Neoclypeodytes moroni Arce-Pérez and Novelo-Gutiérrez, 2015

Arce-Pérez, Roberto & Novelo-Gutiérrez, Rodolfo, 2015, Neoclypeodytes moroniArce-Pérez and Novelo-Gutiérrez, New Species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Bidessini) from Mexico, with Notes on the Distribution ofNeoclypeodytes haroldiMiller, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (2), pp. 297-300 : 297-300

Neoclypeodytes moroni Arce-Pérez and Novelo-Gutiérrez , new species

( Figs. 1–6 )

Type Material. Holotype male, labeled: MÉXICO, Veracruz, Municipality of Emiliano Zapata, Laguna Miradores , 850 m, 30. vii. 1997, R. Arce leg. Paratypes: 3 males, 2 females, same data as holotype ; 1 male, 4 females, same data as holotype except 2. v. 1997 ; 3 males, same data as holotype except 18. v. 1997 ; 1 female, same data as holotype except 30. x. 1997 ; 1 female, same data as holotype except 11. i. 1998 , all R. Arce leg; 1 male labeled: MÉXICO, Veracruz, Municipality of Coatepec , Coatepec, Colonia San Pedro, pool aside road, 30. ix. 2010 , R. Arce leg.

Description. Holotype. Male [In square brackets are male paratype variations, n = 6]. Body ( Figs. 1–2 ) oval, elongate, convex dorsally, in dorsal view with margins of pronotum and elytra continuous. Total length (from apex of clypeus to apex of elytra) 2.25 mm [range 2.15–2.30, mean = 2.20], maximum width 1.20 mm [range 1.15–1.25, mean = 1.18]. Integument dark brown [yellowish]. Head: Wider than long ( Fig. 3 ); dark brown; compound eyes silvery; antennae, palpi, and legs yellow [reddish]; pronotum and elytra yellow with irregular, dark brown spot; clypeus elongate, trapezoid, fissured, with margins raised and apex slightly rounded and smooth; compound eyes large, lateral; frontal region with 2 rows of fine punctures bearing short, golden setae, 1 of these rows along internal margin of eye, other starting on frons without entering clypeus; coarse punctures on frons; 1 stria behind eyes; antenna 11-segmented, scape long, pedicel globose, first 8 antennomeres short, subtriangular, last antennomere long, acuminate; maxillary palp 4-segmented, 2 nd and 3 rd segments slightly globose, 4 th acuminate and as long as 2 preceding together; labial palp short, 3-segmented, first 2 segments globose, apical segment acuminate, bifid at apex. Pronotum: Convex; light yellow; with longitudinal, medial, dark brown band extending laterally on posterior half of pronotum as inverted “T”; shallow, sinuate striae extending over 0.45 of posterior part of pronotum; punctation coarser than that on head, more dense in interstrial area. Elytra: Convex; light yellow; without sutural stria; most of surface with irregular pattern of dark spots; punctation coarser than that on pronotum; punctures separated by 1–2 times diameter of each puncture and distributed in parallel lines along length of elytron; striae shallow, short, occupying 0.20 basal length of elytra and slightly sinuate; with parallel lines of punctures bearing sparse, delicate, golden setae. Sternum: Prosternum yellow; convex; prosternal process reddish yellow, elongated, convex, apically lanceolate and fissured at middle, with a longitudinal sulcus. Metaventrite and metacoxae ( Fig. 2 ) with sparse, rough, moderately coarse punctation; length of metacoxa (ML1) along metacoxal suture 0.31 mm [0.31–0.32 mm]; maximum width of medial portion of metacoxa (MW1) from metacoxal suture and perpendicular to metacoxal line 0.08 mm [0.08–0.09 mm], ratio ML1/MW1 3.65 [3.55– 3.87]. Abdomen: Convex; with 6 visible ventrites; 2 nd ventrite as large as following 4 ventrites together; ventrites 1–2 with coarse punctures on margins and medial portion; ventrites 4–5 bearing medial row of long, golden setae; ventrite 6 (anal plate) with dense, coarse punctation and minute, golden setae. Genitalia: Median lobe ( Fig. 4 ) shorter than parameres, slender and curved, in lateral view with medial portion not expanded, convergent to rounded apex; in ventral view ( Fig. 5 ) wide and sinuate, concave in basal third, convex at middle, convergent in apical third, ending in rounded point; parameres ( Fig. 6 ) narrow, with apical 0.43 elongated and slender, with setae at apex.

Female. Similar to male except: Body slightly more robust, total length 2.15–2.35 (mean = 2.25, n = 7), maximum width 1.15–1.25 (mean = 1.22); margin of clypeus convex, not raised at apex, dorsal surface flat.

Diagnosis. By the shape of the clypeus and the large metacoxal ratio, we consider N. moroni likely to be closely related to Neoclypeodytes anasinus Miller from Jamaica (Greater Antilles). Both species share the unique characteristic of a projecting, trapezoidal clypeus ( Fig. 2 ), which is unlike all other species of Neoclypeodytes known to date. The main differences between N. moroni and N. anasinus are (characters of N. anasinus in parenthesis): Total length of body from anterior margin of clypeus to apex of elytra 2.5 mm (2.13 mm), greatest width dorsally across widest point of body 1.20 mm (1.16 mm), length of basal pronotal stria from base to discernible apex 0.45 (0.52), length of basal elytral stria from base to discernible apex 0.20 (0.16), ratio ML1/MW1 3.55–3.87 (5.50); frontal region of head with two rows of fine punctures (without rows of fine punctures); elytra without sutural stria (with sutural stria); male genitalia with median lobe strongly convergent in apical third, ending in a rounded tip (not strongly convergent in apical third).

Type Locality. Mexico, Veracruz, Municipality of Emiliano Zapata, Laguna Miradores .

Etymology. We gladly dedicate this species to Dr. Miguel Angel Morón Ríos for his contribution to the study of the Coleoptera of Mexico.

New State Records. Hitherto, only Neoclypeodytes quadrinotatus Sharp had been recorded for the state of Veracruz (Córdoba). Herein, two more species are incorporated into the fauna of this Mexican state: N. moroni , here described from the Municipalities of Emiliano Zapata and Coatepec; and the first record of Neoclypeodytes haroldi Miller (1 male, 2 females, labeled: Municipality of Coatepec, Coatepec, Río Ahuacatlán, 19°28′20″ N; 96°59′05″ W, 1369 m asl, pool close to a cascade, 30. ix. 2010, R. Arce leg), which was only known from Durango and Sinaloa. This extends considerably its distributional range to the southeastern part of Mexico.

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Neoclypeodytes moroni. 1) Habitus, dorsal view; 2) Habitus, ventral view; 3) Head showing the shape of clypeus and frontal punctation, dorsal view.

Figs. 4–6. Male genitalia of Neoclypeodytes moroni. 4) Median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 5) Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view; 6) Paramere, lateral view.