A new species of Suphisellus Crotch, 1873 (Coleoptera: Noteridae) from “Los Llanos”, Venezuela

Zootaxa 0000: 0–0000 (2012) www.mapress.com / zootaxa/ Copyright © 2012 · Magnolia Press

ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)

Article

ZOOTAXA

ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)

A new species of Suphisellus Crotch, 1873 (Coleoptera: Noteridae) from “Los Llanos”, Venezuela MAURICIO GARCÍA¹, CESAR JOÃO BENETTI² & JESÚS CAMACHO³ ¹El Insectario, Laboratorio de Ecosistemática de Coleópteros Acuáticos, Unidad Técnica Fitosanitaria, Museo de Artrópodos (MALUZ), Facultad de Agronomía, La Universidad del Zulia, Apartado 526, Maracaibo 4001-A, Edo. Zulia, Venezuela. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Campus Lagoas Marcosende, 36310, Vigo, España. E-mail: [email protected] ³Departamento Fitosanitario, Museo de Artrópodos (MALUZ), Facultad de Agronomía, La Universidad del Zulia, Apartado 526, Maracaibo 4001-A, Edo. Zulia, Venezuela. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract Suphisellus shorti sp. n. is described from “Los Llanos”, Venezuela, which brings to six the number of species included in the Noteridae genus Suphisellus Crotch, 1873 recorded in this country. Specimens were collected in The Plains region in Venezuela (Apure and Guarico states) using either a light trap or a net. Description and illustration of the new species are provided along with a discussion of its systematic position. The new species can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the following main characters: crease at posterolateral angle of pronotum weakly marked; numerous setae covering entire surface of prosternal process and medial part of prosternum; shape of male genitalia. Key words: Coleoptera, Noteridae, Noterini, Suphisellus, new species, Plains Region, Venezuela, wetlands

Resumen Se describe la especie Suphisellus shorti sp. n. de Venezuela, con lo que aumenta a seis el número de especies incluidas en el género Suphisellus Crotch, 1873 (Noteridae) citadas en este país. Los especimenes fueron colectados en Los Llanos de Venezuela (estados de Apure y Guarico) con una trampa de luz y directamente en el medio acuático. Se describe e ilustra la nueva especie y se discute su posición sistemática. La nueva especie se diferencia de las demás especies del género por los siguientes caracteres principales: la línea posterolateral del ángulo del pronoto débilmente marcada, numerosas sedas que cubren la superficie del proceso prosternal y la parte central del prosternon y la forma de la genitalia masculina.

Introduction Noteridae were originally treated as a subfamily of Dytiscidae, but currently it is considered a valid family (Beutel et al. 2006; Nilsson 2011). In his World catalogue Nilsson (2011), proposed three subfamilies (Noterinae, Notomicrinae and Phreatodytinae) with Noterinae, as the more rich in taxa, subdivided into four tribes after the recent description of Tonerini Miller, 2009 (Nilsson 2011). Among these, the worldwide tribe of Noterini is the largest one, with 10 genera and 207 species currently known (Nilsson 2011). In recent years, new taxa of this family have been described from different regions of the world, in different kind of freshwater habitat, ranging from ponds to springs, including stygobiontic species (Spangler 1996; Miller 2001; Toledo 2003; Toledo & Hendrich 2006; Toledo 2008; Miller 2009; Toledo 2010). Besides, Noteridae has undergone several taxonomic changes, including the recently new status for the neotropical Liocanthydrus Guignot, 1957 risen to genus (Miller 2009), previously a subgenus of Canthydrus Sharp, 1882: actually the largest genus of Noteridae, occurring in the Old World and definitely foreign to the Neotropics (Nilsson, 2011). With, so far, 51 known species, the strictly American Suphisellus Crotch, 1873, is second in size respect the

Accepted by M. Toledo: 13 Mar. 2012; published: ?? Month 2012

1

very close Canthydrus. Considerable diverse in colour, shape, size and morphological features, the distribution of this genus ranges, from southern Canada (Ontario) to southern Argentina (Nilsson, 2011) and, as usually for Neotropical fauna, it decrease in number of species, moving north into the Nearctic, and local populations gets more restricted habitat (Young, 1979). According to Miller (2009) Suphisellus is sister to the Neotropical genus Liocanthydrus Guignot, 1957, which is morphologically similar but differs from the former because the sides of the pronotum have narrow lateral beads and a crease occurs along the lateral margin at the posterolateral angle, extending to about the middle of the side of the pronotum. Liocanthydrus lacks this crease and has the lateral bead relatively broad. Suphisellus has been revised in part by Young (1979), who treated the species occurring in the Americas north of Colombia. Nevertheless a comprehensive revision of the entire genus is still strongly needed. The description of a new species of this genus is here provided, raising to 52 the known species of Suphisellus and to six the species recorded for Venezuela.

Material and methods Two hundred fifty specimens of the new species were examined for this study. Additionally we examined forty specimens of S. insularis (Sharp, 1882), from Costa Rica, S. curtus (Sharp, 1882) from Venezuela, S. bruchi (Zimmermann, 1919), S. nigrinus (Aubé, 1838), S. obesus (Régimbart, 1903), S. ovatus (Sharp, 1882), S. phenax Guignot, 1954, S. pinguiculus (Régimbart, 1903) and S. remator (Sharp, 1882) from Brazil and Suphisellus sp. from Bolivia, standing in MALUZ, CEUVIGO and MTP (see codens here below). The following codens represent collections where specimens studied are deposited. CEUVIGO Aquatic Entomology Lab collection, Faculty of Biology, Vigo University, Vigo, Spain. MALUZ Collection of Arthropod Museum, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Zulia, Venezuela. MTP Collection Mario Toledo, Parma, Italy. Sampling was carried out from 2004 to 2007 in two sites along the Apure River, both flooded in the rainy season. Specimens were collected using a light-trap, consisting of a mixed light attractant on a tray containing soapy water to prevent the specimens from escaping. Additionally, we also sampled with an aquatic entomological net. Taxonomic identification follows Sharp (1882a), Sharp (1882b), Régimbart (1889a), Régimbart (1889b), Guignot (1957), Guignot (1958) and Young (1979). Measurements and drawings were done with an ocular scale on a Wild M3, M6 and M10 dissecting microscope. Measurements include: 1) total length (TL), 2) greatest width (GW), 3) greatest width of pronotum (PW), 4) greatest width of head (HW), and 5) distance between eyes (EW). The ratios TL/GW and HW/EW were also calculated.

Taxonomy Suphisellus shorti sp. n. (Figs 1–6) Type locality. Venezuela, Apure State, Biruaca Municipality, Fundo La Guama, 20 km northwest of San Fernando (Fig. 6a). Type material. Holotype: ♂ (MALUZ): “Venezuela, Estado de Apure, Biruaca, Fundo La Guama, 20 Km NW of San Fernando, 60 m., 20.VIII.2006, leg. M. García”. Paratypes: 80 exs. (MALUZ) same data as holotype; 70 exs. (MALUZ) same locality as holotype, but 22.V.2007; 50 exs. (MALUZ) Venezuela, Guarico State, Miranda Municipality, Puerto Miranda, 24.XII.2004, leg. M. Garcia; 50 exs (Fig. 6b). (CEUVIGO), same as previous paratypes, but 24.XII.2005, leg. M. Garcia. Diagnosis. Suphisellus shorti can be distinguished from other species of Suphisellus by the following characteristics: Body oval, almost round, robust, dorsally convex, lateral margins continuous and elytra rounded apically

2 · Zootaxa 0000 © 2012 Magnolia Press

GARCÍA ET AL.

(Fig. 1); dorsal and ventral colouration homogeneous brown, dorsally with a regularly reticulate surface, ventrally slightly concave on metaventrite; crease at posterolateral angle of pronotum weakly marked, extending anteriorly but reaching less of third of pronotum (Fig. 2); numerous setae covering entire surface of prosternal process and medial part of prosternum (Fig. 3); shape of male (Fig. 4) and female (Fig. 5) genitalia distinctive.

FIGURE 1. Suphisellus shorti sp. n.: dorsal habitus. Scale bar: 1mm. FIGURE 2. Suphisellus shorti sp. n.: head, pronotum and base of elytron, left lateral aspect. Scale bar: 0.5 mm. FIGURE 3. Suphisellus shorti sp. n.: prosternum, metaventrite and metacoxae. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Description. Measurements. TL = 1.8–1.9 mm, GW = 1.2–1.25 mm, PW = 1.0 mm, HW = 0.7 mm, EW = 0.35 mm, TL/GW = 1.5–1.52, HW/EW = 2.0. Habitus. Body (Fig. 1) oval, almost round, broadest near middle of elytra, robust and dorsally convex, lateral outline continuous between pronotum and elytra, anteriorly and posteriorly rounded. Head broad with front rounded; noterid platform forming a concavity in ventral view. Colour. Head, pronotum, elytra and ventral surface homogeneous brown. Structure and sculpture. Head, pronotum and elytra evenly covered with scattered punctures; surface between

A NEW SPECIES OF SUPHISELLUS FROM "LOS LLANOS", VENEZUELA

Zootaxa 0000 © 2012 Magnolia Press ·

3

punctures rough with faint microreticulation, consisting of fine, irregular cells. Elytra evenly covered with punctures strongly marked; surface between punctures with microreticulation, much more impressed than on head and pronotum, consisting of irregular cells. Antennomeres 7–10 expanded. Pronotum broad, with lateral bead narrow, faint and not serrate, with fine, weakly marked crease at posterolateral angle extending anteriorly but reaching less of third of pronotum (Fig. 2). Prosternum slightly sinuous in anterior margin. Prosternal process and medial part of prosternum with numerous setae covering entire surface, but lacking a prominent series of stiff setae (Fig. 3); prosternal process longer than wide, basally narrow, apically truncate, laterally sinuous and with a median longitudinal depression; noterid platform anteriorly extended on metaventrite, narrow and short at middle and very wide at distal end, with very sinuous sides and with a cluster of setae on the apex of each metacoxal lobe (Fig. 3). Protarsus attached to protibia laterally; apical protibial spur robust, broad, strongly curved, protibia with fringe of short setae along dorsal and anterior apical margin. Metatibia elongated, apically pointed, with several long setae at apical angle; anterior spur curved, very thick and serrate. Hind leg with a linear series of close setae at anteroventral angle. Abdomen with rough surface, apex of last ventrite rounded, forming longitudinal vertex in the middle; abdominal tergum VIII with deep longitudinal depression and retractable hook, as described in Miller (2009).

FIGURE 4. Suphisellus shorti sp. n.: male genitalia in lateral view: a) median lobe; b) left paramere; c) right paramere. Scale bar: 0.25 mm. FIGURE 5. Suphisellus shorti sp. n.: female genitalia, ventral view: a) laterotergites; b) gonocoxae; c) gonocoxosternite. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

4 · Zootaxa 0000 © 2012 Magnolia Press

GARCÍA ET AL.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus in dorsal view slender, lateral margins parallel, apex pointed; in lateral view (Fig. 4a) curved, with apex narrowly rounded, internal margin with a small protuberance at middle, curved at base and almost straight to apex, external margin straight at base and abruptly curved to apex. Right paramere (Fig. 4c) in lateral view short and broad, almost as long as wide, with basal process narrow, and with apex angular, ventral surface slightly curved with a small protuberance at middle, dorsal surface straight. Left paramere (Fig. 4b) in lateral view slender, moderately curved, base bilobed, apex pointed, internal margin with a series of large setae in the apical two third, basal third broad and articulate, external margin almost straight at base and slightly curved to the apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. 5) Laterotergites extremely long and slender, with anterior portion broadly expanded. Gonocoxae broad, with apex simple, sharply pointed, not bilobed and with lateral margin not dentate. Gonocoxosternite broad, almost triangular. Variability. The new species show little variation in color (homogeneous brown) and size, but a marked variation was observed in the crease at posterolateral angle of pronotum. In some specimens, it is observed that the crease is weaker, almost imperceptible and reaching only a tenth of pronotum. Etymology. This species is named in honour of our friend and colleague A.E.Z. Short (University of Kansas). It is a noun in the genitive case. Distribution and habitat. This species is distributed in The Plains region of the Apure and Guárico States, Venezuela (Fig. 6). Most of the specimens were collected using a light-trap. When collecting with a net, specimens were found in sandy pools among macrophytes, especially Juncus spp., cohabiting with Suphisellus sp. and Hydrocanthus sp. This beetle seems to be characteristic of shallow and temporary pools, in sunny areas with few trees in savannah wetlands, typical of “The Plains”.

FIGURE 6. Know distribution of Suphisellus shorti sp. n. in Venezuela: (a) Apure, Biruaca, Fundo La Guama; (b) Guarico, Miranda, Puerto Miranda.

Systematics. Crease at posterolateral angles of pronotum is the most important diagnostic character of Suphisellus (Young 1979; Pederzani 1995; Miller 2009), being found only in this genus. In most Suphisellus species, the crease at the posterolateral angles of the pronotum is clearly defined and reaches the middle of lateral side, but not A NEW SPECIES OF SUPHISELLUS FROM "LOS LLANOS", VENEZUELA

Zootaxa 0000 © 2012 Magnolia Press ·

5

the anterior angle. In S. shorti the crease at posterolateral angle is weakly marked and reaching less of third of pronotum (Fig. 2). “Prosternal process medially with numerous setae covering entire surface, but lacking a prominent series of stiff setae” is one of the characters proposed by Miller (2009) to separate Suphisellus and Liocanthydrus from other genera. In Suphisellus shorti the setae cover the entire surface on prosternal process and medial part of prosternum, but lacking a prominent series of stiff setae on prosternum (Fig. 3). Nevertheless it seems like that not all the species of Suphisellus bear stiff setae on prosternum (M. Toledo, personal communication), supporting the fact that the crease on postlateral angles of pronotum is the only consistent character that defines this genus. S. shorti is distinguished from the other known species of Suphisellus by the following combination of characters: crease at posterolateral angle very short and weakly marked, prosternal process and medial part of prosternum with numerous setae covering entire surface, but without a series of stiff setae and by the different shape of male genitalia. The new species is very close to S. insularis (Sharp, 1882), which is similar in body shape and in the concavity of noterid platform, but differs from it by body size (S. shorti is a little shorter than S. insularis), the absence of stiff setae on prosternum, the crease of pronotum, more developed in the last one, and also by the somewhat different male genitalia. The new species is also close to S. levis (Fall, 1909), but can be separable from it mainly by the smaller body size (S. levis is larger: TL = 2.2–2.4 mm), the absence of stiff setae on prosternum, the crease of pronotum, more developed in the S. levis, and the shape of male genitalia (Young 1979; Fall 1909). Including the new one, the following six species of Suphisellus are at present known to occur in Venezuela: S. curtus (Sharp, 1882) S. grammopterus (Régimbart, 1889) S. majusculus (Sharp, 1882) S. nigrinus (Aubé, 1838) S. shorti sp.n. S. simoni (Régimbart, 1889)

Acknowledgments Special thanks to the Echenique family, the owners of Fundo La Guama, Apure State. Sincere thanks goes to Manuel Echenique for his valuable assistance in the collection carried out in Puerto Miranda, Guárico State, to Carlos Puerta Reguera for the drawings and to Mario Toledo for a critical revision of the manuscript.

References cited Beutel, R.G., Balke, M. & Steiner, W.E. Jr. (2006) The systematic position of Meruidae (Coleoptera, Adephaga) and the phylogeny of the smaller aquatic adephagan beetle families. Cladistics, 22(2), 102–131. Fall, H.C. (1909) New Coleoptera from the south-west IV. The Canadian Entomologist, 41(5), 161–170. Guignot, F. (1957) Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Insektenfauna Boliviens. Teil II. Coleoptera I. Dytiscidae. 2. Contribution à l’étude des dytiscides sud-américains. Opuscula Zoologica, 6, 1–10. Guignot F. (1958) Contribution à la connaissance des dytiscides et gyrinides sud-américains (3 série). Revue Française d’Entomologie, 25, 33–42. Miller, K.B. (2001) Hydrocanthus (Hydrocanthus) paludimonstrus, a new species from Bolivia (Coleoptera: Noteridae: Hydrocanthini) and its implications for classification of the subgenera. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 55(3), 363–368. Miller, K.B. (2009) On the systematics of Noteridae (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Hydradephaga): Phylogeny, description of a new tribe, genus and species, and survey of female genital morphology. Systematics and Biodiversity, 7(2), 191–214. Nilsson, A.N. (2011) A World Catalogue of the family Noteridae, or the burrowing water Beetles (Coleoptera, Adephaga). Version 16.VIII.2011. Available from http://www2.emg.umu.se/projects/biginst/andersn/WCN/wcn_index.htm Pederzani F. (1995) Keys to the identification of the genera and subgenera of adult Dytiscidae (sensu lato) of the world (Coleoptera Dytiscidae). Atti dell’Accademia Roveretana degli Agiati, Contributi della Classe di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali, 244 (7:4B), 5–83. Régimbart, M. (1889)a Descriptions de dytiscides nouveaux de l’Amérique du Sud. Annales de la Société Entomologique de

6 · Zootaxa 0000 © 2012 Magnolia Press

GARCÍA ET AL.

France, 6(8), 388–392. Régimbart, M. (1889)b Voyage de M.E. Simon au Venezuela (décembre 1887-avril 1888). Dytiscidae et Gyrinidae. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 6(8), 379–387. Sharp D. (1882)a On aquatic carnivorous Coleoptera or Dytiscidae. Scientific Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society, 2 (2), 179-1003 + pls. 7–18. Sharp D. (1882)b Biologia Centrali-Americana. Zoologia. Insecta. Coleoptera, 1(2), xvi + 144 pp. + 4 pls. Toledo, M. (2003) Synopsis of the Noteridae of China, based mainly on material collected during the China Water Beetle Survey (1993–2001). In: Jäch, M.A. & Ji, L. (eds.): Water beetles of China. Vol. III., Wien, Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft in Österreich and Wiener Coleopterologenverein, pp. 67–88. Toledo, M. (2008) Taxonomic notes on Asian species of Canthydrus Sharp I. Revision of Canthydrus angularis Sharp, description of a new species and 12 lectotype designations (Coleoptera: Noteridae). Koleopterologische Rundschau, 78, 55–68. Toledo, M. (2010) Noteridae: Review of the species occurring east of the Wallace line (Coleoptera). In: Jäch & Balke (eds.), Water beetles of New Caledonia, part 1, Wien. pp. 195–236. Toledo, M. & Hendrich, L. (2006) Taxonomic revision of the Australasian Hydrocanthus Say, 1833, with description of two new species (Coleoptera: Noteridae). Linzer Biologische Beiträge, 38(1), 935–952. Spangler, P.J. (1996) Four new stygobiontic beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Noteridae, Elmidae). Insecta Mundi, 10(1-4), 241–259. Young F. N. (1979) Water beetles of the genus Suphisellus Crotch in the Americas north of Colombia (Coleoptera: Noteridae). The Southwestern Naturalist, 24(3), 409–429.

A NEW SPECIES OF SUPHISELLUS FROM "LOS LLANOS", VENEZUELA

Zootaxa 0000 © 2012 Magnolia Press ·

7