Notionotus hamus González-Rodríguez

González-Rodríguez, Liza M. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2023, A New Species of Notionotus Spangler, 1972 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Enochrinae) from Central America, The Coleopterists Bulletin 77 (3), pp. 428-431 : 430

Notionotus hamus González-Rodríguez and

Short, new species

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Figs. 1A–F

Type Specimen Examined. Holotype (male): “ COSTA RICA: Puntarenas / Rincon, 7 km W., Osa Penn. Est. F. N. Aguas Buenas , 50 m / 21-25 JUN 1997; S.&J.Peck / CR1P97 025/ ex: flight intercept trap /” ( SEMC).

Differential Diagnosis. The bicolored dorsal coloration of N. hamus is similar to that of Notionotus patamona GonzÁlez-RodrÍguez and Short, 2022, Notionotus bicolor GonzÁlez-RodrÍguez and Short, 2022, and Notionotus lohezi Queney, 2010 . This species also shares the shape of the elevation of the mesoventrite, with one transverse and one longitudinal ridge, with N. mexicanus and N. tricarinatus . Notionotus hamus is the only species in Central America with bicolored dorsal coloration. The aedeagus of this species is quite different, the length of the parameres being significantly shorter than the basal piece, while in N. mexicanus and N. tricarinatus the lengths of the parameres and the basal piece are almost the same. Notionotus hamus can be easily differentiated among all the species of the genus by the hook-shaped apex of the parameres in lateral view.

Description. Size and form: Body length 1.7 mm. Body form elongate oval ( Fig. 1A ), moderately convex in lateral view. Color and punctation: Dorsally yellow and brown, head pale brown, front darker; pronotum yellow, with two small black round spots near posterior margin ( Fig. 1A ); elytra brown, anterior third of the elytra darker, margins of the elytra pale brown. Ventrally pale brown; maxillary palps, mouthparts, antennae, and legs yellow. Clypeus and labrum with fine and weakly impressed punctation (punctures separated by 1–2× their width); pronotal and elytral punctation fine and sparser than on head (punctures separated by 3× their width). Head: Clypeus and labrum shallowly emarginate anteromedially, lateral margins bearing a long seta. Antenna with 8 antennomeres. Thorax: Elytra without sutural stria. Prosternum carinate medially, strongly raised, pointed anteriorly and acute. Elevation of mesoventrite with one transverse ridge, elevated medially, lateral sides concave; longitudinal ridge sharp anteriorly and broadening posteriorly, the point where the two ridges merge rounded and obtuse ( Fig. 1B ); elevation flat in lateral view; mesoventrite with triangular shape in ventral view. Metaventrite convex in the median region, pubescent except for a drop-shaped glabrous patch medially and two lateral patches; anterior margin of the metaventrite extending to mesoventral elevation. Hind femora densely covered with hydrofuge pubescence on basal three-quarters. Abdomen: Abdominal ventrites very densely pubescent. Last ventrite slightly truncate. Aedeagus ( Fig. 1C ) with basal piece 2.5× the length of a paramere. Base of the parameres considerably broader than the base of the median lobe; outer and inner margins sinuate; parameres slightly narrowing to the apex ( Fig. 1D ), apex of parameres hook-shaped in lateral view ( Figs. 1E, F ), pointing backwards in dorsal view. Median lobe length almost equal to the parameres; wide at basal region, narrowing from base to apex, apex narrow and rounded ( Fig. 1D ).

Etymology. The specific name of this species comes from the Latin word hamus , meaning hook, in reference to the hook-shaped apex of the parameres. It is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Life History. There is no information on the habitat where the unique specimen was collected. The labels on the holotype specimen describe the sampling method as a flight intercept trap but do not provide further data.

Remarks. The combination of characters that this species presents is particular and it cannot be placed in any of the groups of species proposed in the most recent revision of the genus for the Neotropical region by GonzÁlez-RodrÍguez and Short (2022). The elevation of the mesoventrite has one transverse ridge, a character state shared with the N. liparus , N. peruensis , and N. rosalesi species-groups. Notionotus hamus has uniquely shaped genitalia among all species of Notionotus in the Neotropical region, the basal piece being significantly large and the parameres being quite short with hook-shaped apices.

Figures

Fig. 1. Notionotus hamus, new species, holotype. A) Habitus in dorsal view, B) Mesoventral process, C) Aedeagus, dorsal view, D) Parameres and median lobe, dorsal view, E) Parameres and median lobe, oblique view, F) Parameres and median lobe, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.