Novochares furcatus, Short & Girón, 2023

Short, Andrew Edward Z. & Giron, Jennifer C., 2023, Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Novochares Giron & Short (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 1171, pp. 1-112 : 1

Novochares furcatus sp. nov.

Figs 12D-F , 13B

Type material.

Holotype (male): "BRAZIL: Mato Grosso do Sul/ -20.51369°, -55.42803°, 240 m/ Palmeiras (c. 7 km S) on MS-450/ 22.vi.2018; leg. Hamada & team/ Pond in field w/dense vegetation/ BR18-0622-01A" (INPA). Paratype (1 ex.): Brazil: Rondônia: Machadinho d’Oeste, Balneario São Jose, -9.44573, -61.98332, 103 m, 9.vii.2018, leg. Short, margins of various places along river, BR18-0709-01A (1, SEMC, DNA voucher SLE2097).

Differential diagnosis.

Among members of this species group, this species is most similar to N. garfo : both species share a relatively straight and parallel-sided dorsal plate of the median lobe with two relatively short arms at the apex (Fig. 12D, H ). These arms are distinctly longer in N. furcatus (Fig. 12D ), while they are barely noticeable in N. garfo (Fig. 12G ). Additionally, the parameres are slightly narrower along the apical 1/3 in N. furcatus than in N. garfo .

Description.

Body length 5.6 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces pale (yellowish) brown, with slightly paler (yellow) margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps slightly longer than width of head, uniformly yellow in color. Thorax: Elytra without rows of serial punctures, each with very faint rows of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures on lateral region. Prosternum broadly and weakly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite somewhat transverse and broadly elevated. Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite relatively deep, U-shaped. Aedeagus: (Fig. 12D-F ) Overall shape pear-like, 2.2 × longer than wide, with outer lateral margins of parameres evenly convex up to apical region; joint basal margins of parameres medially emarginate in dorsal view; apical region of each paramere rounded to truncate, partly membranous, with outer margin weakly pointed; at closest point (near base of neck), dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by distance slightly narrower than greatest width of a paramere; dorsal plate of median lobe with neck 0.3 × as broad as base; base of arms of dorsal plate of median lobe dorsally concave; arms of dorsal plate nearly parallel, gradually narrowing towards apex, nearly 0.16 × length of dorsal plate of median lobe; each arm acute and dorsally pointed at apex; notch between arms at base slightly narrower than base of an arm; basal piece nearly 0.32 × length of a paramere. In lateral view, aedeagus weakly oblique at base, with ventral outline of parameres 4 × longer than greatest width near base; dorsal outline of aedeagus in lateral view evenly convex along basal 2/3, then nearly straight along distal 1/3; ventral outline of aedeagus in lateral view nearly straight.

Etymology.

Furcatus (L.), meaning split in two, referring to the shape of the dorsal plate of the median lobe of this species.

Distribution.

Known from two localities in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondônia (Fig. 13B ).

Habitat.

One specimen was taken in the margins of an open pond, the other was taken along the margins of a river.

Figures

Figure 12. Aedeagi of the Novochares garfo species group A-C N. bidens D-F N. furcatus G-J N. garfo K-M N. tenedor A, D, G, K dorsal view B, E, H, L ventral view C, I, M lateral view F, J oblique view.

Figure 13. Distribution of Novochares spp. A N. aperito (red), N. minor (yellow), N. orchis (blue) B N. bidens (red), N. furcatus (yellow), N. garfo (blue), N. tenedor (green).