Eulechriops hovorei, Barman & Michat & Alarie & Wolfe, 2007

Barman, E. H., Michat, M. C., Alarie, Y. & Wolfe, G. W., 2007, Figs. 16 – 17. 16 in A Description of the First Instar of Hoperius planatus Fall, 1927 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Colymbetinae: Colymbetini), with Phylogenetic Implications, The Coleopterists Bulletin 61 (2), pp. 283-286 : 283-286

Eulechriops hovorei , new species

( Figs. 1–3 )

Holotype male: Oval, black, except antennae, tarsi, middle and hind tibiae, apical K of middle femora, and hind femora reddish brown; complex pattern of setae ( Figs. 1 and 2 ): setae sparse, slender and orange along midline between eyes, on sides of pronotum between elytral humeri and eyes and on elytra on apical 1/3 of interval 1, on basal 1/3 of intervals 3–6, and on elytral margins, and on mesepisterna; setae white and scale-like on front behind and below eyes and on rostrum to antennal insertions, on pronotum in narrow stripe along midline and in oval spots anterior to elytral humeri on basal K, and on sides just behind eyes, on elytra on basal 2/3 of interval and stria 1 and basal 1/3 of interval and stria 2, in narrow transverse posthumeral band on intervals 6–10 and transverse apical band on intervals 3–10; setae dense, white and scale-like on epimeron and metepisternum, and somewhat less dense on metasternum and abdominal ventrites; setae dense, white, hair-like and semi-erect on mesosternum, recumbent and moderately dense on femora and tibiae; 2.30 mm long, 1.20 mm wide.

Head weakly convex in dorsal view, rostrum vaguely carinate along midline, finely punctate, weakly arcuate, 0.60 mm long, antennae inserted at basal 1/3. Pronotum 0.80 mm long, 0.90 mm wide, broadest at middle with lateral margins very shallowly arcuate, moderately convex in lateral view, coarsely punctate. Elytra 1/3 wider than pronotum, elytral striae subequal to width of intervals, coarsely punctate. Mesosternum hidden beneath setae but apparently unmodified; anterior margin of metasternum unmodified. In lateral view first abdominal ventrite nearly horizontal, second ventrite convex then nearly vertical, first ventrite very slightly concave along midline. Legs relatively short, unarmed, posterior femora apparently weakly carinate on basal K. Aedeagus illustrated in ( Fig. 3 ).

Holotype male: AZ: Cochise Co., SWRS, N31 ° 52 9 99 W109 ° 12 9 37, 28.VII- 2.VIII.02, H. Douglas, malaise ( CMNC).

Paratypes: AZ: Cochise Co., same data as holotype (1, CMNC) ; Santa Cruz Co., Yank’s Spring, Sycamore Canyon , Tumacacori Mts. , 4,000, 28.VII.1965, H.B. Leech (1, CASC) . MEX: Guerrero, 6 mi NE Tixtla , 16-VII-1984, J.B. Woolley, 84/035 (1, TAMU) .

Other specimen examined: MEXICO: Oaxaca, 2 mi N Candelaria Loxicha , 17- VII-1985, Woolley & Zolnerowich, 85/068 (1, TAMU) .

Etymology: The species is named in honor of the late Frank Hovore. Frank was a student, colleague and friend, generous with identifications, specimens, and ideas (for example, one of which he allowed me to publish with his data; Hespenheide 2001). His amazing collecting ability, extensive publications, and international reputation are an exceptional tribute to the role of the amateur, in the best sense of the French word for ‘‘lover,’’ in entomology.

Discussion: The top of the head of the holotype is hidden beneath the anterior margin of the pronotum, but the paratype with the same data has the upper 1/3 of the inner margins of the eyes emarginate with a shallow depression covered with white setae. The mesosternum and anterior margin of the metasternum are atypically unmodified, but the rostrum is short and extends only slightly beyond the anterior coxae. Type specimens measure 2.2–2.4 mm long (mean 5 2.33 mm for 4 specimens); the specimen from Oaxaca measures 1.8 mm. The specimen from Oaxaca is similar and possibly conspecific, but is biogeographically separate and has abdominal ventrites 3–5 glabrous. This species rather closely resembles E. leucospilus Champion (1906) , described from Guatemala and occurring in Chiapas (see below), but the latter is black throughout, differently covered with setae, and the mesosternum possesses a glabrous, cup-like depression for the apex of the rostrum, in addition to other structural differences.

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Eulechriops hovorei, new species. 1) dorsal view; 2) lateral view; scale bar 5