Taxonomy of water beetles in the genus Hydrochus Leach, 1817, from Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay (Coleoptera: Hydrochidae)
Author
Perkins, Philip D.
text
Zootaxa
2021
2021-06-28
4994
1
1
93
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4994.1.1
1175-5326
5043261
107FCA64-345F-40A4-99D3-5C1441EEAD93
Hydrochus austrinus
,
new species
Figs. 3
,
16
,
59
Type Material.
Holotype
(male):
Brazil
:
Rio Grande do Sul
, “
Pelotas
,
9 Jan. 1956
, R. G. do Sul—Brasil,
C. Biezanko
leg.” (
NMNH
)
.
Paratypes
:
Same data as holotype (5
NMNH
)
.
Differential Diagnosis.
Among Brazilian species, recognized by the combination of moderate size (ca.
3.14 mm
), the deep pronotal depressions, and the male genitalia (
Fig. 10
; described below). This species has a generalized
Hydrochus
habitus; reliable determinations will require dissection of males.
Description
. Size:
holotype
(length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 3.14/1.03; head width 0.71; pronotum l/w 0.66/0.69; PA 0.64; PB 0.61; elytra 2.04/1.03. Habitus as illustrated (
Fig. 16
). Body size moderate (ca.
3.14 mm
). Dorsum dark brown, with very slight or no iridescence, elytra with black spots. Body form narrow (l/w ratio ca. 41/24). Legs brown, with tibiofemoral joints darker. Punctation on elytra ca. 2–3x that of pronotum. Elytra interstriae ca. 1–1.5x strial puncture diameter. Interstria 9
th
slightly more convex than others, overhanging 10
th
interstria. Usual area of callus on 5
th
not raised.
Pronotum very slightly wider than long (ratio ca. 36/35), widest slightly behind anterior margin, narrowed at base, sides very weakly sinuate, smooth; anterior margin slightly bisinuate; depressions moderately deep, much more densely punctate than low reliefs between depressions.
Elytra with spaces between strial punctures ca. 0.5–1x their diameter; apices rather sharply conjointly rounded in dorsal view, in lateral view outer margin with slight angulation.
Ventral characters: Mentum punctate, with central depression; submentum with two foveae.
Male genitalia (
Fig. 16
) general characters: genitalia elongate, length ca. 6x greatest width, basal piece and parameres ca. equal in length; paramere tips extending very slightly beyond aedeagus tip, medial margins beyond aedeagus tip parallel, plsa very small, lateral margins between plsa and apex straight; parameres in dorsal/ventral views very narrow over distal 2/3, straight; in lateral view parameres arcuate toward dorsad in distal 1/2, sharply pointed apically; aedeagus moderately wide, sides arcuate, agw at ca. midlength; basal piece in dorsal/ventral views nearly parallel-sided, in lateral view dorsal surface slightly more arcuate than ventral, orifice asymmetrical, margin sclerotized.
Dorsal surface: adtl at ca. midlength of aedeagus; pdmm widely separated; adbl moderately large, width slightly less than agw.
Ventral surface: avtl very near base, almost at alw; pvmm separation similar to pdmm, neither overlapping alm.
Etymology
. Named in reference to the geographical distribution, at the southeastern extreme of
Brazil
.