Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908

Megna, Yoandri S. & Epler, John H., 2012, A review of Copelatus from Cuba, with the description of two new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52 (2), pp. 383-410 : 392-393

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5331014

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CA7F7D-FFE1-4C57-FE21-9A594A57FE06

treatment provided by

Diego

scientific name

Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908
status

 

Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908 View in CoL

( Figs. 4 View Figs , 22 View Figs , 28 View Figs )

Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908: 18 View in CoL .

Copelatus cubaensis: YOUNG (1963: 60) View in CoL , SPANGLER (1981: 167), EPLER (1996: 3.33, 2010: 5.45), LARSON et al. (2000: 47), NILSSON (2001: 68), PECK (2005: 44).

Type locality. Cuba, Cienfuegos Province, Cayamas.

Material examined: CUBA: ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD: Nueva Gerona , 28.v.2006, Y. S. Megna leg., 1 ex. Las Tunas. Sábalo, 06.viii.2005, Y. S. Megna leg., 1 ex. ; Comunales , 12.i.2009, Y. S. Megna leg., 2 exs. SANTIAGO DE CUBA: San Rafael , 03.ix.2006, Y.S. Megna & Deler-Hernández leg., 17 exs.

Diagnosis. TL 4.5–5.4 mm; EW 2.3–2.7 mm; see Table 1 for other body measurements.Adults of this species are recognized by the following combination of characters: elytron with one posterolateral submarginal stria and six discal striae ( Fig. 4 View Figs ); elytra lighter than pronotum; genitalia with broad parameres and median lobe with broad lobate apex ( Fig. 22 View Figs ).

Copelatus cubaensis is very similar to C. blatchleyi , but differs from it by the characters given in the identification key, the slightly different coloration of elytra, which are usually lighter than pronotum, the male genitalia and the generally larger size (TL 4.5-5.4 mm). The two species have similar genitalia with broad parameres, but the median lobe of C. cubaensis is more truncate apically ( Fig. 22a View Figs ) while that of C. blatchleyi is more rounded (see YOUNG 1963: Fig. 7 View Figs ). Copelatus blatchleyi has the elytra usually darker than the pronotum and TL 4.5–4.8 mm ( EPLER 2010).

Ecology. YOUNG (1963) reported that this species was collected using a blacklight trap in Florida. In Cuba, the species was collected in lentic (permanent and temporary) habitats located in lowlands, where it was predominantly associated with turbid waters with muddy bottom.

Distribution. In the USA known from southern Florida ( EPLER 1996, 2010; LARSON et al. 2000). Until now, all Cuban records of C. cubaensis were from western Cuba only ( SCHAEFFER 1908, YOUNG 1963, PECK 2005), but the distribution range of the species is now extended to the Isla de la Juventud and the eastern parts of the country ( Fig. 28 View Figs ).

Remarks. This species is similar to C. blatchleyi Young, 1953 , which is not recorded from Cuba. However, the presence of C. blatchleyi in extreme southern Florida and the Bahamas ( YOUNG 1953a, EPLER 2010) indicates that it may occur in Cuba.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Dytiscidae

Genus

Copelatus

Loc

Copelatus cubaensis Schaeffer, 1908

Megna, Yoandri S. & Epler, John H. 2012
2012
Loc

Copelatus cubaensis: YOUNG (1963: 60)

PECK S. B. 2005: 44
NILSSON A. N. 2001: 68
LARSON D. J. & ALARIE Y. & ROUGHLEY R. E. 2000: 47
SPANGLER P. J. 1981: 167
YOUNG F. N. 1963: )
1963
Loc

Copelatus cubaensis

SCHAEFFER C. 1908: 18
1908
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