Aulacochthebius, Kuwert, 1887

Perkins, Philip D., 2023, Taxonomic revision of African water beetles in the genus Ochthebius Leach (1815) subgenus Aulacochthebius Kuwert (1887) (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 5228 (5), pp. 501-546 : 506-507

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5228.5.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:88FE61B0-65C6-4E22-8E18-B34BA534302C

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10555586

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/942F8787-FFE0-6348-529D-1FFDCC91BD51

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Aulacochthebius
status

 

Key to Groups and Species of O. ( Aulacochthebius ) in Africa and Madagascar

1. Elytral serial rows of punctures distinct, moderately to deeply impressed; metaventral tabella angulate anteriorly and laterally; hydrofuge pubescence of abdominal ventrites various in extent ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ).......................................... 2

- Dorsal sculpture very fine, very shallowly impressed; elytral serial rows of punctures indistinct, indicated by minute setae, sometimes non-serial, random; metaventral tabella oval; abdominal ventrites 1–4 entirely clothed with hydrofuge pubescence; O. (A.) tenuipunctus View in CoL Group ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 )...................................................................... 3

2. Pronotal punctation very fine and sparse, setae very fine and sparse; elytral punctures comparatively shallow, intervals with minute or without granules; first two abdominal ventrites and antero-lateral margin of third with hydrofuge pubescence, remainder of ventrites shining, with very sparse setae; aedeagus with single seta apically on each paramere; O. (A.) exaratus View in CoL Group ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3 View FIGURE 3 )................................................................................... 10

- Pronotal punctation coarser and denser, setae longer and denser; elytral punctures relatively deep, intervals with distinct granules; abdominal ventrites not as above, more ventrites having hydrofuge pubescence; aedeagal parameres without setae.. O. (A.) continentalis View in CoL Group ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 4 View FIGURE 4 )..................................................................... 12

3. Elytra with serial rows of setae more-or-less uniform; body size larger, ca. 1.40 mm ................................ 4

- Elytra with serial rows of setae less distinct; body size smaller, ca. 1.15–1.25 mm .................................. 6

4. Elytral serial setae very small and widely spaced, each row with wide band of very fine microreticulation, bands separated by extremely weakly raised smooth and shining longitudinal lines (see text and Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 ); Madagascar ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 20 View FIGURE 20 ).......................................................................................... O. (A.) multilineatus n. sp.

- Elytra without such lines............................................................................... 5

5. Pronotum median longitudinal impression very shallow, extending from anterior transverse impression to ca. midlength; aedeagus as illustrated ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 14 View FIGURE 14 ); Kenya, South Africa.............................. O. (A.) tenuipunctus Régimbart View in CoL

- Pronotum median longitudinal impression deeper, extending from anterior transverse impression to posterior transverse impression; Madagascar ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 )..................................................... O. (A.) plicicollis Fairmaire View in CoL

6. Pronotum and elytra very wide compared to body length...................................................... 7

- Pronotum and elytra width less compared to body length..................................................... 8

7. Elytral serial rows of punctures uniform; Madagascar ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 21 View FIGURE 21 )......................... O. (A.) perlaevis (Perkins) View in CoL

- Elytral serial rows of punctures very irregular; aedeagus as illustrated; South Africa ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 16 View FIGURE 16 ).... O. (A.) latissimus n. sp.

8. Body size slightly smaller, ca. 1.15 mm; aedeagus as illustrated; Nigeria ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 18 View FIGURE 18 )............ O. (A.) nigeriensis n. sp.

- Body size slightly larger, ca. 1.25 mm .................................................................... 9

9. Elytra with serial rows of very shallow, widely spaced punctures, each with very short seta, each row with very narrow band of very fine reticulation; metaventral tabella circular; aedeagus as illustrated; Kenya ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 15 View FIGURE 15 ).. O. (A.) alienus Orchymont View in CoL

- Elytra with serial rows of very shallow, widely spaced punctures, each with very short seta, each row without very narrow band of very fine reticulation; metaventral tabella more oval; aedeagus as illustrated; South Africa ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 17 View FIGURE 17 ). O. (A.) solitarius n. sp.

10. Elytral setae, especially laterally, more numerous and longer, extending outward from body; body size larger, ca. 1.40 mm; elytral punctures more widely spaced; aedeagus as illustrated; southern Africa ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3 View FIGURE 3 , 8 View FIGURE 8 )........ O. (A.) copiosus n. sp.

- Elytral setae shorter and less numerous, and, at least posteriorly on elytra not extending outward from body............ 11

11. Aedeagus as illustrated; Africa ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3 View FIGURE 3 , 7 View FIGURE 7 )....................................... O. (A.) strangulatus Régimbart View in CoL

- Aedeagus as illustrated; Palearctic ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3 View FIGURE 3 , 6 View FIGURE 6 )......................................... O. (A.) exaratus Mulsant View in CoL

12. Metaventral tabella surface on each side with slightly oblique longitudinal shallow groove with setigerous punctures ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5 View FIGURE 5 , 9 View FIGURE 9 ).................................................................... O. (A.) continentalis Orchymont View in CoL

- Metaventral tabella surface without shallow grooves........................................................ 13

13. Dorsum of head and pronotum microreticulate, setae sparse ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 10 View FIGURE 10 )........................ O. (A.) scutatus n. sp.

- Dorsum of head and pronotum non-microreticulate, setae more numerous....................................... 14

14. Abdominal venter with shining large suboval glabrous area bearing sparse, rather long setae, remainder of ventrites with hydrofuge pubescence; South Africa ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 11 View FIGURE 11 )...................................... O. (A.) flagellissimus n. sp.

- Abdominal venter hydrofuge pubescence not delimiting an oval non-pubescent area............................... 15

15. Dorsum of head and pronotum with very dense, very prominent setae; abdominal ventrites 1–2 entirely hydrofuge pubescent, ventrite 3 with hydrofuge pubescence absent in ca. median 1/5, ventrite 4 with hydrofuge pubescence absent in ca. median 1/3, ventrite 5 with hydrofuge pubescence present only narrowly laterally, remaining ventrites shining, with sparse setae; aedeagus as illustrated; South Africa ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 12 View FIGURE 12 ).............................................. O. (A.) persetosus n. sp.

- Dorsum of head and pronotum with very sparse, very fine setae............................................... 16

16. Abdominal ventrites 1–3 entirely bearing rather long hydrofuge pubescence, ventrite 4 with reduced hydrofuge pubescence in median ¼, remaining ventrites shining, with sparse setae; South Africa ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 13 View FIGURE 13 )....... O. (A.) mpumalangicus n. sp.

- Abdominal ventrites 1–2 entirely hydrofuge pubescent, ventrite 3 with hydrofuge pubescence only present along anterior margin in ca. median 1/5, “hair-line” then sloping toward posterior margin, lateral 1/3 entirely hydrofuge pubescent; body size large, ca. 1.40 mm; aedeagus as illustrated; Ethiopia, Morocco, Senegal ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 14 View FIGURE 14 )............................................................................................. O. (A.) libertarius Aguilera, Ribera & Hernando View in CoL

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Hydraenidae

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