and elytra dense and very shallowly impressed. Elytra without rows of serial punctures, each with very faint rows (one dorsal and two or three lateral) of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures. Prosternum flat to very weakly and broadly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite with posterior face somewhat bisinuate and medial longitudinal ridge extending anteriorly (resembling a nose). Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite relatively deep, U-shaped. Aedeagus: (Figs 5B , 25G-L ) Overall shape pear-like, 2.4-3.0 × longer than wide; lateral projection on apical region of outer margin of each paramere strongly pointed; at closest point, dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by distance 0.1-0.5 × greatest width of a paramere; dorsal plate of median lobe with neck 0.5-0.6 × as broad as base; arms of dorsal plate of median lobe gradually and weakly narrowing towards apex, apically converging or parallel, with apex narrowly and dorsally pointed, nearly 0.35-0.50 × length of dorsal plate of median lobe; notch between arms broadly projected at base, at base nearly as broad as 2-3 × base of an arm; ventral plate of median lobe moderately sclerotized, triangular, apically rounded, apex extending to basal 1/4 of arms of dorsal plate; basal piece 0.33-0.34 × length of a paramere. In lateral view, aedeagus flattened, with ventral outline of parameres 3.9 × longer than greatest width near base; dorsal outline nearly straight along basal 2/3.

Distribution.

Previously recorded for Argentina, Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul), Paraguay, and Venezuela. Here newly recorded for Bolivia, Guyana, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, and the Brazilian states of Amapá, Amazonas, Paraná, Rondônia, and São Paulo (Fig. 29C ).

Habitat.

This species is found in a variety of habitats, with a particular preference for detrital pools. However, it has also been found in marshes and stream margins.

Remarks.

This species exhibits a relatively large degree of morphological and genetic variation across its substantial geographic range. The maximum intraspecific pairwise genetic divergence in COI is 5.4% among the individuals sequenced from Suriname, Guyana, and Brazil. While the overall form of the aedeagus is always the same, there is variation in the degree of convergence of the distal arms of the dorsal plate of the median lobe (compare Fig. 25K vs. Fig. 25L ) as well as small differences in the relative height and shape of the apex of the ventral plate of the median lobe. However, we did not find these differences to correlate to the genetic data we had, nor to be stable or substantial enough to break the group into multiple species. Therefore, we consider N. tectiformis to be a somewhat variable, common, and widespread species.

Figures

Figure 5. Aedeagi of the Novochares tectiformis species group along with schematic representations of the whole, the parameres (in blue), and the dorsal (in yellow) and ventral (in red) plates of the median lobe A N. trifurcatus B N. tectiformis C N. mura.

Figure 6. Morphological features of Novochares spp. A, B mesoventrite C, D dorsal view of the head A N. tectiformis B N. cochlearis C Aulonochares ligulatus D N. pertusus.

Figure 24. Dorsal habitus of Novochares spp. A N. tectiformis B N. orchis C N. duo D N. piaroa.

Figure 25. Aedeagi of the Novochares tectiformis species group A-D N. duo E, F N. bolivianus G-L N. tectiformis A, E, F, G, K, L dorsal view B, H ventral view C, I lateral view D, J oblique view.

Figure 28. Aedeagi of the Novochares tectiformis species group A-C N. piaroa D-F N. florifer G-J N. pume K, L N. tambopatense A, D, G, K dorsal view B, H ventral view C, F, I lateral view E, J, L oblique view.

Figure 29. Distribution of Novochares tectiformis species group A N. duo (red), N. bolivianus (yellow), N. atlanticus (blue), N. danta (green) B N. coya (red), N. yora (yellow), N. xingu (blue), N. mura (green), N. trifurcatus (purple) C N. tectiformis (red) D N. pume (red), N. piaroa (yellow), N. florifer (blue), N. mojenos (green), N. tambopatense (purple).