Hydraena spatula

Perkins, Philip D., 2011, New records and description of fifty-four new species of aquatic beetles in the genus Hydraena Kugelann from South America (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 3074, pp. 1-198 : 58

Spatula Complex

Two species comprise the Spatula Complex: H. spatula , and H. altiphila . These are medium sized to moderately large species (ca. 1.69–1.85 mm), which have a moderately wide body form, have the pronotum with lateral areas slightly lighter in color than the disc, and lack a pronotal scintilla ( Figs. 122–123 ). The dorsal habitus is somewhat similar to that of species in the Ampla Complex, but the body is not as wide, the color differs, and the metaventrite has plaques. The male genitalia in this complex are very distinctive, having the distal piece greatly expanded, spatula-like in shape, the parameres characteristically shaped, and the gonopore located at the end of a long flexible flagellum ( Figs. 124–125). The two currently known species are from Venezuela , both collected at relatively high altitudes: H. spatula at 1843–1850 m, H. altiphila at 1750–2037 m. The latter locality, 2037 m, is the highest Venezuelan locality where Hydraena have been collected.

Figures

FIGURE 122. Hydraena spatula, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.

FIGURE 123. Hydraena altiphila, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.