Hydrophilus (Dibolocelus) harpe, Short & Mcintosh Iv, 2015

Short, Andrew E. Z. & Mcintosh Iv, Charles E., 2015, Hydrophilus harpe sp. nov., a remarkable new species of giant water scavenger beetle from Brazil (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (2), pp. 665-671 : 666

Hydrophilus (Dibolocelus) harpe sp. nov.

( Figs 1 –5)

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO NORTE: “ BRAZIL, R.G.N. / Ceara-Mirim / VII-6&7-1969 / P. & P. Spangler ”, “USNMENT / [Matrix Barcode] / 00776385” ( USNM) . PARATYPES (3 spec.): BRAZIL: BAHÍA: 15 km E. Itabuna, 3.vii.1969, leg. P. & P. Spangler, USNMENT 00776384 (1 ♀, USNM). MINAS GERAIS: Aguas Vermelhas, xii.1983, leg. M.Alvarenga (1 J, CMNH). RIO GRANDE DO NORTE: Same data as holotype, USNMENT 00776386 (1 J, SEMC).

Description. Size and form. Body length = 42–47 mm. Body broadly oval, strongly convex. Color. Dorsum of head, pronotum, and elytra charcoal black, usually with a metallic green iridescent sheen which is most easily visible under direct light. Ventral surface of head, thorax, and abdomen uniformly black; protarsi slightly paler. Antennomeres 1–6 pale yellow, antennomeres 7–9 brown. Maxillary palps reddish-brown. Head. Antennae made up of nine articles, including a three-segmented pubescent club. Length of scape subequal to cardo, pedicel and following three segments combined subequal to length of scape. Cupule large, ca. two-thirds length of preceding six antennomeres combined or ten times length of preceding antennomeres. Maxillary palps with four palpomeres; in male, second palpomere ca. five times as long as first palpomere, third palpomere ca. half as long as second palpomere, fourth palpomere ca. half as long as third palpomere; third palpomere greatly inflated, ca. three times as large as the apical palpomere. Maxillary palps unmodified in female. Combined length of palps subequal to width of head. Labial palps with three palpomeres; in male, second palpomere ca. five times as long as palpomere one and ca. two times as long as apical palpomere; second palpomere very swollen, ca. three times as wide as apical palpomere; lateral outer margin with dense row of long setae; inner lateral margin with a small patch of setae at apex; in female, second segment only slightly wider than apical palpomere. Combined length of labial palps subequal to combined length of the first two maxillary palpomeres. Mentum triangular; glabrous except for a few short, fine setae along lateral margins. Thorax. Prosternum divided into two lobes which are conical and tapered to a point with tufts of setae on the anterior margin. The sternal keel formed by the fusion of the meso- and metaventrite extending slightly past posterior margin of ventrite 2. Anterior tenth of keel with a small depression lined with transverse grooves. Keel glabrous except for few, short setae along anterior margin of depression. Apical protibial spurs of male dimorphic, one rounded and shield-like, the other slightly curved and pointed at apex ( Fig. 3 ). Single row of long setae on inner margin of protibiae. Male protasal claws asymmetrical, with outer claw extremely long and recurved, the apex explanate and forming a sickle-shaped hook ( Fig. 3 ) and with inner claw shorter and not expanded or flattened apically. In males, ventral face of meso- and metatarsi set with rows of thick, dense setae appearing as a brush; in females, they are set with only 2–3 regular rows. Abdomen with five exposed ventrites; ventrites 2–5 subequal in length. Ventrites densely covered with uniform short pubescence; ventrites 3–5 with a medial glabrous patch of varying size: glabrous patches on ventrites 4 and 5 subequal in length, glabrous patch on ventrite 3 ca. one-third length of other patches. Glabrous patches on ventrites 3 and 4 subequal in width, ca. one-fourth width of patch on ventrite 5. Posterior margin of ventrites 3 and 4 slightly overhangs onto following segment; overhang of fourth segment margin far more pronounced. Glabrous patch on ventrite 5 creased medially due to elevated ridge down abdominal midline. Aedeagus as in Fig. 4 .

Figures

Fig. 1. Hydrophilus (D.) harpe sp. nov., male paratype; dorsal and ventral habitus.

Figs 2–4. Hydrophilus (D.) harpe sp. nov. 2 – male paratype, head, ventral view; 3 – male paratype, protarsus; 4 – male holotype, aedeagus, dorsal and ventral views.