Copelatus posticatus (Fabricius, 1801)

Manuel, Michaël, Deler-Hernández, Albert, Megna, Yoandri S. & Hájek, Jiří, 2018, Copelatus Erichson from the Dominican Republic, with the description of a new species, comments on elytral striation and faunistic notes on Antillean species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae), Zootaxa 4399 (3), pp. 371-385 : 380

Copelatus posticatus (Fabricius, 1801)

( Fig. 15 )

Published records (Hispaniola). Blackwelder (1944: 78), Peck (2005: 44), Perez-Gelabert (2008: 77) (all without precise locality).

Material examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 8 spec., ( NMPC), Barahona, MN Domingo Fuerte " Cachote ", 18°5.21'N 71°11.46'W, 1205 m, 14.viii.2014, M. Fikáček leg. 2 spec . ( NMPC), Barahona, 2.6 km SE of Polo , 18°4.82'N 71°15.53'W, 570 m, 16.viii.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 8 spec . ( NMPC), Azua, 12.3 km NW of Azua, crossing of Río Jura , 18°32.54'N 70°48.91'W, 292 m, 7.ix.2014, A. Deler- Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 11 spec . ( NMPC) La Vega, Res. Ebano Verde (around admin. centre), 19°1.96'N 70°32.59'W, 1070 m, 24.viii.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 4 spec . ( NMPC), La Vega at S margin of Manabao , 19°3.85'N 70°47.61'W, 912 m, 27.viii.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 6 spec . ( NMPC), M.T. Sánchez , MN Bosque Húmedo Río San Juan, 19°40.46'N 70°0.66'W, 10m, 1.ix.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 12 spec . ( NMPC), Puerto Plata, MN Salto Damajagua, 2.3 km SE of Imbert , 19°44.28'N 70°48.72'W, 188 m, 31.viii.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 8 spec . ( NMPC), Samaná, MN Salto El Limón 2.8 km SSW of El Limón , 19°16.56'S 69°26.47'W, 160 m, 2.ix.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 2 spec . ( NMPC) Puerto Plata, MN Isabel de Torres above Pue. Plata , 19°45.92'N 70°42.71'W, 710 m, 31.viii.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg. 8 spec . ( NMPC), Duarte, Río Nagua 12.3 km NW of Castillo , 19°18.76'N 70°4.31'W, 122 m, 4.ix.2014, A. Deler-Hernández, M. Fikáček, M. Gimmel leg.

Diagnosis. See Megna & Epler (2012).

Variability. In specimens from the Dominican Republic, strioles on the pronotum are less deeply impressed than in those from Cuba. Specimens from Cuba and from the Dominican Republic tend to display a more contrasted dorsal colour pattern than those from Guadeloupe (testaceous areas along pronotum lateral margins, elytral base, lateral margins and towards elytral apex, more extended and better delimited), with some variability in all localities.

Collection circumstances. Copelatus posticatus is the most frequently collected species of the genus in the Dominican Republic. It was found in lentic (permanent and temporary) habitats, where it was predominantly associated with turbid waters with muddy bottom.

Distribution. Widespread Neotropical species, from Mexico to Brazil. In the Antilles, recorded from Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Tobago.

Figures

FIGURES 14–18. Details of Copelatus. 14. C. caelatipennis habitus (4.4 mm); 15. C. posticatus habitus (6.6 mm); 16. C. vitraci habitus (5.0 mm); 17. median lobe in lateral view of C. vitraci; 18. paramere of C. vitraci. Scale bar (Figs 17–18) = 0.5 mm.