Katasophistes merida, Girón & Short, 2018

Giron, Jennifer C. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2018, Three new genera of acidocerine water scavenger beetles from tropical South America (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 768, pp. 113-158 : 131-133

Katasophistes merida sp. n. Figs 10A-D ; 11A-C ; 12D ; 13 ; 14A-D

Type material examined.

Holotype (male): " VENEZUELA: Mérida State/ 8°51.933'N, 70°37.131'W, 1682 m/ ca. 12 km SE of Santo Domingo/ leg. Short, Arias & Gustafson, wall seeps along river; 22.i.2012; VZ12-0122-03C" (MIZA). Paratypes: (33): VENEZUELA: Mérida State: "12Km SE/ Sta. Domingo/II-24-1969/ P. & P. Spangler" (3, USNM); "12 Km. SE Sto. Dom./ 24 Feb. 76/ C.M. & O. S. Flint" (1, USNM); same data as holotype (14, SEMC); same data as holotype except "leg. Short, Arias, & Gustafson; log and stick jams in river; VZ12-0122-03B" (3, SEMC); same, except "Short & Arias; wall seeps; VZ12-0122-03A" (6, MIZA, MALUZ, SEMC); same, except “VZ12-0122-03C2” (1, SEMC, DNA voucher SLE 426); " 8°52.423' N, 70°37.611'W, 1616 m/ Cascada Velo de la Novia; 24.i.2012/ leg. Short, Arias, & Gustafson / seeps by waterfall/; VZ12-0124-01A" (4, SEMC); same, except "logs & Kicknetting; VZ12-0124-01B" (1, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

Katasophistes merida is easily recognized because of the striking rows of large and deep systematic punctures along the elytra and its relatively short and stout maxillary palps.

Description.

Body length 2.7-3.4 mm, width 1.7-2.4 mm. Body broadly oval, moderately convex (Fig. 10A, B ). General coloration dark brown, slightly paler along margins of pronotum and elytra (Fig. 10 A, B ). Each elytron with five rows of large and deep systematic punctures. Apex of fifth abdominal ventrite truncate (Fig. 11C ). Aedeagus (Fig. 12D ) with basal piece nearly 0.8-times the length of parameres; parameres at widest point, nearly 0.6-times greatest width of median lobe; apex of parameres narrowly round; apex of median lobe with median pointed projection.

Etymology.

Noun in apposition. Named after the Venezuelan State of Mérida, where the beetles have been collected.

Distribution.

Venezuela ( Mérida). Elevation range 1616-1682 m. See Fig. 13 .

Biology.

This species is associated with seepage and waterfall habitats in the Andes, where it has been collected at several sites in wet rock. See Fig. 14 A-D .

Figures

Figure 10. Habitus of Katasophistes spp.: A-E Katasophistes merida: A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D head E-H Katasophistes superficialis: E dorsal view F lateral view G ventral view H head. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 11. Thorax and abdomen of Katasophistes spp.: A-C Katasophistes merida: A ventral view of mesoventrite (white arrow pointing transverse ridge) B posterior view of metafurca: (at) anterior tendon, (c) crux, (ds) dorsal sheath, (fa) furcal arm, (h) hemiductus, (ls) lateral sheath, (s) stalk C fifth abdominal ventrite D Katasophistes charynae, fifth abdominal ventrite; E Katasophistes cuzco, fifth abdominal ventrite.

Figure 12. Aedeagus of Katasophistes spp.: A-B Katasophistes charynae: A " colln 32 " B " colln 42 a " C Katasophistes cuzco; D Katasophistes merida E Katasophistes superficialis. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

Figure 13. Distribution of Katasophistes species.

Figure 14. Habitat of Katasophistes spp. A-B Type locality and habitat of K. merida: Venezuela: Merida State, Collecting Event VZ 12 - 0122 - 03 A C-D Habitat of K. merida: Venezuela: Merida State, Collecting Event VZ 12 - 0124 - 01 A E-F Type locality and habitat of K. superficialis: Ecuador: Pastaza Province, Collecting Event AS- 08 - 08 b.