Derallus altus ( LeConte, 1855 )

Short, Andrew Edward Z. & Torres, Phillip J., 2006, Review of the Hemiosus Sharp and Derallus Sharp of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Berosini), Zootaxa 1369, pp. 1-17 : 10-11

Derallus altus ( LeConte, 1855)

( Fig. 6 )

Berosus altus LeConte, 1855: 366 .

Berosus (Volvulus) altus: Horn, 1873: 124 .

Derallus altus: Sharp, 1882: 78 ; Oliva, 1995 a: 45 (lectotype designation).

Type material examined. Holotype (male): [colored disc], “ Type / 1 / 2032 ”, “B./ altus / Lec.”, “J. L. LeConte/ Collection”, “ Lectotypus ”, “ Derallus altus / (LeConte)/ Det. A. Oliva 1991 ” ( MCZ).

Additional material examined (110). COSTA RICA: Alajuela: 7 km NE of Cano Negro, wet pasture by road, 60 m, 14.i. 2004, A.E.Z. Short & D.J. Lebbin leg., AS-04-041 (2: AEZS, INBio); Guanacaste: Palo Verde National Park, 1.9 km W of main ranger station, stagnant muddy ditch, 12.i. 2004, A.E.Z. Short & D.J. Lebbin leg., AS-04-033 (12: AEZS, INBio); same data but 1.6 km after range station, cattle ponds, AS-04-032 (12: AEZS, INBio); Palo Verde National Park, HG-vapor light by lagoon near campsites, 25 m, 11.i. 2004, A.E.Z. Short & D.J. Lebbin leg., AS-04-031 (1: INBio); Palo Verde National Park, shallow pool in gravel pit, 8.vi. 2000, R. Roughley leg (2: UMC); 12 km S of Canas, black light, 16.vi. 2003, A.E.Z. Short leg. (3: AEZS, INBio); near Carmona, laguna de crocodilo, 34 m, 15.i. 2003, A.E.Z Short, R.E. Roughley & W. Porras leg. (4: AEZS); same data but HG-vapor light (10: AEZS, INBio); Puntarenas: Osa Peninsula, 7.9 km SE of La Palma, Roadside pools, 18.vi. 2003, A.E.Z Short (1: AEZS). MEXICO: Campeche: Champoton, 11 mi. SW, 27.xi. 1963, J.R. Zimmerman leg. (1: USNM); 19 mi. S Champoton, 26.vii. 1964, P.J. Spangler leg. (9: USNM, AEZS); 10 mi. S Campeche, 28.vii. 1964, P.J. Spangler leg. (2: USNM); Jalisco: 15 mi. N Chapala, 2.vii. 1963, P.J. Spangler leg. (4: USNM); Nayarit: San Blas, 26.vii. 1963, P.J. Spangler leg. (5: USNM); San Blas, 5 mi. E, 31.vii. 1962, J.R. Zimmerman leg., 392 (3: USNM); 9 mi. W Poza Rica, 27.viii. 1965, P.J. Spangler leg. (1: USNM); Sinaloa: Mazatlan, 17–23.vii. 1963, P.J. Spangler leg. (1: USNM); Veracruz: 25 mi. S Acayucan, 4.vii. 1965, P.J. Spangler leg. (6: USNM); Paso del Toro, 15 km W, 8.ix. 1964, J.R. Zimmerman leg., 566 (1: USNM). U.S.A.: Florida: Alachua County: 8.ix. 1973, J. Matta leg. (1: USNM); Gainesville, 15.iv. 1982, S.W. Grose leg. (1: USNM); same data but 14.viii. 1981 (1: USNM); Gilchrist County, Cypress Swamp, Trenton, 22.xii. 1971, F.N. Young leg. (1: CUIC); Franklin County: Bald Point, 28.iv. 2003, J.H. Epler leg. (2: JHEC); Jefferson County: Wacissa River, 17.xii. 2003, J.H. Epler leg. (1: JHEC); Volusia County: Salt flat marsh at Lake George, 2.5 mi. W of Seville, 4.v. 2004, J.H. Epler leg. (2: JHEC); Wakulla County: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, East River marsh, 11.iv. 2005, J.H. Epler leg. (2: JHEC); St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, swamp nr. first bridge, Hwy 59, 2.iii. 1995, J.H. Epler leg. (1: JHEC); Missouri: Oregon County: 14 mi. S of Winona, iv. 1956, P.J. Spangler leg. (2: USNM); New Jersey: Cape May County: ‘Magnolia L.’, Cape May Court House, 19.viii. 1947, G.E. Pickford leg. (1: CUIC); North Carolina: Currituck County: 26.vii. 1972, Mitchell leg. (1: USNM); Texas: Orange County: Orange, 24.viii. 1964, P.J. Spangler leg. (1: USNM); Victoria County: Coleto Creek Park Campground, 30.vii. 2003, HG-vapor lights, A.E.Z. Short leg, AS-03-006 (1: AEZS); Virginia: Chesapeake, 15.vi. 1972, J. Matta leg. (1: CUIC); Virginia Beach, 14.x. 1971, J. Matta, leg. (1: USNM). Representative material deposited in MALUZ, MIZA, MFPC and NMW.

Diagnosis. Total length: 1.8–2.3 mm. This species is distinguish by the following character combination: interstria X usually with a single row of elytral ground punctures ( Fig. 6 ), a fine, linear metasternal carina, and with both teeth of the process of the mesoventrite subequal in length, more or less coplanar. This species may be easily confused with smaller specimens of D. rudis , which has more punctures in interstria X ( Fig. 8 ) and broadly quadrate parameres (tapered in D. altus ). It is also easily mistaken for D. terraenovae , but can be distinguish by having the two mesosternal teeth of different heights.

Distribution. Widespread from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, through Central America, South America, and the Caribbean: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Costa Rica (new record), “West Indies”, U.S.A. (Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia).

Remarks. The widespread species is the only member of the genus to occur outside the Neotropics. While recorded as far north as New Jersey in the United States, it is generally uncommon north of the Gulf Coast. It has been collected at lights and in stagnant, often vegetation-choked marshes and swamps.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 9. Lateral view of left elytron of Derallus. Arrows indicate the tenth elytral interstria. 6: D. altus (LeConte); 7: D. terraenovae Oliva; 8: D. rudis Sharp; 9: D. angustus Sharp. Scale bars 1.0 mm.