Hydraena pedroaguilerai, Perkins, Philip D., 2011

Perkins, Philip D., 2011, New records and description of fifty-four new species of aquatic beetles in the genus Hydraena Kugelann from South America (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 3074, pp. 1-198 : 40-41

Hydraena pedroaguilerai , new species

Figs. 67 (habitus), 71 (aedeagus), 201 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Ecuador: Pastaza Province, Puyo, Santa Clara, Rio Llaudio Chico, elev. 600 m, 1° 17' S, 77° 54' W, 10 i 1995, Gerecke. Deposited in the NMW. [Verbatim label data: “ ECU 62 Pastaza (PA), Puyo. Santa Clara, Rio Llaudio Chico, 600 m (01-79/98-60), 10.01.95, leg. Gerecke”.]

Differential Diagnosis. Similar in dorsal habitus to H. mauriciogarciai ( Figs. 63 , 67 ). The male genitalia of the two species, which should be examined for reliable indentifications, show some resemblance in basic shape, but differ markedly in many details ( Figs. 66, 71). The holotype is teneral, but the elytra are distinctively darker in the basal 1/3 than the remainder; the species may therefore be distinctively colored in mature specimens, as are other members of the Fasciola Complex. The pronotum does not have a macula, but mature specimens are needed to confirm that it is entirely testaceous. The labrum of the holotype seems large, and upturned apically ( Fig. 67 ); additional specimens are needed to ascertain if this is a result of specimen preparation or is a consistent condition.

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.11/0.43; head 0.19/0.28; pronotum 0.63/0.43, PA 0.30, PB 0.33; elytra 0.63/0.43. Holotype teneral.

Frons punctures very fine and sparse, much smaller than eye facet; interstices shining, 1–6xpd. Clypeus microreticulate laterally, nearly impunctate medially. Mentum and postmentum very sparsely very finely punctulate, shining. Genae raised in midline and shining, concave laterally, without posterior ridge.

Pronotum weakly arcuate laterally; anterior margin straight behind eyes, emarginate behind frons, scintilla absent, area behind emargination impunctate, shining; punctures on disc slightly larger than those of frons, interstices shining, ca. 1–5xpd, punctures slightly larger at anterior and posterior; PF1 and PF4 absent; PF2 extremely shallow, if present, perhaps in mature specimens represented by single transverse impression,; PF3 shallow.

Elytra weakly arcuate laterally, slightly constricted in front of posterior angles; summit of posterior declivity at about midlength; lateral explanate margins narrow; on basal 1/3 punctures ca. 1xpd largest pronotal punctures, punctures becoming finer and more widely spaced toward posterior. Intervals not raised, strongly shining, on basal 1/3 ca. 2–4xpd, as are interstices between punctures of a row, a few punctures subserial. Apices in dorsal aspect conjointly rounded, in posterior aspect margins forming very shallow angle with one another.

Ratios of P2 width and plaque shape (P2/w/l/s) ca. 2/0.5/3/4. P1 laminate; median carina sinuate in profile. P2 rather short, l/w ca. 3/2, sides slightly converging toward blunt apex, apex raised slightly above mesoventral intercoxal process. Plaques very narrow, indistinct lines obscured by pubescence, not raised, located at sides of deep median depression. Metaventrite with very short longitudinal ridge on each side, extended posteriorly from margin of each mesocoxal cavity. AIS width at straight posterior margin ca. 1.5x P2. Protibia slightly widened at about midlength, straight. Meso- metatibia slender, straight. Abdominal apex symmetrical; last tergite with apicomedian notch.

Etymology. Named in memory of the late Pedro Aguilera, who was beginning work on South American Hydraena , but untimely fate took him at an early age.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality ( Fig. 201).

Notes. Reinhard Gerecke (via Ignacio Ribera) kindly provided the following notes on the type locality: "This was a stream on outcropping bedrock in degraded forest (well exposed to sunlight, low cascades, little interstitial development)".

Figures

FIGURE 63. Hydraena mauriciogarciai, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.

FIGURE 67. Hydraena pedroaguilerai, holotype, dorsal and lateral habitus, and venter.