Hydrochus vanvondeli Makhan
Creators: name: Perkins, Philip D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Hydrochidae
Hydrochus
Hydrochus vanvondeli

description: Hydrochus vanvondeli Makhan
Figs. 23, 42
Hydrochus vanvondeli Makhan 1994: 41.
Originally described from Mexico. The following are new locality data records for Central America.
Material examined (124): Costa Rica: 10 mi. NW Liberia, 25.vii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH); 16 m. S. La Cruz, 13.vii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (67 NMNH). Honduras: Casas Viejas, 20.v.1966, leg. J. M. Matta (4 FSCA); Cortes, 24 mi. S. San Pedro Sula, 19.vi.1974, leg. M. E. and P. D. Perkins (3 MCZ); Ocotepeque, 11 mi. S. Nueva Ocotepeque, 17.vi.1974, leg. M. E. & P. D. Perkins (3 MCZ). Mexico: Cotaxtla, Cotaxtla Exp. Sta., 28.vi.1962, leg. D. H. Janzen (3 NMNH); Campeche, 21 mi. E. Campeche, 27.vii.1964, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH); Escarcega, 18.v.1962, leg. F. Islas S. (14 NMNH); Oaxaca, Zanatepec, 22.vii.1964, leg. Paul J. Spangler (3 NMNH); Zanatepec (8 km E), 23.v.1981, leg. P. J. Spangler (10 NMNH); San Luis Potosi, El Salto Falls, elev. 610–762 m, 22.iv.1965, leg. H. V. Weems, Jr. (2 FSCA); Sinaloa, 7 mi. N. Rosario, 24.vii.1963, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 FSCA); Sonora, 3 mi. W. of Yecora, 20.iv.1988, leg. D. A. Polhemus (3 NMNH); Veracruz, 20 mi. NW Rt. 144 Huatusco, 28.vi.1963, leg. Robt. E. Woodruff (3 FSCA); Cuitlahuac, 10-12.viii.1964, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH); Mpio. Misantla, ca. 2 km E of Libertad, 14.vi.2013, 56 m, 20°03´59.5’’ N, 96° 57’ 22.5’’ W, D. Reynoso col. (1 IEXA). Nicaragua: Rivas, Belen Rivas, 18.vii.1957, leg. D. R. Lauck (4 NMNH).
Differential diagnosis. Among Central American species, recognized by the combination of moderate size (ca. 3.00 mm), the moderately densely punctate pronotum with moderately deep foveae, and the male genitalia (Fig. 23; described below). This species has a generalized Hydrochus habitus; reliable determinations will require dissection of males. The male genitalia have the paramere tips extending well beyond aedeagus apex, such that the tip of the aedeagus is usually on the same transverse level as the very weakly developed plsa, and the paramere tips do not have excavations.
Male genitalia (Fig. 23). General characters: paramere tips slender and pointed, extending well beyond aedeagus apex, narrower in lateral view than in dorsal/ventral views, in dorsal/ventral views with medial margins at apex parallel or nearly so, then arcuate away from midline, narrow proximal to very small plsa; aedeagus in dorsal/ventral views lanceolate, moderately wide at agw, slender in distal ½, wider in proximal 1/2; in lateral view slightly wider, with dorsal margin weakly sinuate; lateral margins of aedeagus sclerotized; basal piece shorter than parameres, tapering from distal to proximal, orifice strongly sclerotized.
Dorsal surface: pdmm widely separated, except narrowly separated and overlapping aedeagus basally; adbl moderately large; adtl slightly distal to midlength; paramere tips without sclerotized ridge.
Ventral surface: pvmm approximating lateral margin of aedeagus; avtl at ca. proximal 1/4.
Remarks. I have examined the holotype, including the male genitalia, of H. vanvondeli (ZMHB) (Fig. 23).
description: Published as part of Perkins, Philip D., 2021, Taxonomy of Central American water beetles in the genus Hydrochus Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera: Hydrochidae), pp. 459-503 in Zootaxa 4974 (3) on pages 480-481, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4974.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4777839