Tobochares pemon, 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 pemon sp. nov. Figs 2G , 3F , 7G-I , 11E , 13

Type material examined.

Holotype (male): "Venezuela: Bolívar: 5°51'N, 62°33'W; 1700 m; Auyan-tepui; Intercept trap; 7-14.ii.1994; leg. J.L. García, A. Chacón” (MIZA). Paratypes (6 exs.): Same data as holotype (6, MIZA, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

The general orange coloration with dark head of T. pemon is quite distinct among Tobochares , and particularly among members of the Tobochares communis group. In addition, its elytral punctation is relatively unique, including all kinds of punctures being similar in size and degree of impression, with serial punctures aligned in rows, but not forming grooves, and with interserial punctures somewhat irregularly distributed in a single row (Figs 3F , 7G, H ). In addition, the median lobe of the aedeagus of T. pemon is unique, as it is uniformly broad throughout and apically broadly emarginate (Fig. 11E ); the median lobe in other species typically narrows towards the apex and is usually rounded, except for T. luteomargo , which has an emarginated median lobe, but in this case the emargination is deep and very narrow (Fig. 11D ).

Description.

Size and form: Body length 1.7-1.8 mm. Body elongate oval, moderately convex (Fig. 7H ). Color and punctation: Dorsal surfaces of body orange brown, with lateral margins of prothorax slightly paler (Fig. 7G, H ); ventral surfaces of body (except prosternum) dark brown; mouthparts orange brown; antennae light brown; legs, including tarsi orange brown (Fig. 7I ). Ground punctation on head, pronotum and elytra rather shallowly marked. Head: Eyes in dorsal view with anterior margin slightly oblique (anteriorly directed; Fig. 2D ); in lateral view, eyes not anteriorly emarginate (e.g., Fig. 2E ). Thorax: Elytra with all kinds of punctures similar in size and degree of impression; serial punctures aligned in rows, not forming grooves; interserial punctures somewhat irregularly distributed in a single row (Fig. 3F ). Metafemora mostly glabrous on anterior face (Fig. 7I ). Elevation of mesoventrite forming a low transverse carina (Fig. 7I ). Metaventrite with distinct median, longitudinal, narrow glabrous area extending along posterior half (Fig. 7I ). Abdomen: Abdominal ventrites uniformly and very densely pubescent (Fig. 7I ). Aedeagus (Fig. 11E ) with basal piece nearly 0.6 × the length of a paramere; greatest width of a paramere nearly 0.7 × greatest width of median lobe; outer margins of parameres straight and slightly converging along basal 2/5, then uniformly and widely convex; apex of paramere rounded; median lobe roughly rectangular, with wide and short medial emargination at apex; gonopore situated at apical fourth of median lobe.

Etymology.

Noun in apposition. Named after the Pemon, an indigenous tribe that inhabits La Gran Sabana region in Venezuela, where Auyan Tepui is located.

Distribution.

This species is known from the famous Auyan-tepui, which is also home to Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Collected at an elevation of 1700 m, this species is one of the relatively few water beetle taxa known from the "Pantepui Province", which comprises areas of the Guiana Shield which are greater than 1500 m in elevation (Fig. 13 ).

Life history.

The only known series was collected in a flight intercept trap. Nothing further is known about the habitat or biology of this species.

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 7. Habitus of Tobochares spp. in the Tobochares communis species group A-C T. anthonyae A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D-F T. atures D dorsal view E lateral view F ventral view G-I T. pemon G dorsal view H lateral view I 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.