Taxonomic revision of African water beetles in the genus Ochthebius Leach (1815) subgenus Aulacochthebius Kuwert (1887) (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) Perkins, Philip D. Zootaxa 2023 2023-01-17 5228 5 501 546 Perkins, 2023 Perkins 2023 [151,522,798,825] Insecta Hydraenidae Ochthebius Animalia Coleoptera 16 517 Arthropoda species copiosus sp. nov. Aulacochthebius   Figs. 1, 3, 8, 22   Type Material.   Holotype(male): South Africa; “ S. Afr., S. Transvaal, Roberts Drift: Vaal R., 27°2′ S, 29°2′ E,  8.10.1973, E-Y: 190, sifted flood debris, leg. Endrödy-Younga” ( TMSA).   Paratypes(2,217 card mounted paratypes) (3,194 non-types in alcohol = “nta” below). Samedata as holotype (50 + 1694 nta TMSA).   Angola: 20 km. E. Luanda, Luanda-Catete Highway, ( 8°50′S, 13°22′E),  9.x.1949, leg. B. Malkin(5 BMNH);   Namibia: East Caprivi: Katima Mulilo, lux, ( 17°29′S, 24°17′E),  3-8.iii.1992, leg. M. Uhlig(3 ZMHB).   South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, 11 mi. W. Komga, ( 32°36′S, 27°43′E),  20.iii.1968, leg. P. J. Spangler(2 NMNH); 16 mi. N. Grahamstown, ( 33°18′S, 26°32′E),  17.iii.1968, leg. P. J. Spangler(3 NMNH);  Btwn. Lady Frere& Cala, farm dam, elev. 1067 m ( 31°40′3.72′′S, 27°3′21.24′′E),  26.iii.1954, leg. J. Balfour-Browne( Stn. No.100) (1 BMNH);  Grahamstown, ( 33°18′S, 26°32′E),  1-30.v.1939, leg. J. Omer-Cooper(1 BMNH);  Grahamstown, Teafontein Farm, ( 33°18′S, 26°32′E),  5.viii.1939, leg. J. Omer-Cooper(4 BMNH);  Little Karroo, Baviaanskloof Nvally, ( 33°37′S, 24°15′E),  28.x.1993, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#2917) (13 TMSA);  Albany, Gowies Kloof,  6.viii.1939, leg. Omer-Cooper(2 BMNH);  Free State Province, Vredefort, nr. Homing Spruit, ( 27°1′S, 27°23′E),  29.viii.1949, leg. J. Omer-Cooper(1 BMNH);  KwaZulu-Natal Province, Hluhluwe Game Res., ( 28°5′S, 32°4′E),  27.xi.1992, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#2861) (3 TMSA);  Hluhluwe Game Reserve, ( 28°5′S, 32°4′E),   17.xi.1992, leg. Endrödy-Younga#2824 (#2824) (2 TMSAnta); Mtubatuba, ( 28°22′S, 32°19′E),   24–25.iii.1968, leg. P. J. Spangler(1 NMNH); same locality,  4.iv.1974, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#324) (7 TMSA); same locality,  4.iv.1974, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#318) (5 TMSAnta); same locality,  4.iv.1974, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#319) (8 TMSA);  Ndumu Game Reserve, ( 26°53′S, 32°16′E),  12.vi.1989, leg. Endrödy-Younga& Klimaszewski(#2612), shore washing, fresh water (170, + 72 nta TMSA;); same locality,  12.vi.1989, leg. Endrödy-Younga& Klimaszewski(#2613), shore washing, salty water (124 + 984 nta TMSA);  St. LuciaiSimangaliso Wetland Eastern Shores, ( 28°20′59.02′′S, 32°25′50.59′′E), D. T. Biltonleg (2 DTBC); iSimangaliso Wetland Park, False Baysite 3,  31/i/2015, ( 27°57′31.33′′S, 32°21′42.15′′E), D. T. Biltonleg (1 DTBC);  Zululand, Dukuduku For. Sta., ( 28°22′S, 32°19′E),  4.iv.1974, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#323) (25 + 224 nta TMSA);  Limpopo Province, N. Transvaal, Mmabolelaestate, ( 22°40′S, 28°15′E),  6.iii.1973, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#13) (9 TMSA);  Mpumalanga Province, Albany Museumcatalog; Vaal RiverSystem ( VAL): 267N, 344B, 407CD, 411A, 443T, 496E, 506J, 511U, 552V, 680K, 680R, 750B, 753R, 822E, 825H, 889C, 894H, 894H X3, 1126N, 1212E, 1296L,  1.i.-29.xii.1960, collr. unknown (26 AMG); c. Transvaal, Roodeplaat Dam, ( 25°37′S, 28°23′E),  14.viii.1974, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#359) (34 TMSA);  Kruger Nat. Park, Pafuri, ( 22°25′S, 31°17′E),  12.ii.1994, leg. EndrödyYounga(#2998) (32 TMSA);  Kruger Nat. Pk., Letaba Riverbelow dam, ( 23°46′S, 31°30′E),  1.iii.1995, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#3122) (18 TMSA);  Kruger National Park, Pafuri, around, ( 22°25′S, 31°12′E),  1.ii.1994, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#2969) (6 TMSA);  Kruger National Park, Skukuza, Sabie River, ( 24°57′S, 30°42′E),  22.ii.1995, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#3110) (4 TMSA);  Mathlakusapan, ( 22°37′S, 31°22′E),  4.ii.1997, leg. Endrödy-Younga(#2991) (32 + 113 nta TMSA); nr. Standerton, ( 26°58′S, 29°13′E),  8.iv.1954, leg. J. Balfour-Browne(161) (14 BMNH);  Natal Prov., Ngagane River, marginal vegetation,  1.vi.-29.viii.1974, leg. CSIR Water Research(16 AMG);  Northern Cape Province, Richtersveld N.P., Richterberg Camp, ( 28°15′2′′S, 17°12′48′′E),  9.ix.2004, leg. M. & B. Uhlig(1 ZMHB);  Western Cape Province, Little Karroo, Raubenheimer Dam, ( 33°25′S, 22°19′E),  21.x.1993, leg. EndrödyYounga(#2889) (4 TMSA);  Streambeside R339 road in Prince Alfred’s Pass, ca. 10 km S of Avontuur, ( 33°45′S, 23°10′E),  20.ix.2009, leg. D. T. Bilton(2 DTBC).   Zimbabwe: Gwai River, ( 18°40′S, 27°13′E),  3.iv.1968, leg. P. J. Spangler(1 NMNH).   Differential Diagnosis.Similar externally to  O. (A.) exaratusand  O. (A.) strangulatus.In addition to the differences in the aedeagus of the three species (given below),  O. (A.) copiosusdiffers in the following characters: 1) slightly larger body size (ca. 1.40 mmvs. 1.10 to 1.30); 2) setae on margins of pronotum and elytra distinctly denser, longer, and extend outward more prominently; 3) elytral punctures more widely separated one from the other, and lacking minute granules at the anterior margin of the punctures. The aedeagi of the three species differ as follows ( Fig. 3): 1) the distal ½ of the main-piece is shaped differently in the three species; 2) the apex of the main-piece is truncate in  O. (A.) exaratus, but rounded in the other two species; 3) the flagellum, especially the shape of the first fold, and the length of the flagellum, differ in the three species.   Description. Size: holotype(length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.38/0.62; head width 0.35; pronotum 0.29/0.48; elytra 0.86/0.62. Habitus as illustrated ( Fig. 8). Dorsum dark brown except hyaline borders of prothorax transparent. Eyes with moderately coarse, convex facets. Frons with deep impressions, borders of impressions rounded, smooth. Clypeus with very few, very shallow finely setigerous punctures. Labrum apicomedially produced in male, rounded in female. Pronotal reliefs very smooth, with very sparse and very short indistinct setae; anterior and posterior transverse impressions deep, anterior narrowly separated from transverse impression immediately behind anterior margin of lateral lobe; median longitudinal impression deep, extended from anterior to posterior impression. Pronotum lateral hyaline borders moderately wide, present only in angulation behind lateral lobes; sides of lateral lobes with conspicuous long setae that extend outward from cuticle in dry specimens; anterior hyaline border moderately wide; posterior hyaline border narrow. Elytra smooth, ten seriate-punctate, punctures small, each with fine decumbent seta, setae longer and more conspicuous laterally and apically than on disc; setae on lateral margins dense and long, extending outward from cuticle in dry specimens. Venter ( Fig. 8): Mentum with sparse, small setigerous punctures. Prosternum with very low midlongitudinal subcarina. Metaventrite tabella large, angulate anteriorly and laterally, length slightly less than width (ratio ca. 5:6); ratio of length above and below horizontal imaginary line through greatest width ca. 6:7; lateral angles slightly rounded; surface with very few, very fine punctures; tabella bordered by moderately long setae. Abdominal venter: first two ventrites and antero-lateral margin of third with hydrofuge pubescence, remainder of ventrites shining, with very sparse setae.   Distribution. Currently known from Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe( Fig. 22).   Etymology.Named in reference to the copious number of specimens. 4979345420 1973-08-10 TMSA -27.033333 South Africa 1239 29.033333 16 517 1 holotype 4979345398 1973-08-10 TMSA Same -27.033333 South Africa 1239 29.033333 16 517 2 paratype 4979345329 1949-10-09 BMNH B. Malkin Angola -8.833333 Luanda-Catete Highway 1300 13.366667 16 517 1 Luanda paratype 4979345389 1992-03-03 1992-03-08 1992-03-03 ZMHB M. Uhlig Namibia -17.483334 Katima Mulilo 1278 24.283333 East 16 517 1 Zambezi paratype 4979345413 1968-03-20 NMNH W. Komga & P. J. Spangler South Africa -32.6 Eastern Cape Province 1209 27.716667 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345335 1968-03-17 NMNH P. J. Spangler South Africa -33.3 Grahamstown 1205 26.533333 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345385 1954-03-26 BMNH J. Balfour-Browne & Stn. No. South Africa 1067 -31.6677 1 27.055899 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345339 1939-05-01 1939-05-30 1939-05-01 BMNH J. Omer-Cooper South Africa -33.3 Grahamstown 1205 26.533333 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345320 1939-08-05 BMNH J. Omer-Cooper South Africa -33.3 Teafontein Farm 1205 26.533333 Grahamstown 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345429 1993-10-28 TMSA Baviaanskloof N & Endrody-Younga South Africa -33.616665 Little Karroo 1204 24.25 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345367 1939-08-06 BMNH Omer-Cooper South Africa Gowies Kloof Albany 16 517 1 Eastern Cape paratype 4979345341 1949-08-29 BMNH J. Omer-Cooper South Africa -27.016666 Homing Spruit 1239 27.383333 Vredefort 16 517 1 Free State paratype 4979345308 1992-11-27 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa -28.083334 Hluhluwe Game Res. 1233 32.066666 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345325 [376,854,1375,1403] South Africa -28.083334 Hluhluwe Game Reserve 1233 32.066666 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345323 1992-11-17 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa -28.366667 Mtubatuba 1232 32.316666 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345362 [649,1156,1410,1437] 1968-03-24 1968-03-25 1968-03-24 NMNH P. J. Spangler South Africa 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345342 1974-04-04 1968-03-25 1968-03-24 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345350 1974-04-04 1968-03-25 1968-03-24 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345311 1989-06-12 TMSA Endrody-Younga & Klimaszewski South Africa -26.883333 Ndumu Game Reserve 1239 32.266666 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345348 1989-06-12 TMSA Endrody-Younga & Klimaszewski South Africa -26.883333 Ndumu Game Reserve 1239 32.266666 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345410 [151,1383,1591,1619] DTBC D. T. Bilton South Africa -28.349728 Eastern Shores 1 32.43072 St. Lucia 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345305 2015-01-31 DTBC D. T. Bilton South Africa -27.958704 False Bay 1 32.361706 Wetland Park 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345431 [151,1432,1662,1691] 1974-04-04 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa -28.366667 Dukuduku For. Sta. 1232 32.316666 Zululand 16 517 1 KwaZulu-Natal paratype 4979345427 1973-03-06 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa -22.666666 Limpopo Province 1259 28.25 16 517 1 Limpopo paratype 4979345394 [254,1109,1735,1761] VAL South Africa Vaal River Albany Museum 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345415 1960-01-01 1960-12-29 1960-01-01 AMG South Africa 3.1126 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345396 1974-08-14 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa -25.616667 Roodeplaat Dam 1245 28.383333 Transvaal 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345354 1994-02-12 TMSA EndrodyYounga South Africa -22.416666 Pafuri 1260 31.283333 Kruger Nat. Park 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345319 1995-03-01 TMSA Kruger Nat. Pk. & Endrody-Younga South Africa -23.766666 Letaba River 1254 31.5 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345316 1994-02-01 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa -22.416666 Pafuri 1260 31.2 Kruger National Park 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345414 1995-02-22 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa Kruger National Park -24.95 Sabie River 1249 30.7 Skukuza 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345313 1997-02-04 TMSA Endrody-Younga South Africa 17 518 -22.616667 Mathlakusapan 1259 31.366667 16 517 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345302 [421,1432,150,179] 1954-04-08 BMNH J. Balfour-Browne South Africa -26.966667 Standerton 1239 29.216667 17 518 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345336 [151,1325,187,213] 1974-06-01 1974-08-29 1974-06-01 AMG Water Research South Africa Ngagane River Natal Prov. 17 518 1 Mpumalanga paratype 4979345377 2004-09-09 ZMHB M. & B. Uhlig South Africa -28.250555 Northern Cape Province 20 17.213335 17 518 1 Northern Cape paratype 4979345386 1993-10-21 TMSA EndrodyYounga South Africa -33.416668 Raubenheimer Dam 1205 22.316668 Little Karroo 17 518 1 Western Cape paratype 4979345423 2009-09-20 DTBC D. T. Bilton South Africa -33.75 Prince Alfred's Pass 1203 23.166666 Stream 17 518 1 Western Cape paratype 4979345392 1968-04-03 NMNH P. J. Spangler Zimbabwe -18.666666 Gwai River 1274 27.216667 17 518 1 paratype