Novochares pallipes ( Brulle , 1841)

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 pallipes ( Brulle, 1841)

Figs 9L-R , 10C

Hydrophilus (Philhydrus) pallipes Brullé, 1841: 58 - Uruguay, Montevideo.

Philhydrus pallipes ( Brullé, 1841); Lacordaire 1854: 457.

Helochares pallipes ( Brullé, 1841); Bedel 1881: XCIV.

Helochares (s. str.) pallipes ( Brullé, 1841); Fernández 1983: 444; Fernández 1989: 148 [in key].

Novochares pallipes ( Brullé, 1841); Girón and Short 2021: 205.

Material examined

(14 exs.). Argentina: Buenos Aires: Martinez , xii.1953 (2, CAS); San Isidro, xii.1955 (6, CAS, SEMC); Martinez, xii.1957 (2, USNM); Choya, "Sta. del Estero", 10.iii.1962 (1, CAS) . Entre Ríos: Rio Parana Ibicuy , Pto. Ibicuy, 10.xii.1979, leg. C.M. & S. Flint, Jr. (3, USNM) .

Differential diagnosis.

The strongly curved parameres and the extremely large distinctive fork of the dorsal plate of the median lobe (Fig. 9L-R ) serve to separate this species fairly easily from other members of the species group.

Description.

Body length 7.2-7.8 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces pale brown to orange-brown, sometimes with weakly paler (orange) clypeus and margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps nearly 1.3 × width of head, uniformly yellow to orange in color. Thorax: Elytra without rows of serial punctures, faint rows (one dorsal and two or three lateral) of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures barely noticeable. Prosternum medially broadly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite broadly elevated, with low medial longitudinal ridge extending anteriorly. Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite moderately deep and relatively narrow. Aedeagus: (Fig. 9L-R ) Apical region of each paramere medially and dorsally curved; outer margin of apical region of paramere rounded, latero-ventrally weakly pointed; dorsal plate of median lobe with long and relatively broad neck, widened at apical region; neck with paired longitudinal, laminar elevations along second 1/2; distal arms laminate, dorso-ventrally oriented, 1/2 as long as neck of dorsal plate of median lobe; ventral plate of median lobe narrow and triangular, moderately sclerotized, reaching to beyond base of fork of dorsal plate of median lobe.

Distribution.

Argentina, Uruguay (Fig. 10C ). Prior records from Brazil and Paraguay were erroneously reported and are removed from the known distribution of this species.

Remarks.

There has been some confusion about the distribution of this species in the literature. We have only been able to confirm the presence of this species in Argentina and Uruguay. Literature reports of this species occurring in Mato Grosso do Sul ( Corumbá) and Paraguay ( Río Alto Paraná) appear to be derived from the original description of Helochares (s. str.) parhedrus . This species was briefly synonymized with N. pallipes but later discovered to actually be a synonym of H. atratus ( Fernández, 1982). However, because for a short time the distributional records of N. pallipes and H. parhedrus were fused, this muddied the literature. Fernández (1983) appears to have accidentally repeated the fused distribution which then carried into later papers. The record of this species from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil derives from d’Orchymont (1926). However, later d’Orchymont (1939) noted that these records were erroneous and referred them to H. parhedrus , which later was synonymized with N. atratus . We are not aware of any verified Brazilian records of H. pallipes .

Figures

Figure 9. Aedeagi and habitus of the Novochares abbreviatus species group A-E N. oculatus: A-C aedeagus, Mexico D, E paralectotype from Guatemala D aedeagus E habitus F-K miscellaneous forms of aedeagi in the Novochares abbreviatus species group F, G Argentina H, I Venezuela J, K Bolivia L, M, R N. pallipes N, O N. baca A, D, F, H, J, L, N dorsal view B, M ventral view C, G, I, K, O lateral view R oblique view.

Figure 10. Distribution of Novochares abbreviatus species group A N. abbreviatus: examined specimens (red) and literature / unconfirmed records (blue) B N. oculatus: examined specimens (red) and literature / unconfirmed records (blue) C N. pallipes (red), N. latus (yellow), N. baca (blue), N. pilatus (green).