Parhydraena brunovacca, 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 : 33-35

Parhydraena brunovacca new species

( Figs. 7, 59, 61, 94)

Type material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Transkei, Umtata, Nquadu Mt. , sifted litter, 31° 25' S, 28° 45' E, 21.xii.1979, Endrödy-Younga (#1690). Deposited in the TMSA.

Material examined (2,846; pt = paratypes; nt = non-types): South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Amatole, Pirie Forest Station, shore washing, 32° 43' S, 27° 17' E, 8.xii.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2563) (1 pt TMSA); Ciskei, Amatole, Pirie For., indig. forest litter, 32° 43' S, 27° 17' E, 8.xii.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2560) (100+ TMSA nt); Ciskei, Amatole, Pirie For., sift. wet forest ditch, 32° 43' S, 27° 17' E, 8.xii.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2561) (100+ TMSA nt); Hogsback, above Contour Track, afromontane forest; FMHD #2004-039, berl., stream debris, elev. 1335 m, 32° 35' S, 26° 56' E, 3.ii.2004, Clarke (1085) (25 pt FMNH); King Williams Town, Pirie Forest, humus, ZA 86, 32° 43' S, 27° 17' E, 1–30.xii.1961, N. Leleup (19 pt TMSA); Transkei: coast, Dwesa for. res., sifted indigenous forest litter, 32° 17' S, 28° 50' E, 27.ii.1985, Endrödy-Younga (#2174) (6 pt TMSA); Transkei, Dwesa forest, sifted forest litter, 32° 15' S, 28° 49' E, 11.xii.1979, Endrödy-Younga (#1697) (17 pt TMSA); Transkei: Mhlanlane for. st., sifted, indig. forest litter, 31° 26' S, 28° 32' E, 8.iii.1985, Endrödy-Younga (#2186) (5 pt TMSA); Transkei, Ntsubane for. St., sift. fungous logs, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 6.xii.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2600) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Ntsubane forest, forest floor litter, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 24.xi.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2579) (100+ TMSA nt); same locality, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 1.xii.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2593) (100+ TMSA nt); same locality, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 6.xii.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2599) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Ntsubane forest, forest floor marsh, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 1.xii.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2594) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Ntsubane forest, fungi and forest litter, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 25.xi.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2537) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Ntsubane forest, fungus tree trunks, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 24.xi.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2578) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Ntsubane forest, rotten Cussonia fruit, 31° 27' S, 29° 44' E, 24.xi.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2577) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Port St James, Silaka indig. forest, litter, 31° 33' S, 29° 30' E, 24.xi.1987, Endrody-Younga (#2533) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Port St. Jones, Silaka, forest logs and fungi, 31° 33' S, 29° 30' E, 30.xi.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2544) (2 pt TMSA); Transkei, Port St. Jones, Silaka, water collection, 31° 33' S, 29° 30' E, 30.xi.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2543) (1 pt TMSA); Transkei: S. coast, Dwesa for. res., window trap, 7 days, 32° 17' S, 28° 50' E, 26.ii.1985, Endrödy-Younga (#2166) (1 pt TMSA); Transkei: S. coast, Dwesa forest reserve, shore washing, forest, 32° 17' S, 28° 50' E, 3.iii.1985, Endrödy- Younga (#2181) (4 pt TMSA); Transkei, Silaka For. Reserve, forest floor litter, 31° 33' S, 29° 30' E, 30.xi.1988, Endrödy-Younga (#2592) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Silaka For. Reserve, groundtrap with banana bait, 31° 33' S, 29° 30' E, 24.xi.1987, Endrödy-Younga (#2535) (100+ TMSA nt); Transkei, Umtata, Nquadu Mt., sifted litter, 31° 25' S, 28° 45' E, 21.xii.1979, Endrödy-Younga (#1690) (100+ TMSA nt, 14 pt TMSA); KwaZulu-Natal Province, Ingwavuma Dist., Gwaliweni Forest, humus, ZA 76, 27° 8' S, 32° ' E, 1–30.x.1960, N. Leleup (1 pt TMSA); Maritzbg. Dist., Town Bush, humus, ZA 22, 29° 2' S, 29° 24' E, 1–30.x.1960, N. Leleup (7 pt TMSA); Natal Middld, Doreen Clarck Nat. R., river bank in forest, 29° 34' S, 30° 17' E, 11.xii.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2759) (100+ TMSA nt); Natal Middld, Doreen Clarck Nat. R., sifted forest litter, 29° 34' S, 30° 17' E, 12.viii.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2750) (100+ TMSA nt); Natal Middld, Karkloof for., sifted forest litter, elev. 1300 m, 29° 18' S, 30° 13' E, 5.xii.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2745) (100+ TMSA nt); Natal Middld, Northington, sifted forest litter, 29° 28' S, 30° 1' E, 12.xii.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2764) (100+ TMSA nt); Ngele Forest N. R., near Weza, Blue trail, afromontane forest with some exotics; FMHD #2004-066, berl., leaf & log litter, elev. 1200–1285 m, 30° 31' S, 29° 40' E, 21–22.ii.2004, Solodovnikov, Newton et al. (1094) (22 pt FMNH); Pietermaritzburg, 29° 37' S, 30° 23' E, 19.iii.1905, Tragardh (2 pt LUM); Pietersbg. Dist., Helpmekaar River, humus, ZA 20, 29° 37' S, 30° 23' E, 1–30.ix.1960, N. Leleup (1 pt TMSA); Port St. John Dist., Ingogo Forest, humus, ZA 82, 27° 34' S, 29° 54' E, 1–30.xii.1961, N. Leleup (4 pt TMSA); S. Natal, Weza Impetyene forest, forest floor litter, 30° 37' S, 29° 42' E, 16.xi.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2682) (100+ TMSA nt); S. Natal, Weza Impetyene forest, sift. shore litter, 30° 37' S, 29° 42' E, 19.xi.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2698) (100+ TMSA nt); S. Natal, Weza, Ingeni forest, bushbuck excrement, 30° 32' S, 29° 41' E, 18.xi.1989, Endrödy-Younga (#2690) (100+ TMSA nt); S. Natal, Weza, lower Stinkwood for., sifted forest litter, 30° 34' S, 29° 43' E, 17.xi.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2686) (100+ TMSA nt); S. Natal, Weza-Lovedale, window trap, 3 days, 30° 40' S, 29° 41' E, 24.ii.1985, Endrödy-Younga (#2162) (4 pt TMSA); Weza, Impetyene Forest, forest, +/- 17 km from Station, shore washing, 30° 38' S, 29° 39' E, 26.xi.1989, Endrödy-Younga & Klimaszewski (#2719) (100+ TMSA nt); Weza, Impetyene Forest, lower forest, shore washing, large and rapid forest river with stony banks, 30° 37' S, 29° 42' E, 19.ii.1989, Endrödy-Younga (#2697) (100+ TMSA nt); Xumeni Forest, b. Donnybrook [no date], 29° 55' S, 29° 51' E, Franz (2 pt NMW); Mpumalanga Province, E. Transvaal, Mariepskop, forest, humus, ZA 8, 24° 35' S, 30° 50' E, 1–30.viii.1960, N. Leleup (1 pt TMSA); E. Transvaal, Mariepskop, shore washing, 24° 35' S, 30° 50' E, 2.v.1981, Endrödy-Younga (#1761) (6 pt TMSA); Mt. Sheeba, under river stones, 24° 51' S, 30° 45' E, 27.xi.1986, Endrödy-Younga (#2322) (100+ TMSA nt); Nelshoogte, Knuckles rocks for., intercept trap 66d, 25° 47' S, 30° 50' E, 4.xii.1986, Endrödy-Younga (#2351) (1 pt TMSA); Nelshoogte, Knuckles rocks forest, intercept trap, 41 day, 25° 47' S, 30° 50' E, 24.x.1986, Endrödy-Younga (#2309) (100+ TMSA nt); Uitsuk, window trap, 25° 15' S, 30° 33' E, 15.xii.1986, Endrödy-Younga (#2390) (100+ TMSA nt).

Differential diagnosis. Similar in dorsal habitus to the broad-shouldered species P. brahma and P. mpumalanga ( Figs. 59, 60, 63). Distinguished from P. brahma by the longer maxillary palpi (palpus length/ head width ca. 0.57 vs. 0.44), the less broad-shouldered shape of the elytra, the less markedly microreticulate head, the less strongly punctate pronotum, the shallower pronotal impressions, and the very different aedeagi ( Figs. 61, 65). Differentiated from P. mpumalanga by the less finely punctate pronotal relief, the smaller size (length ca. 1.78 mm vs. 1.97 mm), and the darker color. The male genitalia clearly show that P. brunovacca and P. mpumalanga are sister species ( Figs. 61, 62).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.78/0.87; head 0.30/0.48; pronotum 0.42/0.71, PA 0.56, PB 0.62; elytra 1.12/0.87. Dorsum brown to dark brown, lateral margins of pronotum slightly lighter; legs brown; maxillary palpi light brown to testaceous, distal mere acuminate, apex not darker.

Head with eyes moderately large, in dorsal aspect 10 rather small, convex facets in longest series. Ocelli distinct round small shining, each located at base of shallow oblique interocular fovea. Frons finely punctate, ca. 1xef, interstices shining, ca. 2–4xpd; area between interocular foveae and eye, punctate, effacedly microreticulate, dull. Clypeus dull, effacedly microreticulate, very finely and very sparsely punctate, except anterior margin shining. Labrum dull, length subequal that of clypeus, apicomedially emarginate to form rounded lobe on each side; laterally fringed with short arcuate setae. Maxillary palpi very short, often concealed beneath head in dorsal view, combined lengths of meres much less than width of head (ratio ca. 20/ 35); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 9/3/8. Mentum and submentum finely, moderately sparsely punctulate, very sparsely setose, interstices shining.

Pronotum broad, anterior margin over median 1/3 weakly emarginate and with narrow hyaline border. Anterior angles obtuse, rounded. Sides rounded, widest just before middle, behind middle gradually attenuate, straight or very weakly sinuate. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Disc finely sparsely punctate, 0.5–1xef, interstices strongly shining; impressions very shallow, broadly U-shaped, many punctures confluent, some jointly forming transverse rows. Each puncture with anterior margin extended posteriorly as narrow ridge, dividing puncture into a pair of two smaller punctures each of which smaller than eye-facet, short recumbent or decumbent seta arising from posterior extreme of dividing ridge. Very shallow wide impression at each posterior angle. Sculpture laterally subrugose, dull.

Elytra weakly shining, broad, attenuate posteriorly, sides arcuate, margins distinct from shoulder for 3/4 of length, sutural angle more acute in female than in male. Ten-seriate punctate, punctures ca. 2–3xef, interstices ca 1xpd, non-granulate or granules minute and indistinct; intervals ca. 2xpd, each with unilinear row of minute, widely spaced punctures; setae of serial punctures and intervals very similar in length and density, small, decumbent or recumbent.

Metaventrite moderately short, with moderately shallow median elongate oval impression in basal 2/3, deepest at anterior extreme, midlongitudinal carina between anterior extreme of oval impression and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Male: ventrite 5 hydrofuge pubescent in basal 1/3 laterally, posterior margin of pubescent area extended in middle to about 1/2 length of ventrite, shining part very sparsely pubescent in band across posterior 1/2; ventrite 6 simple, with transverse band of sparse setae across midlength; 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: ventrite 5 basal 1/4 hydrofuge pubescent, shining part sparsely pubescent in band across posterior 1/ 2; ventrite 6 simple, with transverse band of sparse setae across posterior 1/2; last ventrite with very short, very sparse setae, margin sharply rounded; last tergite with small tuft of setae on each side of weak apicomedian emargination.

Legs moderately short, femora stout, tarsi very short, claws very small, combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus slightly greater than width of head (ratio ca. 39/35), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 27/ 12. Basal 3 tarsomeres setose beneath in both sexes, those of male protarsi forming pad of suction setae.

Wings fully developed in holotype and all dissected males.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.52 mm, markedly arcuate in lateral view; main-piece, in ventral view, with pointed lobe apically; distal piece multi-lobed, one very strongly sclerotized and sharply pointed; parameres longer than main-piece, right paramere markedly arcuate apically, left paramere slightly sinuate apically and pointed; gonopore bearing process very thin, tube-like ( Fig. 61).

Etymology. Named in reference to the brown color, broad-shouldered habitus, short horn-like maxillary palpi, and dense populations.

Distribution. This species has a wide but rather sparse distribution pattern in eastern and northeastern South Africa ( Fig. 94).

Notes. Females have a rectangular thickening in the wall of the bursa; in this same area in P. brahma there are two thickened and darkly colored pieces ( Fig. 21).