A revision of the water beetle genus Hydraena Kugelann for southern Africa (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae)
Author
PERKINS, PHILIP D.
text
Zootaxa
2014
2014-01-29
3758
1
1
92
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3758.1.1
journal article
5965
10.11646/zootaxa.3758.1.1
903b427b-6b4f-4f0b-9270-1459a7e5be1e
1175-5326
5037597
63F695AA-891F-48D2-AE96-7492016B9590
Hydraena (Hydraenopsis)
:
Cooperi
Group
Five species are placed in this group. Members are very small to small (ca.
1.17–1.69 mm
) and are very similar in dorsal habitus, with only
H. reflectiva
standing out due to its very smooth and finely punctate dorsum. The ventral characters are also very similar in the species, and the males do not have diagnostic sexual dimorphisms. The aedeagus (
Figs. 4, 5
,
8, 9
,
37
), which must be examined for reliable determinations, is small to extremely small, and has the distal half bent at an angle to the main piece; the short parameres are inserted near or at the bend. The small size of the aedeagus, its unusual architecture, and the external similarity of the species makes the
Cooperi
Group one of the most difficult.