Parhydraenopsis simiensis, Perkins, 2009

Perkins, Philip D., 2009, Revisions of the genera Parhydraena Orchymont, Protozantaena Perkins, Decarthrocerus Orchymont, and Parhydraenopsis nomen novum, aquatic and humicolous beetles from Africa and Madagascar, and comparative morphology of the tribe Parhydraenini (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 2038, pp. 1-119 : 51-52

Parhydraenopsis simiensis new species

( Figs. 14, 82, 83, 102)

Type material. Holotype (male): Ethiopia: Simien Mountains National Park , Jinbar Wenz, moss [“Simen- Bge. Jimbear Wenz, moose”], elev. 3500 m, 13° 16' N, 38° 5' E, 17.iv.1976, H. Löffler. Deposited in the NMW . Paratypes (5): Ethiopia: Simien , Debarec, from streams with steep earth banks and small falls, elev. 2990 m, 13° 11' N, 37° 57' E, 11.xi.1952, Hugh Scott (5 BMNH) .

Differential diagnosis. Recognized among other members of the genus by the comparatively narrow elytra with width/length ratio of ca. 0.66, and the non-explanate pronotum ( Fig. 82). The aedeagus distinctively differs from those of P. cooperi and P. alta ( Figs. 80, 81, 83).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 2.12/0.93; head 0.35/0.59; pronotum 0.48/0.78, PA 0.65, PB 0.68; elytra 1.41 /0.93. Dorsum of head and disc of pronotum dark brown to piceous; lateral areas of pronotum, elytra, and legs brown to dark brown; maxillary palpi brown, except distal 1/2 of last mere dark brown.

Head with eyes moderately large, in dorsal aspect 9 convex facets in longest series. Ocelli distinct round small shining, each located at base of shallow oblique interocular fovea. Frons discal punctures ca. 1–2xef, interstices effacedly microreticulate, weakly shining, 1–3xpd; area between interocular foveae and eye rugulose, dull. Clypeus weakly shining, more finely punctate than frons. Labrum effacedly microreticulate, weakly shining, apicomedially emarginate to form rounded lobe on each side. Maxillary palpi short, combined lengths of meres much less than width of head (ratio ca. 22/41); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 7/5/10. Mentum and submentum moderately finely punctulate, interstices effacedly microreticulate, dull or weakly shining; genae moderately swollen.

Pronotum with anterior margin very weakly arcuate, almost straight, median ca. 1/2 weakly emarginate and with narrow hyaline border, margin laterally to hyaline border sloping away slightly. Anterior angles obtuse, rather sharply rounded. Sides rounded, widest at about midlength, behind middle gradually attenuate, very weakly sinuate. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Shallow wide impression at each posterior angle. Pronotum densely coarsely punctate, except less dense on discal relief where interstices shining; some punctures confluent in discal U-shaped impressions; punctures U-shaped or completely divided into two smaller punctures. Sculpture laterally rugose, dull, punctures obsolete, granules prominent.

Elytra weakly shining, elongate-ovate, attenuate posteriorly, sides arcuate, explanate margins distinct from shoulder for ca. 3/4 of length, apices separately rounded. Ten-seriate punctate, punctures ca. 2xef, interstices ca. 1xpd, granule of each puncture large, very similar in size and spacing to unilinear row of granules on each interval; punctures of series 1–3 slightly irregular near base. Intervals 1–2xpd, sutural interval raised. Each granule at its posterior side with short but distinct recumbent seta; setae of serial and interval granules very similar in length and density.

Metaventral disc with midlongitudinal groove, sometimes with weak fovea in posterior 1/2; low midlongitudinal carina between deep fovea and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Ventrites 5 and 6 elongate, effacedly microreticulate, shining. Ventrite 5 hydrofuge pubescent in anterior 1/4, posterior 1/2 with very sparse, long pubescence in transverse band. Ventrite 6 very sparsely pubescent in transverse band across posterior 1/2. Last ventrite very sparsely pubescent, free margin markedly arcuate; last tergite with moderately wide apicomedian notch, and bearing moderately long setae.

Legs moderately long, femora moderately broad, metafemora width/metatarsus length ratio ca. 11/22; combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus greater than width of head (ratio ca. 57/41), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 35/22. Basal 3 protarsomeres, in male, with pad of suction setae. Females not yet known.

Wings fully developed in holotype and all dissected males.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.64 mm; main-piece, in ventral view, widest subapically, with apex produced as short point angled to right side; distal piece with gonopore bearing flagellum S-shaped, flagellum supported between two lobate processes; parameres very short, V-shaped, each with two setae ( Fig. 83).

Etymology. Named in reference to the geographical distribution.

Distribution. Currently known from the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia ( Fig. 102).

Note. The elytral series are more irregular on some of the paratypes than on the holotype.