Tobochares kappel, Girón & Short, 2021

Giron, Jennifer C. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2021, Review of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Tobochares Short & Garcia, 2007 (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae): new lineages, new species, and new records, ZooKeys 1019, pp. 93-140 : 93

Tobochares kappel sp. nov. Figs 9A-C , 11L , 13 , 16A, B, D

Type material examined.

Holotype (male): "Suriname: Sipaliwini District: 3°47.479'N, 56°8.968'W; 320 m; CSNR: near Kappel airstrip, wet rocks on sides of waterfall; 13.viii.2013; leg. Short and Bloom; SR13-0813-04B" (NZCS). Paratypes (53 exs.): Suriname: Sipaliwini District: same data as holotype (49, NZCS, SEMC); same, except "Petromina Falls; leg. Short, Bloom, Kadosoe; SR13-0813-04C" (4, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

Tobochares kappel can be recognized by its strongly convex body in lateral view, accompanied by elytral punctation uniform in size and degree of impression, not impressed to form elytral striae; the serial punctures are seemingly aligned in rows and the interserial punctures are somewhat irregularly distributed and moderately dense (in one or two rows, Fig. 9A, B ). The general habitus and punctation of T. kappel are similar to those of T. arawak , T. canaima , and T. kolokoe . In T. arawak and T. canaima the interserial punctures are highly dense (forming two or three irregular rows, Fig. 3I ). In T. kappel the coloration of pronotum and elytra gradually becomes paler (orange) towards the outer margins (Fig. 9A, B ), and the legs are orange in color (Fig. 9C ), whereas in T. kolokoe only the anterolateral margins of the pronotum are slightly paler and the legs are reddish brown in coloration (Fig. 9D-F ). In addition, the serial punctures are equally impressed along the entire surface of the elytra in T. kappel (Fig. 9B ) whereas in T. kolokoe the serial punctures become more impressed along the postero-lateral areas of the elytra (Fig. 9E ).

Description.

Size and form: Body length 1.6-1.9 mm. Body elongate oval, strongly convex (Fig. 9A, B ). Color and punctation: Dorsal and ventral surfaces of body dark brown, prothorax (especially its lateral areas) and outer margins of elytra slightly paler (Fig. 9A, B ); mouthparts yellow (especially maxillary palps); antennae yellowish brown; legs orange brown with paler (yellow) tarsi (Fig. 9C ). Ground punctation on head, pronotum and elytra moderately marked. Head: Eyes in dorsal view with anterior margin oblique (anteriorly directed; e.g., Fig. 2D ), and outer margins slightly bulging from outline of head; in lateral view, eyes not emarginate (e.g., Fig. 2E ). Thorax: Elytral punctation uniform in size and degree of impression, not impressed to form elytral striae; serial punctures seemingly aligned in rows; interserial punctures somewhat irregularly distributed in one or two rows (Fig. 9A ). Metafemora mostly glabrous on anterior face (Fig. 9C ). Elevation of mesoventrite forming a very low transverse carina (Fig. 9C ). Metaventrite with distinct median, longitudinal, narrow glabrous area extending along posterior half (Fig. 9C ). Abdomen: Abdominal ventrites uniformly and very densely pubescent (Fig. 9C ). Aedeagus (Fig. 11L ). Basal piece nearly 0.5 × the length of a paramere; greatest width of a paramere nearly 0.5 × greatest width of median lobe; outer margins of parameres weakly convex; apex of paramere narrowly rounded; median lobe roughly sagittate, pinched and rounded at apex; gonopore situated nearly at midlength of median lobe.

Etymology.

Noun in apposition. Named after the Kappel airstrip, the locality where the species has been collected.

Distribution.

Known from two very closely situated localities adjacent to Kappel Airstrip, at the foot to Tafelberg Tepui in Suriname. See Fig. 13 .

Life history.

Series were collected from two seepage habitats: one vertical seepage on sandstone adjacent to a large waterfall, and the second from a small mostly horizontal seepage on sandstone seeping into an adjacent stream. See Fig. 16A, B, D .

Figures

Figure 2. Heads of Tobochares spp. A, B T. goias, black mark pointing to Tobochares canthus emarginating the eye A dorsal view B anterolateral view C T. fusus D, E T. luteomargo, black mark pointing to straight anterior margin of the eye D dorsal view E anterolateral view F T. romanoae G T. pemon H T. communis I T. microps.

Figure 3. Characters of elytra and wings of Tobochares spp. A-E Scanning Electron Micrographs A-C elytra: white arrows point to serial punctures; black arrows point to interserial punctures A T. communis B T. atures C T. arawak D, E ventral view of mesoventrite: D T. communis: top white arrow points to posterior elevation of mesoventrite with low longitudinal elevation; bottom white arrow points to narrow longitudinal glabrous patch of the metaventrite E T. arawak: top white arrow points to posterior elevation of mesoventrite with weakly elevated bulge; bottom white arrow points to narrow longitudinal glabrous patch of the metaventrite. F-I detail of elytral punctation; black marks at top of each circle indicates serial punctures F T. pemon (all punctures relatively large; serial punctures longitudinally aligned; interserial punctures in irregular single row) G T. atures (all punctures longitudinally aligned; serial punctures larger than interserial punctures; interserial punctures more densely distributed) H T. kolokoe (serial punctures longitudinally aligned; interserial punctures forming one or two irregular rows) I T. canaima (serial punctures longitudinally aligned; interserial punctures forming two or three irregular rows) J, K hindwings J T. sipaliwini K T. microps.

Figure 9. Habitus of Tobochares spp. in the Tobochares communis species group A-C T. kappel A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D-F T. kolokoe D dorsal view E lateral view F ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 11. Aedeagi of Tobochares spp. A T. benettii B T. goias C T. fusus D T. luteomargo E T. pemon F T. anthonyae G T. atures H T. communis I T. microps J T. romanoae K T. akoerio L T. kappel M T. arawak N T. canaima. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 0.1 mm (E-N).

Figure 13. Distribution of Tobochares spp.

Figure 16. Habitat of Tobochares in Suriname A, B habitat for T. kappel, Petrominas Falls (collecting event SR 13 - 0813 - 04 C) C habitat for T. microps, Tafelberg Tepui Summit (collecting event SR 13 - 0820 - 01 B) D habitat for T. kappel and T. communis, seepage along Kappel Airstrip (collecting event SR 13 - 0824 - 02 B) E habitat for T. microps, Tafelberg Tepui Summit (collecting event SR 13 - 0815 - 01 A) F habitat for T. akoerio and T. communis Grensgebergte Mountains (collecting event SR 12 - 0312 - 01 A).