Parhydraena ora, Perkins, 2009

Perkins, Philip D., 2009, Revisions of the genera Parhydraena Orchymont, Protozantaena Perkins, Decarthrocerus Orchymont, and Parhydraenopsis nomen novum, aquatic and humicolous beetles from Africa and Madagascar, and comparative morphology of the tribe Parhydraenini (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 2038, pp. 1-119 : 29-30

Parhydraena ora new species

( Figs. 54, 56, 96)

Type material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Western Cape Province, Cape Town , 33° 55' S, 18° 25' E [no collector or date on label]. Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes (3): South Africa: Western Cape Province, Cape District, Du Toit's Kloof , under stones in tiny spring and among algae in bottom gravel, 33° 43' S, 19° 11' E, 8.xi.1949, B. Malkin (1 BMNH) ; As above, 22.xi.1949, B. Malkin (1 BMNH) ; Cape Town , 33° 55' S, 18° 25' E [no collector or date on label] (1 MCZ) .

Differential diagnosis. Similar in dorsal habitus to P. parva and P. namaqua ( Figs. 42, 51, 54). Distinguished from P. parva by the larger size (length ca. 1.77 vs. 1.64 mm), the comparatively shorter maxillary palpi (palpus length/head width ca. 0.78 mm), and the different shape, in males, of the 6th abdominal ventrite. Males have the 6th ventrite modified similar to that of P. namaqua . The male genitalia distinctively differ in the three species, and should be examined for reliable determinations ( Figs. 44, 53, 56).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.77/0.73; head 0.28/0.49; pronotum 0.40/0.66, PA 0.54, PB 0.58; elytra 1.09/0.73. Color dark brown except head and disc of pronotum piceous; apex of distal mere of maxillary palpus not darker than remainder of palpus.

Head with eyes comparatively small, in dorsal aspect 7 rather coarse, convex facets in longest series. Ocelli distinct round small shining, each located at base of moderately deep oblique interocular fovea. Frons microreticulate, dull, disc indistinctly finely punctate, ca. 1xef; area between interocular foveae and eye flat or very weakly convex. Clypeus markedly microreticulate, dull, except anterior margin shining. Labrum dull, apicomedially emarginate to form rounded lobe on each side; laterally fringed with short arcuate setae. Maxillary palpi elongate, combined lengths of meres less than width of head (ratio ca. 25/32); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 9/5/11. Mentum and submentum sparsely finely punctulate, effacedly microreticulate, interstices shining.

Pronotum with anterior margin straight or nearly so, median 1/3 with extremely narrow hyaline border. Anterior angles obtuse, moderately angulate. Sides rounded, widest just before middle, behind middle gradually attenuate, straight. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Pronotum coarsely and very densely punctate, rugulose, dull, except discal relief much more finely punctate, ca. 1xef, interstices smooth and shining. Discal impressions deep, broadly U-shaped, many punctures confluent; rather deep, wide impression at each posterior angle. Each puncture with anterior margin extended posteriorly as narrow ridge, dividing puncture into a pair of two smaller punctures, most punctures with indistinct, short recumbent or decumbent seta arising from posterior extreme of dividing ridge.

Elytra elongate-ovate, sides weakly arcuate, margins distinct from shoulder for 4/5 of length. Ten-seriate punctate, only first series striate-impressed, in distal 1/2; punctures ca. 1xef, longitudinally separated by ca. 1xpd, becoming finer and shallower on apical declivity, each puncture with minute granule at anterior margin. Interval width ca. 2xpd, shining but with irregular reflections, each with unilinear or slightly irregular row of minute granules, each granule at its posterior side with short recumbent seta, setae very similar in length and density to setae of serial punctures.

Metaventrite with moderately shallow median elongate oval impression in basal 1/2, midlongitudinal shining carina between anterior extreme of oval impression and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Ventrite 5 hydrofuge pubescent in basal 1/3 laterally, posterior margin of pubescent area produced in middle to 4/5 length of ventrite; shining part of ventrite 5 very sparsely pubescent. Ventrite 6 very weakly, effacedly microreticulate, shining, with prominent tubercle in midline, area posterior to tubercle markedly concave. Last ventrite asymmetrical, apex lobiform and setose; last tergite with tuft of setae on each side of apicomedian notch into which fits lobe of last ventrite. Female unknown.

Legs moderately long and slender, combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus greater than width of head (ratio ca. 49/32), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 28/21. Basal 3 pro- and mesotarsomeres, in male, with pad of suction setae.

Wings fully developed in holotype.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.41 mm, slightly sinuate in ventral view; main-piece widened apically in ventral view, with large pointed process in left lateral view; distal piece with small rounded lobe and much larger hood-like lobe, latter with bifurcate left margin ( Fig. 56).

Etymology. Named in reference to the complicated left edge of the aedeagus.

Distribution. Currently known only from " Cape Town" and Du Toit's Kloof, in southwesternmost Western Cape Province ( Fig. 96).