Oocyclus maculatus Sharp 1882
Creators: name: Short, A. E. Z.
name: Perkins, P. D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2004
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Hydrophilidae
Oocyclus
Oocyclus maculatus

description: Oocyclus maculatus Sharp, 1882
(Figs. 8–9, 20–21)
Oocyclus maculatus Sharp, 1882: 63.
Type Material. Holotype male. Fixed by monotypy. “ Oocyclus maculatus / Type D. S./ Cerro Zunil Guatem­/ ala, 4­5000 ft./ Champion.[written on same card as specimen]”, “ Type [red disc]”, “Cerro Zunil/ Guatemala / Champion”, “B. C. A. Col. I. 2. / Oocyclus / maculatus, / Sharp.” (BMNH).
Other Material Examined (320). COSTA RICA: Alajuela Prov., On Rt. 126, 9.4 km S. Vara Blanca, 25.vi.2003, rock face seeps, A. E. Z. Short leg. (15 AEZS, 25 INBIO); On Rt. 126, 15.4 km SE of Poasito, 960m elev., 16.i.2004, rock seeps/waterfall, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­056 (22 INBIO); 1 km S. Cariblanco, 870m elev., wall seep, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­055 (4 INBIO); 6.1 km N. Los Lagos, on Los Lagos­Colonia Rd., 870m elev., seeps on Rio San Lorenzo, 12.i.2003, A. Short & R. Roughley leg., CR­03­04 (18 AEZS, 63 INBIO); Same locality but 10.i.2004, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­024 (3 INBIO); 6 km N. Los Lagos, small stream nr. Rio San Lorenzo, 12.vi.2003, A. E. Z. Short leg. (1 INBIO); 7 km N. Bajos del Toro, at Catarata del Toro, 1210m elev., 15.i.2004, seeps, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­ 0 52 (1 INBIO); San Ramon Biological Reserve, 800m elev., iii.1995, G. Carballo leg. (1 INBIO); Alberto Brenes Biological Reserve, Rio San Lorencito, 800m elev., 30.VI.1999, C. Rojas leg. (1 INBIO); Cartago Prov., Tapanti N. P., 22.vi.2003, rock seeps/waterfalls, A. E. Z. Short leg. (8 INBIO); Tapanti N. P., 3.5 km past Ranger Station, 6.i.2004, rock seep, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­002 (25 AEZS, 54 INBIO); Tapanti N. P., 3.1 km after gate, 8.i.2004, wall seep, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­013 (29 INBIO); Tapanti N. P., 1.5 km after gate, 1620m elev., 8.i.2004, rock seep, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­011 (6 INBIO); Tapanti N. P., 7.6 km after gate, 8.i.2004, 1660m elev., rock seep, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­019 (13 INBIO); Tapanti N. P., 4.6 km after gate, 8.i.2004, 1500m elev., waterfall, A. E. Z. Short & D. J. Lebbin leg., AS­04­015 (1 INBIO); Guayabo Nat. Monument, 1100m elev., vii.1994, G. Fonseca leg. (1 INBIO); Puntarenas Prov., Las Cruces Biological Station, Rio Jaba, 3800’ elev., 19.vi.2003, A. E. Z. Short leg. (2 INBIO); San Jose Prov., Rt. 243, 19.1 km NE of Dominical, 18.vi.2003, “waterfall and seeps”, A. E. Z. Short leg. (9 AEZS, 14 INBIO); Rt. 2 nr. Division, 21.vi.2003, waterfall/seeps, A. E. Z. Short leg. (1 INBIO); Station Santa Elena, “Las Nubes”, 1210m elev., 5–19.vii.1996, E. Alfaro leg. (1 INBIO); same locality but 1.x.1995, A. M. Maroto, “de luz” leg. (2 INBIO). PANAMA: “V. de Chirique”, 25­4000 ft, Champion, leg. (1 BMNH). Representative specimens deposited in BMNH, CMNC, CMNH, CUIC, ESMC, FMNH, MCZ, NMW, USNM.
Differential Diagnosis. Characterized by the pale anterolateral corners of the pronotum, the five spines on the mesosternal process, the mentum and stipes lighter than the venter of the head, and the green and/or blue maculae on the dorsum. Dorsal coloration sometimes similar to O. ornatus, but that species has hairs on the mesosternal process.
Description. Size and Form. Length= 2.6–3.3mm. EL/EW=1.28. Oval, moderately convex. Elytra slightly longer than wide. Color. Dorsum black, with green iridescence on head, pronotum and broad lateral margins of elytra. Each elytron with 10–12 green to bluish green iridescent patches. Maxillary and labial palpi yellow. Mentum and stipes yellow to light brown, lighter than venter of head. Anterolateral corners of pronotum with pale spot. Sternum and ventrites brown. Legs yellow, with femora slightly darkened basally and along anterior edge. Epipleura and pseudoepipleura yellow to light brown.
Head. Punctation on frons, clypeus and labrum moderately fine; distance between punctures 2– 3 x width of one puncture. Scape subequal in length as segments 2–5, segment 2 subequal or longer in length than segments 3–5, segments 3 and 4 subequal in length, apical segment 1.5x length of penultimate segment. Maxillary palpi ¾ width of labrum; segments 2 and 3 subequal with apical segment slightly longer. Labial palpi subequal to length of mentum; apical two segments subequal in length. Labrum with 2–3 setiferous systematic punctures centrally. Clypeus without detectable systematic punctures. Frons with irregular row of systematic punctures mesad of each eye. Mentum quadrate, anterior margin moderately convex; anterior half with several setiferous punctures. Thorax. Dorsal punctation of pronotum moderately fine, slightly more impressed on elytra; uniform in size; distance between punctures 2– 3 x width of one puncture. Posterolateral corners of pronotum rounded. Lateral margin of pronotum with row of setiferous punctures; anterior and posterior series of setiferous systematic punctures moderately distinct, slightly larger then general punctation; setae recumbent. Rows of punctures on elytra indistinct and not generally detectable from surrounding punctation; several punctures bearing short recumbent seta. Lateral margin of elytra with row of setiferous punctures, denser in posterior half. Prosternum carinate medially, with two spines anteromedially which are as long as or slightly longer than narrowest width of prosternum. Mesosternal process about as long as wide, with 5 distinct spines positioned toward apex. Metasternum with oval glabrous area posteromedially, about as long as wide; less than half the total length of metasternum. Procoxae densely pubescent, some specimens with a few scattered spines or thickened setae. Protibia with 5–7 spines on dorsal face. Protarsal segments 1–4 small, subequal in length; segment 5 as long as segments 1–4. Hind femora glabrous.
Abdomen. Ventrites sparsely pubescent; setae as long or longer as longest setae around margin of metasternal glabrous area. Fifth exposed ventrite entire. Aedeagus (Figs. 20– 21) with outer edges of parameres broadly curved with tips slightly curved inward; ventral sides much broader than dorsal sides. Tip of median lobe bifid, nearly reaching the apex of the parameres. Basal piece narrowed and rounded basally.
Variation: O. maculatus expresses the most variation of any of the species here examined. The dorsal coloration and iridescence varies from a few, very subdued green maculae to a number of bright green or blue maculae similar to O. ornatus. The marginal band of green iridescence on each elytron may also very in intensity. The shape of the parameres also exhibits some variation (Figs. 20–21). It is possible that this taxon may represent a complex of closely related species.
Distribution. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá.
description: Published as part of Short, A. E. Z. & Perkins, P. D., 2004, A revision of Oocyclus Sharp of Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 783 on pages 13-15, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.158165