Parhydraena asperita, Perkins, 2009

Perkins, Philip D., 2009, Revisions of the genera Parhydraena Orchymont, Protozantaena Perkins, Decarthrocerus Orchymont, and Parhydraenopsis nomen novum, aquatic and humicolous beetles from Africa and Madagascar, and comparative morphology of the tribe Parhydraenini (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 2038, pp. 1-119 : 25-26

Parhydraena asperita new species

( Figs. 2, 6, 13, 32, 50, 52, 96)

Type material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Western Cape Province, Knysna, Diepwalle, mixed Podocarpus forest , window-malaise traps, elev. 450 m, 34° 3' S, 23° 3' E, 12–30.xii.1981, S. & J. Peck. Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes (121): South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Stormsrivier, Goesabos, mixed Podocarpus forest , window-malaise traps, 33° 59' S, 23° 52' E, 5–30.xii.1981, S. & J. Peck (8 MCZ) ; Stormsrivier, Skuinsbos, mixed Podocarpus forest , window traps, 33° 59' S, 23° 52' E, 6–30.xii.1981, S. & J. Peck (1 FMNH, 34 TMSA) ; Tsitsikamma Mts. , 40 km E Plettenberg Bay, 34° 5' S, 23° 21' E, 7.iii.1997, Hess & Heckes (3 NMW) ; Western Cape Province, Knysna, Diepwalle, mixed Podocarpus forest , windowmalaise traps, elev. 450 m, 34° 3' S, 23° 3' E, 12–30.xii.1981, S. & J. Peck (65 TMSA, 7 FMNH) ; Little Karroo, Kammanasieberge , river stones, 33° 37' S, 22° 33' E, 21.xi.1992, Endrödy-Younga (#2930) (3 TMSA) .

Differential diagnosis. Recognized among members of the genus by the combination of the unilinear row of large granules on the elytra series and intervals, the comparatively long maxillary palpi (palpus length/head width ca. 0.89), and the comparatively large body size (length ca. 1.93 mm); males are additionally recognized by the modified 6th abdominal ventrite ( Figs. 2, 47). The aedeagus, while distinct, might possibly be compared with that of P. lancicula ( Figs. 49, 52).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.93/0.83; head 0.31/0.51; pronotum 0.45/0.68, PA 0.54, PB 0.58; elytra 1.20 /0.83. Head piceous; pronotum dark brown to piceous, except margined laterally with light brown; elytra dark brown; legs brown to dark brown; maxillary palpi brown, distal 1/3 of last mere slightly darker.

Head with eyes moderately large, in dorsal aspect 9 convex facets in longest series. Ocelli distinct round small shining, each located at base of shallow oblique interocular fovea. Frons microreticulate, dull, disc indistinctly finely punctate, ca. 0.5xef, interstices ca. 2–4xpd; area between interocular foveae and eye microreticulate, dull. Clypeus dull, markedly microreticulate, except anterior margin shining. Labrum dull, apicomedially emarginate to form rounded lobe on each side; laterally fringed with short arcuate setae. Maxillary palpi elongate, combined lengths of meres slightly less than width of head (ratio ca. 31/35); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 12/7/15. Mentum and submentum sparsely finely punctulate, microreticulate.

Pronotum with anterior margin weakly arcuate, except median 1/3 straight and with extremely narrow hyaline border. Anterior angles obtuse, widely rounded. Sides rounded, widest just before middle, behind middle gradually attenuate, very weakly sinuate. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Disc microreticulate, dull, impressions very shallow, broadly U-shaped, punctation on disc fine and dense, many punctures confluent in impressions, sparser, 0.5–2xpd, on low relief separating impressions; shallow wide impression at each posterior angle. Sculpture laterally subrugose, dull. Each puncture with anterior margin extended posteriorly as narrow ridge, dividing puncture into a pair of two smaller punctures each of which smaller than eye-facet, short recumbent or decumbent seta arising from posterior extreme of dividing ridge.

Elytra dull, elongate-ovate, sides weakly arcuate, margins distinct from shoulder for 4/5 of length, sutural angle more acute in female than in male. Ten-seriate punctate, but punctures obsolete, granule of each "puncture" large, serial granules closely spaced, very similar in size and spacing to unilinear row of granules on each interval. Each granule at its posterior side with short recumbent seta, setae of serial and interval granules very similar in length and density.

Metaventrite with shallow median elongate oval impression in basal 1/2, midlongitudinal shining carina between anterior extreme of oval impression and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Ventrite 5, in male, hydrofuge pubescent in basal 1/3 laterally, posterior margin of pubescent area produced in middle to 3/4 length of ventrite, in female basal 1/2 of ventrite hydrofuge pubescent; shining part of ventrite 5 very sparsely pubescent in both sexes. Ventrite 6 very weakly microreticulate, shining, in male middle part markedly raised and apicomedially emarginate, about 3 or 4 setae on each side of emargination; in female shape simple, with transverse band of sparse setae across posterior 1/2. Male: last ventrite asymmetrical, apex lobiform and setose; last tergite with tuft of setae on each side of apicomedian notch into which fits lobe of last ventrite. Female: last ventrite sparsely pubescent, margin rounded; last tergite with small tuft of setae on each side of apicomedian emargination.

Legs moderately long and slender, combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus greater than width of head (ratio ca. 51/35), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 31/20. Basal 3 pro- and mesotarsomeres, in male, with pad of suction setae.

Wings fully developed in holotype and all dissected males.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.27 mm; main-piece, in left lateral view, with two large pointed processes; mainpiece wider in lateral view than ventral view, with finely strigose surface over much of ventral and lateral surface; distal piece produced in large lobe on right side, pointed at apex ( Fig. 49).

Etymology. Named in reference to the asperite dorsum, with comparatively large granules.

Distribution. Currently known from three localities near Knysna and one in the Little Karroo, in southern South Africa ( Fig. 95).