Tobochares microps, Girón & Short, 2021

Giron, Jennifer C. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2021, Review of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Tobochares Short & Garcia, 2007 (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae): new lineages, new species, and new records, ZooKeys 1019, pp. 93-140 : 93

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1019.59881
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:740EFFB9-3ADA-4B2A-BD23-A839AAE71FB2
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/80D946EC-D4CD-48E8-982A-ECE0059D927E
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:80D946EC-D4CD-48E8-982A-ECE0059D927E
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Tobochares microps
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Tobochares microps View in CoL sp. nov. Figs 2I View Figure 2 , 3K View Figure 3 , 6D-F View Figure 6 , 11I View Figure 11 , 13 View Figure 13 , 16C View Figure 16

Tobochares 2A: Short et al. (2021).

Type material examined.

Holotype (male): "Suriname: Sipaliwini District/ N3 53.359' W56 10.052', 879m/ CSNR: Tafelberg Summit, near/South Rim, small seepage area/leg. Short and Bloom; 20.viii.2013/SR13-0820-01B" (NZCS). Paratypes (43 exs.): Suriname: Sipaliwini District: Same data as holotype (38, SEMC including DNA voucher SLE1041); " 3°55.600'N, 56°11.300'W; 600 m; CSNR: Tafelberg Summit, near Augustus Creek Camp; muddy stream pools; 15.viii.2013; leg. Short and Bloom; SR13-0815-01A" (1, SEMC DNA voucher SLE1051); same, except "pool in rock; SR13-0820-01C" (2, SEMC including DNA voucher SLE 1043); CSNR: Tafelberg Summit, Arrowhead Basin; flotation of wet moss on rocks; 20.viii.2013; leg. Short and Bloom; SR13-0820-04A (2, SEMC including DNA vouchers SLE1038 and SLE1040).

Differential diagnosis.

Tobochares microps is unique among Tobochares species by the reduced size of the eyes, which are separated by a distance 6 × larger than the largest diameter of the eye in dorsal view (Fig. 2I View Figure 2 ; the ventral face of the eye is only slightly wider than the antennal club, Fig. 6F View Figure 6 ), whereas in all other species in the genus the eyes are separated by a distance approximately 4.5 × larger than the largest diameter of the eye in dorsal view (e.g., Fig. 2H View Figure 2 ; the ventral face of the eye is nearly twice as wide as antennal club; e.g., Fig. 6C View Figure 6 ). Tobochares microps is polymorphic for hindwings, with individuals exhibiting either full size or brachypterous wing forms (e.g., Fig. 3K View Figure 3 ), a condition so far unique in Tobochares . By its elytral punctation with all punctures about the same size and degree of impression (Fig. 6D View Figure 6 ), T. microps is similar to T. communis and T. anthonyae . Besides the shape of the eyes, T. microps , can be distinguished from T. communis by its relatively shallower punctation and smaller size (compare Fig. 6D View Figure 6 to Fig. 6A View Figure 6 ). From T. anthonyae , in which the dorsal punctation is also relatively shallow (Fig. 7A View Figure 7 ), T. microps can be recognized by the serial punctures seemingly longitudinally aligned and uniformly distributed, not impressed to form grooves (serial punctures clearly aligned in rows and slightly impressed, forming shallow longitudinal grooves in T. anthonyae ; Fig. 7A View Figure 7 ).

Description.

Size and form: Body length 1.6-1.7 mm. Body elongate oval, moderately convex (Fig. 6E View Figure 6 ). Color and punctation: Dorsal and ventral surfaces of body dark brown, with anterior and lateral margins of prothorax slightly paler (Fig. 6D, E View Figure 6 ); mouthparts yellow (especially maxillary palps) to orange; antennae yellowish brown; legs orange brown with paler (yellow) tarsi (Fig. 6F View Figure 6 ). Ground punctation on head, pronotum and elytra moderately marked. Head: Eyes in dorsal view with anterior margin slightly oblique (anteriorly directed), and outer margins nearly half the greatest length of eye, slightly bulging from outline of head (Fig. 2I View Figure 2 ); in lateral view, eyes not anteriorly emarginate (e.g., Fig. 2E View Figure 2 ). Thorax: Elytra with all punctures about the same size and degree of impression, all seemingly aligned in rows and uniformly distributed, not forming grooves (Fig. 6D View Figure 6 ). Metafemora mostly glabrous on anterior face (Fig. 6F View Figure 6 ). Elevation of mesoventrite forming a broad bulge (Fig. 6F View Figure 6 ). Metaventrite with distinct median, longitudinal, narrow glabrous area extending along posterior half (Fig. 6F View Figure 6 ). Abdomen: Abdominal ventrites uniformly and very densely pubescent. Aedeagus (Fig. 11I View Figure 11 ). Basal piece nearly 0.4 × the length of a paramere; greatest width of a paramere nearly 0.5 × greatest width of median lobe; outer margins of parameres uniformly weakly convex; apex of paramere rounded; median lobe roughly sagittate, narrow along apical third, rounded at apex; gonopore situated basad of midlength of median lobe.

Etymology.

Named with the combination of the Latin words micro, meaning small, and ops, meaning eyes, highlighting the small eyes of the members of the species.

Distribution.

This species is only known from the summit of Tafelberg Tepui, a low-elevation sandstone massif in the center of Suriname (Fig. 13 View Figure 13 ).

Life history.

Most specimens of this species were collected in seepage habitats by directly floating them out of saturated moss that was on the rock. Several specimens were collected in shallow pools on rock that were adjacent to seepages or streams. See Fig. 16C View Figure 16 .