Hypsilara Maier & Spangler, 2011

Maier, Crystal A., 2013, A revision of the Larainae (Coleoptera, Elmidae) of Venezuela, with description of nine new species, ZooKeys 329, pp. 33-91 : 58-59

Hypsilara Maier & Spangler, 2011 Figs 2, 50, 51, 52, 53

Diagnosis.

This genus can be distinguished from all other laraine genera by its small size (ca. 4.5 mm), and the presence of a shallow, wide, V-shaped groove across apical third of the pronotum, which lacks strong gibbosities or protuberances (Fig. 53).

Distribution.

Currently, Hypsilara is only known from near the base of Cerro de Neblina, Amazonas State and Gran Sabana, Venezuela (Fig. 2).

Habitat.

From Maier and Spangler 2011 "These are known a small, shallow brook about one to two meters wide and with occasional pools about one meter deep, with a substratum of sand, boulders, and bedrock. This small tributary originates on Cerro de la Neblina and feeds the Rio Baria, which drains most of the massif. The high water marks and polished boulders along the stream bed indicate that in times of heavy rainfall, the brook becomes scoured by flash flooding. Paratypes were collected from similar small streams at high elevations.

Water quality data obtained by using colorimetric analyses of the brook at the type-locality are as follows; pH: 4, hardness: 0, oxygen: 9 ppm. The air temperature was 21°C and the water temperature was 17°C when the analyses were made."