Novochares bidens, Short & Girón, 2023

Short, Andrew Edward Z. & Giron, Jennifer C., 2023, Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Novochares Giron & Short (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 1171, pp. 1-112 : 1

Novochares bidens sp. nov.

Figs 12A-C , 13B

Type material.

Holotype (male): "BRAZIL, M.G./ Jacare, P. N. Zingu/ XI-1965, at lite/ M. Alvarenga" (USNM). Paratypes (2 exs.): Brazil: Mato Grosso: Tapirape Indian Village at confluence of R. Tapirape and R. Araguaia, 26-31.xii.1960, leg. B. Malkin, at light (1, FMNH). Mato Grosso: Same data as holotype (1, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

This species is easily distinguished from others in the species group by the extremely large and deeply cleft dorsal plate of the median lobe, and the unusually narrow and apically rounded parameres (Fig. 12A, B ).

Description.

Body length 5.9-6.4 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces pale (yellowish) brown, with slightly paler (orange) margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps nearly 1.3 × longer than width of head, uniformly orange in color. Thorax: Elytra without rows of serial punctures, each with very faint rows (one dorsal and two or three lateral) of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures. Prosternum medially weakly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite broadly elevated, posteriorly somewhat transverse, with low and glabrous longitudinal ridge extending anteriorly. Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite relatively deep, U-shaped. Aedeagus: (Fig. 12A-C ) Overall shape sub-rectangular, 2.2 × longer than wide, with outer lateral margins of parameres weakly sinuate; joint basal margins of parameres medially pointed in dorsal view; apical region of each paramere rounded, partly membranous, with outer margin weakly pointed; at closest point (near base of neck), dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by nearly 0.8 × greatest width of a paramere; dorsal plate of median lobe with neck 0.28 × as broad as base; arms of dorsal plate of median lobe dorsally concave, with inner margins nearly parallel, gradually narrowing towards apex, nearly 0.4 × length of dorsal plate of median lobe; each arm acute at apex; notch between arms at base nearly as wide as base of an arm; basal piece nearly 0.3 × length of a paramere. In lateral view, aedeagus straight at base, with ventral outline of parameres 4.2 × longer than greatest width near base; dorsal outline of aedeagus in lateral view very weakly convex along basal 1/2, then concave along distal 1/2; ventral outline of aedeagus in lateral view sinuate.

Etymology.

Bidens (L.), meaning two-pronged fork, referring to the shape of the dorsal plate of the median lobe of this species.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality in central Brazil (Fig. 13B ).

Habitat.

Nothing is known about the habitat of this species.

Figures

Figure 12. Aedeagi of the Novochares garfo species group A-C N. bidens D-F N. furcatus G-J N. garfo K-M N. tenedor A, D, G, K dorsal view B, E, H, L ventral view C, I, M lateral view F, J oblique view.

Figure 13. Distribution of Novochares spp. A N. aperito (red), N. minor (yellow), N. orchis (blue) B N. bidens (red), N. furcatus (yellow), N. garfo (blue), N. tenedor (green).