Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Novochares Giron & Short (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae) Author Short, Andrew Edward Z. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7467-7116 Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA aezshort@ku.edu Author Giron, Jennifer C. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0851-6883 Natural Science Research Laboratory, Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA text ZooKeys 2023 2023-07-20 1171 1 112 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1171.104142 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1171.104142 1313-2970-1171-1 267D0D4559CA4A18A08034768E652607 7559C2D42DE85144AEFFC98A16172F97 Novochares pertusus sp. nov. Figs 6D , 14C , 15J, K , 16A Type material. Holotype (male) : "BRAZIL: Goias / Chapada dos Veadeiros/ 18-24km N. of Alto Paraiso / 1400-1500m, 25.x.1985 leg. S.E. Miller" (USNM). Paratypes (14 exs.): Brazil: Goias : Same data as holotype (14, USNM, SEMC). Differential diagnosis. The distinctive rows of serial punctures on the lateral and posterior margins of the elytra serve to separate this species from all other Novochares except a few others in the Novochares punctatostriatus species group. It is most similar to N. punctatostriatus , to which it is probably most closely related, by the form of the aedeagus which lacks small lateral teeth on the dorsal plate of the median lobe (Fig. 15J-Q ). The comparatively long arms of the fork of the dorsal plate of the median lobe, and the more basal positioning of the ventral plate (Fig. 15J, K ) serve to distinguish this species from N. punctatostriatus (Fig. 15L-Q ). Description. Size and form : Body length 6.0-7.3 mm. Coloration : Dorsal surface of head very dark brown to nearly black; pronotum and elytra dark brown, with broad paler margins. Head : Maxillary palps as long as to slightly longer than width of head, uniformly orange in color (Fig. 14C ). Thorax : Elytra with defined rows of serial punctures, except on central elytral disc. Prosternum medially broadly and very weakly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite transverse, blunt, and low. Aedeagus : (Fig. 15J, K ) lateral projection on apical region of outer margin of each paramere pointed; at closest point, dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by distance slightly narrower than greatest width of a paramere; lateral margins of dorsal plate of median lobe smooth, lacking denticles; arms of dorsal plate of median lobe nearly parallel, somewhat converging at apex; each arm with outer and inner margins slightly sinuate, apical region broader than base of arm, apex roundly truncate and oblique, with inner margin extending beyond outer margin; notch between arms at base narrower than base of an arm, slightly wider at basal 1/3, narrowing towards apex; ventral plate of median lobe strongly sclerotized, at widest point nearly as wide as dorsal plate of median lobe, with apex narrowly rounded, not reaching base of fork of dorsal plate; basal piece 0.28 x length of a paramere. Etymology. Pertusus (L.), meaning perforated, in reference to the rows of fine serial punctures on the elytra. Distribution. Only known from the type locality in Brazil ( Goias ) (Fig. 16A ). Habitat. Nothing is known about the habitat of this species.