Oosternum sharpi Hansen, 1999

Deler-Hernandez, Albert, Cala-Riquelme, Franklyn & Fikacek, Martin, 2014, A review of the genus Oosternum Sharp of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 61 (1), pp. 43-63 : 43

Oosternum sharpi Hansen, 1999 Figs 17-182738476061

Oosternum costatum Sharp, 1882: 113 (secondary homonym of Megasternum costatum LeConte, 1855 ).

Oosternum sharpi Hansen, 1999: 242 (replacement name).

Material examined

(65 spec.). CUBA: Cienfuegos province: Cumanayagua municipality, Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos, Soledad, ca. 73 m, 22°7 ’18.44” N, 80°19 ’35.26” W, 21.v.2013, A. Deler-Hernández leg., horse excrements (3 spec., NMPC); 01.v.1950, Acc. No 49672 (4 spec., WIFP); Mina Carlota, ca. 470 m, 22.0667°N, 80.1667°W, 06.v.1950, Acc. No 49681 (1 spec., WIFP). Camagüey province: Sierra de Cubitas municipality, Hoyo de Bonet, Res. Ecol. “Limones-Tuabaquey”, ca. 90 m a.s.l., 21°36 ’32.51” N, 77°47 ’5.30” W, 14.iv.2012, F. Cala-Riquelme & N. Duperré leg., (CU-20) (1 spec., NMPC). Granma province: PN Turquino track to Pico Turquino, ca. 900 m a.s.l., 20°0.5'N, 76°53.6'W, 29.iii.2012, F. Cala-Riquelme & N. Duperré leg., (CU03) (15 spec., NMPC). Santiago de Cuba province: San Luis municipality, El Vivero 1.6 Km E of Dos Caminos, ca. 150 m a.s.l., 20°10.8'N, 76°46.4'W, 20-21.vi.2012, A. Deler-Hernández & M. Fikáček leg., (MF18) (3 spec., NMPC); Km 7 road to Gran Piedra, ca. 550 m a.s.l., 20.011°N, 75.673°W, 26.i.2012, R. Anderson leg., (2012-007) (1 spec., NMPC). Guantánamo province: El Yunque, 0.5-1.0 Km W of campismo popular, ca. 40-50 m a.s.l., 20° 20.1N 74° 33.6W, 10.vi.2012, A. Deler-Hernández & M. Fikáček leg., (MF01) (1 spec., NMPC). HAITI: Port-au-Prince: 18°31 ’1.33” N, 72°20 ’7.42” W, 22.v.1950, Acc # 49650, H. B. Mills colr. (4 spec., WIFP). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Barahona: 7 Km NW Paraiso, ca. 200 m a.s.l., 17°59 ’06.85” N, 71°12 ’57.29” W, 27.xi/04.xii.1991, Masner & Peck leg., (91-341) (2 spec., SBPC); 1-04.xii.2012, Masner & Peck leg (91-358) (1 spec., SBPC). JAMAICA: Try Good Hope: ca. 145 m a.s.l., 18°25'N, 77°41'W, 17.viii.1966, H. F. Howden leg., (1 spec., SBPC); Trelawny Par. Nr. Windsor Caves, 18°20 ’59.21” N, 77°38 ’56.11” W, 24.iii.1991, T. K. Phillip and L. Gerofsky leg., berlese stream-side leaves (1 spec., WIFP). PUERTO RICO: 3.5 Km S Cabo Rojo, Cueva Tuna, ca. 25 m, 18°02'N, 67°09'W, 14.vi.1974, S. Peck leg., (1 spec., SBPC); Aguas Buenas, near Aguas Buenas Cave, ca. 250 m a.s.l., 18°15'N, 66°07'W, 07-17.v.1973, S. Peck leg., (1 male, SBPC); 2 km S Mamayes (Palmer), ca. 70 m, 18°21 ’13.63” N, 65°46 ’36.05” W, 25.IX.1987, M. Ivie, ex. old lawn debris (3 spec., WIFP); Isla Verde, vii/viii.1957, I. Fox lgt, light trap (1 spec., WIFP); El Verde, ca 250 m, 18°19 ’27.35” N, 65°49 ’26.90” W, M. A. Ivie lgt, at light (1 spec., WIFP). BARBADOS: Colescave: 1 Km SSE Welchman Hall, ca. 200 m a.s.l., 13°11'N, 59°34'W, 22-26.ii.1979, S. Peck leg., (3 spec., SBPC); Welchman Hall Gully, ca. 270 m a.s.l., 13°11.74'N, 59°34.60'W, 26.v.2006, S & P. Peck leg (06-60) (1 spec., SBPC). TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Curupe: ca. 13 m a.s.l., 10°38 ’21.96” N, 61°24 ’35.91” W 05.xii.1977, W.R.M. Mason leg (1 spec., SBPC). SAINT LUCIA: Vieux Fort, ca. 3 m a.s.l., 13°43 ’18.68” N, 60°56 ’58.86” W, 12.vii.2007, S & P. Peck leg (07-60) (1 spec., SBPC). SABA: Neth Antil, ca. 384 m a.s.l., 17°37 ’43.45” N, 63°13 ’47.93” W, 20.V.2008, D. S. Sikes & M. A. Ivie leg, berlese litter/lawn clipping, (1 spec., WIFP). DOMINICA: Springfield Estate, ca. 330-360 m a.s.l., 15°20.796'N, 61°22.142'W, 30.v/16.vi.2004, S & P. Peck leg (04-86) (1 spec., SBPC). SAINT VINCENT AND GRENADINAS: Esmerald Valley Hotel, E. of Layou, ca. 20 m a.s.l., 13°12'N, 61°14.8'W, 27-29.viii.2006, S & J. Peck leg., forest edge UV, (06-123) (6 spec., SBPC); Buccament. Esmerald Valley Hotel, ca. 20 m a.s.l., 13°12 ’36.18” N, 61°13 ’47.74” W, 10-20.vi.2007, S & P. Peck leg (07-12) (1 spec., SBPC), Bequia island, Hamilton, ca. 25 m a.s.l., 13°00 ’30” N, 61°14'W, 01.viii.2008, S. Peck & M. de Silva leg (08-75) (1 spec., SBPC). GUADELOUPE: BT Malendure, Petite Trace, Fond Ravine, ca. 3 m a.s.l., 16°10.44'N, 61°46.7'W, 21.v.2012, S. Peck leg., forest edge UV, (12-31) (2 spec., SBPC). VIRGIN ISLAND: St. John, Dennis Bay, ca. 5 m, 18°21 ’7.08” N, 64°46 ’29.86” W, 16.vi.1980, (1 spec., WIFP); Maho Bay, ca 30 m, 18°21 ’41.92” N, 64°44 ’32.81” W, 12.iii.1984, W. B. colr, under trees near road, (1 spec., WIFP); St. Thomas, ca. 50 m, 18°21 ’20.93” N, 64°55 ’31.20” W, 05.viii.1984, (1 spec., WIFP).

Diagnosis.

Body widest ca at midlength. Lateral margin of pronotum angulate. Pronotal punctation double-sized, dense consisting of moderately large, round punctures intermixed with smaller transverse punctures. Pronotal interstices with microsculpture. Mesal part of prosternum divided from lateral portions by oblique sharp ridges. Lateral margin of antennal grooves with acute projection. Elytral interval 2 narrower than interval 3, lower than intervals 1 and 3, reaching elytral apex. Elytral intervals 5, 7 and 9 distinctly higher than adjacent intervals. Elytral interstices shiny, without microsculpture. Preepisternal plate wide, drop-like, 2 × longer than wide. Interstices of median part of metaventrite with very fine microsculpture, opaque. Anterolateral ridges not meeting together mesally. Parameres 1.2 × longer than phallobase, bearing a single seta apically. Median lobe longer than parameres, narrowing towards apex. Membranous lateral projections of median lobe large, bearing long setae on each side.

Distribution.

Oosternum sharpi is a common species distributed throughout the West Indies. We are recording it from all islands of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico) as well as from 9 islands of the Lesser Antilles. The species is otherwise widely distributed in southern USA, Central America and northern part of the South America, and was also introduced to the Azores ( Orchymont 1940, Svensson 1973), Hawaiian islands ( Hansen 1995), Ghana ( Smetana 1978) and Sri Lanka ( Hansen 1995). All specimens but one examined by us from the West Indian islands were females. The only male known from the West Indies is from Puerto Rico.

Habitat.

Specimens of Oosternum sharpi are often collected from dry leaf litter of secondary forests or other secondary types of vegetation (including bamboo stands in agricultural areas), and are also found in cow and horse dung in the lowlands or occasionally attracted to UV light.