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

description: Hydrochus obscurus Sharp
Figs. 1, 37
Hydrochus obscurus Sharp 1882: 90.
Hydrochus bakkeri Makhan, 1995. Syn. Worthington, et al. 2016.
Hydrochus vanbergehenegouweni Makhan, 1992. Syn. Oliva 1996; confirmed Perkins 2020a.
Originally described from Guatemala. This is one of the most commonly collected and widespread species of Neotropical Hydrochus. Locality data records are also published for Guatemala, Peru, and Venezuela (Perkins 2020a, 2020c, 2019c, respectively). Images of the habitus and male genitalia, and detailed descriptions of the male genitalia are given in Perkins (2019c, 2020a). The following new locality data records are for Central America.
Material examined (334): Belize: Stann Creek, Kendal; ex side pool of Sittee River at bridge, 1.v.1987, leg. Spangler & Faitoute (9 NMNH); Cayo District, Western Highway - 1km E of Belize Zoo, blacklight, (17°24.4’N, 88°29.11’W), 4.vii.2003, leg. N. H. Nazdrowicz (1 SEMC); Orange Walk Dist., Rio Bravo Pres., 1 mi. S. HQ, 2.ii.1996, leg. W. D. Shepard (11 NMW). Costa Rica: 10 mi. NW Liberia, 25.vii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH); Umg. Gollita, 5.vi.1992, leg. Seifert (6) (1 NMW); Alajuela, Cano Negro, 24.viii.1998, leg. Drechsel (5 NMW); Ditch beside Rio Frio nr. Los Chiles, elev. 59 m (11°2’19’’N, 84°43’55’’W), 26.ii.2009, leg. M. Brojer (2 NMW); Guanacaste, 15 km SE Canas, Hacienda Tagoba, 23.iii.1965, leg. P. Cook (1 CAS); 18.7 km NW Bagaces, Hwy 1, Rio Carana, (10°39’N, 85°22’W), 4.vi.1973, leg. Erwin & Hevel (2 NMNH); Palo Verge Nat. Park, 1.6 km after Ranger Station; cattleponds, 12.i.2004, leg. AEZShort & DJLebbin (5 SEMC); Taboga Agric. Exper. Sta., 28.vi.1967, leg. Paul J. Spangler (14 NMNH). El Salvador: Zacatecoluca, 1.viii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (14 NMNH). Guatemala: Peten, Parque National El Rosario, E of Sayaxche, elev. 145 m (16°31’26.9’’N, 90°9’36.32’’W), 30.vi.2014, leg. R. S. Zack (1 WSU); Parque National Ixpanpajul, Rt. CA-13, near Santa Ana, elev. 206 m (16°52’24.28’’N, 89°48’53.86’’W), 6.vi.2016, leg. R. S. Zack (2 WSU). Honduras: Jicaro Galan Jct., 5 mi W., 9.vii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH); Cortes, 24 mi. S. San Pedro Sula, 19.vi.1974, leg. M. E. and P. D. Perkins (1 MCZ); La Lima, 3.vi.1964, leg. Blanton, Broce, & Woodruff (7 NMNH); Nacaome, 17.4 km W Jicaro Galan Jct. Hwy CA1, elev. 100 m (13°32’N, 87°36’W), 2.vi.1973, leg. Erwin & Hevel (7 NMNH). Mexico: Campeche, 21 mi. E. Campeche, 27.vii.1964, leg. Paul J. Spangler (37 NMNH, 6 CAS); Chiapas, Ocosingo Chajul Reserva Montes Azules, 28.iv.-5.v.1986, leg. F. Arias, R. Barba, L. Cervantes (1 UNAM); Oaxaca, Jaltepec Isth., 21.v.1964, leg. F. S. Blanton (7 NMNH); Tapanatepec, 22.vii.1964, leg. P. J. Spangler (11 NMNH); same locality, 23.viii.1965, leg. P. J. Spangler (23 NMNH); Tehuantepec (17km NW), stream at Rancho San Pablo, 23.v.1981, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH); San Luis Potosi, El Salto, 19.vi.1952, leg. no collector on label (1 SEMC); Mpio. Tanlajas, Rancho El Nacimiento, Nacimiento Río Coy, 46 m, 8.vi.2013, 21°43´54.1’’ N, 98° 58’ 35.4’’ W, D. Reynoso col. (1 IEXA; Sinaloa, Mazatlan, (23°14’N, 106°24’W), 1-2.vii.1964, leg. P. J. Spangler (1 NMNH); Tabasco, Laguna Limon, El Carmen, Est. No. 3, (17°53.62’N, 93°9.73’W), 14.vi.1996, leg. Bueno, Santiago, Barba, Contreras (1 UNAM); Teapa, 25.v.1974, leg. M. E. & P. D. Perkins (4 MCZ); Tamaulipas, 2 mi. SW Ciudad Victoria, 27.vii.1974, leg. M. E. and P. D. Perkins (2 MCZ); 8 miles west of El Limon, 20.vii.1970, leg. Murray, Phelps, Hart, Schaffner (1 TAMU); Veracruz, 25 mi. S. Acayucan, 4.vii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (16 NMNH); 8 Mi. NE Panuco, 28.viii.1965, leg. P. J. Spangler (4 NMNH); Acayucan, Rd. 185, 10.vii.1962, leg. J. M. Campbell (1 NMNH); Catemaco, 7-9.viii.1964, leg. Paul J. Spangler (1 NMNH). Nicaragua: 13 mi. N. Sn. Benito, 11.vii.1965, leg. Paul J. Spangler (17 NMNH); La Trinidad, 27.vii.1965, leg. P. J. Spangler (1 NMNH); Matagalpa, Matagalpa, km 77.6 Panam Highway, Rdside pool, elev. 393 m, 4.viii.2002, leg. W. D. Shepard (2 SEMC); Rio San Juan, 60 km SE San Carlos, Refugio Bartola, ex. mercury vapor/UV light, elev. 100 m (10°58.4’N, 84°20.3’W), 30.v.2002, leg. R. Brooks, Z. Falin, S. Chatzimanolis (1 SEMC); Rio San Juan, Refugio Bartola, (10°58’N, 84°20’W), 15-20.vi.2007, leg. O. Merkl, N. Balint, T. Nemeth (1 HNHM); Rivas, Res Sil Pr Domitila, UV lights, elev. 122 m, 5-9.vi.2005, leg. W. D. Shepard (1 SEMC). Panama: Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island, 1.v.1941, leg. Jas Zetek (1 NMNH); Barro Colorado Island, 1.vi.1939, leg. Jas Zetek (1 NMNH); Chiriqui, 1km NE El Valle, ca + 8.43854 / -82.32400, 2.v.2014, leg. T. Struyve (1 HMNH); Las Lajas (8km S), elev. 10 m, 5.vi.1983, leg. Paul J. Spangler (4 NMNH); Cocle, Nata, 26.xi.1952, leg. Blanton (2 NMNH); Penonome (13km SW), Rio Cocle Auxiliar, 6.vi.1983, leg. P. J. & P. M. Spangler, R. A. Faitoute, W. E. Steiner (4 NMNH); Los Santos, La Playa, 1.5 km N Pedasi, sea level, (7°33’N, 80°1’W), 21.vi.1973, leg. T. L. Erwin & G. Hevel (2 NMNH); Panama, Soberania - Gamboa, car-net bw -79.687/+9.110 and -79.650/+9.064, 14.vii.2014, leg. T. Struyve (1 HMNH); Tocumen, 6.i.1953, leg. F. S. Blanton (10 NMNH); same locality, 7.i.1953, leg. F. S. Blanton (2 NMNH); same locality, 29.i.1953, leg. F. S. Blanton - 13 s (13 NMNH); same locality, 16-19.vi.1970, leg. Diego Navas - 7 s (7 NMNH); same locality, 7-11.ix.1970, leg. Diego Navas (5 NMNH); Vrgs, 6 mi. W. Jorones, 5.vii.1967, leg. Paul J. Spangler (3 NMNH).
Differential Diagnosis. Among Central American species, recognized by the combination of moderate size (ca. 2.92–3.66 mm), the moderately low and relatively impunctate pronotal reliefs, and the male genitalia. This very common species has a generalized Hydrochus habitus; reliable determinations will require dissection of males.
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 477-478, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4974.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4777839