Four new species of Hexanchorus Sharp from Ecuador (Coleoptera, Elmidae) with DNA barcoding and notes on the distribution of the genus

The riffle beetle genus Hexanchorus Sharp, 1882 is distributed from Mexico to Argentina, forming an important component of the freshwater invertebrate fauna of Latin America. With 21 described species, Hexanchorus represents one of the most speciose Larainae genera, but its real diversity is likely much higher. We analysed material from a relatively small area in Ecuador, resulting in the first record of H. cordillierae for Ecuador and discovery of four new species and one subspecies: Hexanchorus virilis sp. n., Hexanchorus rostratus sp. n., Hexanchorus shepardi sp. n., Hexanchorus onorei sp. n. and Hexanchorus onorei sagittatus ssp. n. For delimiting and characterizing species, both morphological and molecular (mtCOI DNA barcodes) data were used. A distribution map of Hexanchorus species is provided based on published records

Current stocking program of the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus, L.) can negatively shape its genetic variability in the Middle Danube

The Danube River was originally inhabited by six native sturgeon species, but currently, the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus L.) is the only native sturgeon species still occupying the Slovak–Hungarian stretch of the Middle Danube. All sturgeon species are facing extinction, suffering from overfishing, water pollution, illegal fishing, poaching or other negative impacts. Urgent and proper actions are needed to prevent their extinction, and evaluating its genetic diversity is one of the essential tools of conservation programs. Since the management actions are primarily local in nature, we first focused on comparing and analysing local sources of fish for population recovery and natural (wild) population in the adjacent stretch of the Danube River. We used 2 fragments of mitochondrial DNA and 12 microsatellites to analyse the genotype of the three groups of sterlets, i.e. wild, broodstock and stocked individuals from Slovak part of the Danube. Mitochondrial markers of all groups were diversified similarly to populations from other parts of the Danube. This confirmed that broodstock and stocked fish belong to the original Danube population. Microsatellites revealed very similar patterns among groups compared, but we detected possible negative trends reflected in losing polymorphism in a few loci in broodstock and stocked individuals

Ancyronyx clisteri, a new spider riffle beetle species from Borneo, redescription of A. sarawacensis Jäch including a description of the larva and new distribution data for A. procerus Jäch using DNA barcodes (Coleoptera, Elmidae)

Ancyronyx clisteri sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Elmidae) a new spider riffle beetle discovered from northern Borneo (Brunei; Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia) and the larva of Ancyronyx sarawacensis Jäch are described. Illustrations of the habitus and diagnostic characters of the new species and the similar and highly variable A. sarawacensis are presented. Differences to closely related species, based on DNA barcodes and morphological characters, are discussed. Association of the larva and the imago of A. sarawacensis, and the occurrence of Ancyronyx procerus Jäch in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are confirmed by using COI mtDNA sequences

MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVALUATION OF THE FUNCTION AND IMPORTANCE OF THE SMALL WATER RESERVOIRS: THE BIODIVERSITY ASPECT

ABSTRACT Small water reservoirs are the very important landscape elements for effective water management. Although these man-made artificial biotopes change the proportion of lotic and lentic habitats and thus influence the species community structure, them secondarily offer a broader scale of microhabitats and, in general, can significantly influence the fauna's sustainable development. The evaluation of the function and importance of small water reservoirs in the biodiversity development on all levels is still unappreciated. In this case, preliminary results of the study on six small water reservoirs in West Slovakia are presented. The research has covered the major species groups (phytobentos, macrophytes, benthic and pelagic invertebrates, mollusks, fish and birds). As the first step, we are focusing on the description of the biodiversity patterns within the particular water reservoirs followed by the analyses of species links to the environmental variables using the multidimensional methods (neural networks, ordination methods and generalized linear methods) as the second step. The third step covers the compilation of obtained results and evaluation of the function and importance of the small water reservoirs. The major benefits of this study are as follows: (i) significant improvement of the knowledge on the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems influenced by small water reservoirs, (ii) implementation of the innovative methods of the multidisciplinary ecological research, (iii) support for sustainable development of the biodiversity in artificial biotopes, development of the multidisciplinary network of researchers and experts from the applied sphere, (iv) effective application of outputs in the ecological management oriented to the sustainable development of the artificial aquatic ecosystems in combination with their primary use and implementation of the results gained at the international scale. L. Pekárik et al. -Multidisciplinary evaluation of small water reservoirs: the biodiversity aspect (105 ~ 112) 106 RÉSUMÉ: Evaluation multidisciplinaire de la fonction et de l'importance des étangs. L'aspect de la biodiversité. Les petits corps d'eau sont des éléments de paysage très importants pour la gestion efficace de l'eau. Même si ces biotopes artificiels changent les proportions des habitats lotiques et lentiques, elles offrent également une échelle plus large de microhabitats et, généralement, elles peuvent influencer de manière signifiante le développement durable de la faune. L'évaluation de la fonction et de l'importance des étangs dans le développement de la biodiversité à tous niveaux est encore sous appréciée. Dans ce cas, nous présentons les résultats préliminaires d'une étude effectuée sur 6 étangs anthropiques de l'Ouest de la Slovakie. La recherche a compris les groupes spécifiques majeurs (phytobentos, macrophytes, invertébrés benthiques et pélagiques, mollusques, poissons et oiseaux). En première étape, nous nous sommes concentrés sur la description des modèles de biodiversité de ces étangs suivie, en deuxième étape, par l'analyse des relations entre les espèces et les variables de l'environnement en utilisant des méthodes multidimensionnelles (des réseaux neuronaux, des méthodes d'ordination et des méthodes linéaires généralisées); la troisième étape comprend la compilation des résultats obtenus et l'évaluation de la fonction et de l'importance des étangs. Les bénéfices majeures de cette étude sont les suivantes: (i) amélioration significative de la connaissance de la biodiversité des écosystèmes aquatiques sous l'influence des étangs, (ii) l'implémentation des méthodes nouvelles dans la recherche écologique multidisciplinaire, (iii) un support pour le développement durable de la biodiversité dans les biotopes artificiels, le développement des réseaux multidisciplinaires des chercheurs et d'experts de la sphère appliquée, (iv) l'application effective des résultats dans la gestion écologique orientée vers le développement durable des écosystèmes aquatiques artificielles combinée à leur utilisation primaire et l'implémentation à l'échelle internationale des résultats obtenus. REZUMAT: Evaluare multidisciplinară a funcţiei şi importanţei iazurilor: aspectul biodiversităţii. Iazurile şi heleşteele sunt elemente peisagistice foarte importante pentru gestiunea eficientă a apei. Deşi aceste biotopuri artificiale modifică proporţiile habitatelor lotice şi lentice şi influenţează astfel structura comunităţilor biologice, ele oferă secundar o gamă mai largă de microhabitate, în general, pot influenţa de manieră semnificativă dezvoltarea durabilă a faunei. Evaluarea funcţiei şi importanţei iazurilor în dezvoltarea biodiversităţii la toate nivelurile este încă neglijată. În acest caz, sunt prezentate rezultatele preliminare ale unui studiu pe şase iazuri mici, din vestul Slovaciei. Cercetările au acoperit grupele majore de specii (fitobentos, macrofite, nevertebrate bentice şi pelagice, moluşte, peşti şi păsări). Într-o primă etapă, ne-am concentrat pe descrierea modelelor de biodiversitate, aplicate la iazurile studiate, apoi am efectuat analiza relaţiilor interspecifice cu ajutorul metodelor multidimensionale (reţele neuronale, metode de ordonare şi metode liniare generalizate) care au constituit a doua etapă a studiului. A treia etapă a acoperit compilarea datelor obţinute şi evaluarea funcţiei şi importanţei iazurilor. Beneficiile principale ale studiului sunt următoarele: (i) ameliorarea semnificativă a cunoaşterii biodiversităţii ecosistemelor acvatice sub influenţa iazurilor, (ii) implementarea de metode noi, inovatoare în cercetarea ecologică multidisciplinară, (iii) suport pentru dezvoltarea durabilă a biodiversităţii în biotopurile artificiale, dezvoltarea de reţele multidisciplinare de cercetători şi experţi din sfera aplicată, (iv) aplicarea efectivă a rezultatelor gestiunii ecologice, orientate spre dezvoltare durabilă a ecosistemelor acvatice artificiale, în paralel cu utilizarea lor primară şi implementarea rezultatelor obţinute la scară internaţională. Transylv. Rev. Syst. Ecol. Res. 8, (2009), "The Wetlands Diversity" 107 INTRODUCTION Small water reservoirs The artificial small water reservoirs were built on small streams in the first place for the purpose of their potential for irrigation and as flood protection. But also their contribution to the nature protection through the water self-purification is not negligible Small water reservoirs are very important landscape elements for effective water management. Although these man-made artificial ponds change the proportion of lotic and lenitic habitats and thus influence the species community structure, secondarily offer a broader scale of microhabitats and, in general, can significantly influence the fauna sustainable development. The evaluation of the function and also of the importance of the small water reservoirs on the biodiversity development on all levels is still unappreciated. Ertl The aim of the project SAV-FM-EHP-2008-03-04 is to identify the function of small water reservoirs in the system of aquatic biotopes of the Slovakia in respect to preservation and development of water biota diversity. The results should enable to model the development of the biodiversity for the purpose of reservoir management with the respect of ecological value of the reservoirs. Management should involve the primary purposes of reservoirs together with effective protection of the nature. This paper brings first results of limnology of selected six reservoirs of the west Slovakia

DNA barcode reference libraries for the monitoring of aquatic biota in Europe: Gap-analysis and recommendations for future work

Effective identification of species using short DNA fragments (DNA barcoding and DNA metabarcoding) requires reliable sequence reference libraries of known taxa. Both taxonomically comprehensive coverage and content quality are important for sufficient accuracy. For aquatic ecosystems in Europe, reliable barcode reference libraries are particularly important if molecular identification tools are to be implemented in biomonitoring and reports in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). We analysed gaps in the two most important reference databases, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and NCBI GenBank, with a focus on the taxa most frequently used in WFD and MSFD. Our analyses show that coverage varies strongly among taxonomic groups, and among geographic regions. In general, groups that were actively targeted in barcode projects (e.g. fish, true bugs, caddisflies and vascular plants) are well represented in the barcode libraries, while others have fewer records (e.g. marine molluscs, ascidians, and freshwater diatoms). We also found that species monitored in several countries often are represented by barcodes in reference libraries, while species monitored in a single country frequently lack sequence records. A large proportion of species (up to 50%) in several taxonomic groups are only represented by private data in BOLD. Our results have implications for the future strategy to fill existing gaps in barcode libraries, especially if DNA metabarcoding is to be used in the monitoring of European aquatic biota under the WFD and MSFD. For example, missing species relevant to monitoring in multiple countries should be prioritized for future collaborative programs. We also discuss why a strategy for quality control and quality assurance of barcode reference libraries is needed and recommend future steps to ensure full utilisation of metabarcoding in aquatic biomonitoring.This paper is a deliverable of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action DNAqua-Net (CA15219) Working Group 1, led by Torbjørn Ekrem and Fedor Čiampor. Thanks to the University of Minho and University of Pécs for hosting workshops and working group meetings. We also thank staff at National Environment Agencies and others that provided national checklists of taxa used in biomonitoring, and otherwise assisted with checklist proof-reading: Jarmila Makovinská and Emília Mišíková Elexová (Slovakia); Steinar Sandøy and Dag Rosland (Norway); Mišel Jelič (Croatia); Marlen Vasquez (Cyprus); Adam Petrusek (Czech Republic); Kristel Panksep (Estonia); Panagiotis Kaspiditis (Greece); Matteo Montagna (Italy); Marija Katarzyte (Lithuania); Ana Rotter (Slovenia); Rosa Trabajo (Spain); Florian Altermatt (Switzerland); Kristian Meissner (Finland), Rigers Bakiu (Albania), Valentina Stamenkovic and Jelena Hinic (Macedonia); Patricia Mergen (Belgium); Gael Denys & the French Biodiversity Agency (France); Mary Kelly-Quinn (Ireland); Piotr Panek and Andrzej Zawal (Poland); Cesare Mario Puzzi (Italy); Carole Fitzpatrick (United Kingdom); Simon Vitecek (Austria); Ana Filipa Filipe (Portugal); Peter Anton Stæhr & Anne Winding (Denmark); Michael Monaghan (Germany); Alain Dohet, Lionel L'Hoste, Nora Welschbillig & Luc Ector (Luxembourg), Lujza Keresztes, (Romania). The authors also want to thank Dirk Steinke for providing the original European ERMS list for marine taxa and Florian Malard for comments on the manuscript. The preparation of the AMBI checklist was carried out in the scope of a Short-term Scientific Mission (ECOST-STSM-CA15219-150217- 082111) granted to SD visiting AZTI, Spain. ZC was supported by grants EFOP-3.6.1.-16-2016-00004 and 20765-3/2018/FEKUTSTRAT. TE was supported by the NorBOL-grant (226134/F50) from the Research Coun cil of Norway. BR, FL and MFG contributed through support from the GBOL project, which is generously funded by the German Federal Min istry of Education and Research (FKZ 01LI1101 and 01LI1501). MG contributed through support of the Polish National Science Centre, grants N N303 5794 39 and 2014/15/B/NZ8/00266. SF was funded by the project PORBIOTA - Portuguese E-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022127), supported by Operational Thematic Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)

A revision of Onychelmis Hinton, 1941 (Coleoptera: Elmidae), with description of new species, DNA barcoding and notes on the geography of the genus

The genus Onychelmis Hinton, 1941 was for a long time regarded as a small taxon with only three known species distributed in the Andes. A study of new material from Ecuador, using morphological and molecular data, has resulted in the discovery of five new species: Onychelmis lenkae sp. nov., O. lobata sp. nov., O. minor sp. nov., O. onorei sp. nov. and O. splendida sp. nov. We also revised the entire genus and redescribed the three known species, O. longicollis (Sharp, 1882), O. leleupi Delève, 1968 and O. whiteheadi Spangler & Santiago, 1991. Habitus photographs of adults are provided, together with line drawings of male and female genitalia, and schematic illustrations of the distribution of femoral tomentum for each species. DNA sequences for barcoding the COI mtDNA fragment were used to support species delimitation and to suggest possible relationships among species. The revision includes a key to adults of all species of Onychelmis and notes on the biogeography of the genus, with an updated distribution map

Hexanchorus angeli Laššová, Čiampor & Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, 2014, n. sp.

<i>Hexanchorus angeli</i> n. sp. <p>Figs 1–14</p> <p> <b>Type locality</b>: environment of the Río Churun, large stream ca. 15 m wide and mostly about 0.5 m deep with orange-brown coloured humic water (specimens were collected at light).</p> <p> <b>Type material</b>: <b>holotype</b> male (NMW): ” Venezuela, Auyán Tepui env., Salto Angel camp, Río Churun env., at light, 506 m a.s.l., 05°58'35.5'' N, 062°30'58.1'' W, 5.12.2012 ”, <b>paratypes</b> (CCB, MIZA, NMW, ZSM): 11 specimens with the same locality data as holotype.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Hexanchorus angeli</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is externally similar to all other known <i>Hexanchorus</i> species. It differs in combination of the following characters: 1) presence of a greenish iridescence on dorsal surface, 2) without median longitudinal sulcus at base of pronotum, 3) elytral apices feebly (males) or distinctly (females) upturned, 4) third ventrite of females with distinct median process, 5) ventrite 5 slightly emarginated apically in males, 6) aedeagus with median lobe short, narrow apically, parameres long abruptly constricted basally.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Body elongate, subparallel (Figs 1, 2); length 3.16 mm; width 1.15 mm; dorsum moderately convex, dorsal surface with very dense short recumbent setae with greenish iridescence and more sparse, longer, dark, semierected setae. Body black, scape and pedicel dark brown, maxillae, trochanters and basal portion of femora pale brown, tarsal claws reddish-brown. Venter dark with light yellowish-brown setae.</p> <p> <b>Head.</b> Head partly retractable into prothorax. Labrum densely setose, with largely rounded anterior angles, feebly emarginate anteromedially; clypeus densely setose, shorter and narrower than labrum, about 3.0 times as wide as long, frontoclypeal suture visible, almost straight. Eyes well developed, suboval in lateral view, protruding from head outline, bordered with long black curved setae arising near dorsal and ventral side and extend toward middle of eye, cranial surface not raised around eyes. Frons between eyes flat. Antennae eleven segmented, densely setose, scape curved, about 2.0 times as long as pedicel, remaining segments about three times longer than scape and pedicel combined, segments 3–10 short, subtriangular, terminal segment subglobular with slightly pointed apex.</p> <p> <b>Thorax.</b> Pronotum widest behind middle, PW: 0.88 mm, PL: 0.78 mm; partly shiny with dense smaller and larger setigerous punctures; disc convex, divided by broad transversal U-shaped depression in the first third; triangular median depression at base shallow, reaching basal third of pronotum. Sides of pronotum convex in posterior 2/3, slightly constricted before base, feebly convex in anterior third before transverse constriction; lateral margins narrowly rimmed, posterior angles orthogonal, anterior angles not produced. Lateral sides decliving to the ventral side. Hypomeron narrow, sinuate. Prosternal process narrow, triangular, with apex rounded; prosternum in front of coxae extremely narrow, reduced. Mesoventrite short and wide, disc narrowed posteriad, posteromedially with deep triangular impression for reception of prosternal process. Metaventrite wide, metaventral discrimen thin, present along basal 2/3; disc raised on sides, surface reticulate and densely setose (Fig. 3). Elytra (EL: 2.42 mm, EW: 1.15 mm), in anterior 2/3 parallel, then tapering toward apices, disc moderately convex, sides strongly declivous; surface glabrous with very dense short setae with greenish iridescence and sparser longer semierect hairs; elytral margin only very narrowly rimmed; humeri rounded, slightly produced; epipleuron widest in anterior third, then reduced, very thin. Each elytron with ten rows of small punctures, striae impressed on disc, impression diminishes toward lateral margin and elytral apex. Scutellum wide, subtriangular, anterior portion flat, apical triangular part raised. Legs moderately long, mesotibia markedly flattened, longest.</p> <p> <b>Abdomen.</b> Ventrites densely setose (Fig. 3). Intercoxal process of first ventrite with apex rounded, lateral sides not raised, sublateral carinae absent; distal margins of first and second ventrite feebly sinuate; third ventrite simple in males, in females with distinct median process (Fig. 12). Ventrite 5 with distal margin emarginated in males (Fig. 7), simple in females (Fig. 10). Sternite 8 weakly sclerotized and reduced as two darkened spots in males (Fig. 8), deeply emarginate in females (Fig. 11). The ninth segment and spiculum gastrale extremely elongate (Fig. 6). Aedeagus (Figs 4, 5) elongate, penis with fibula feebly sclerotized, better visible from lateral view, corona membranous; parameres slightly shorter than penis, in lateral view widest in middle, moderately narrowed in basal half, distal half moderately narrowed toward rounded apex, in ventral view moderately narrowed in apical ca. 0.4, in basal 0.6 parallel-sided, base constricted; penis in ventral view subparallel in basal 0.6 with distinct basal apophyses, apical 0.4 narrowed toward thin rounded apex, in lateral view slender, sinuate, with widened basal 2/3. Phallobase parallelsided, curved in lateral view. Penis and parameres with sparse fine spines. Ovipositor (Fig. 9) with stylus (terminal segment) short, slightly widened basally; preterminal segment short and robust, about 2.7 times as long as stylus, apically with numerous curved blunt and acuminate spines or sensilla; basal segment with baculus membranous, ca. 0.8 times as long as preterminal and distal segments combined, baculus straight, well sclerotized.</p> <p> <b>Sexual dimorphism</b>. Both sexes are generally similar in shape and size, however males are usually slightly smaller. From females, males can be easily distinguished by elytral apices not produced, by ventrite 3 without distal process, by shape of distal margin of ventrite 5, by ventrites 1–2 concave, not convex. Pronotum of males with feeble median triangular depression in basal third, medio basal portion of female pronotum without visible depression.</p> <p> <b>Distribution</b>. <i>Hexanchorus angeli</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is known only from the type locality.</p> <p> <b>Remarks</b>. One female of <i>Hexanchorus</i> was found also in Río Tarota (Gran Sabana), more than 120 km distant from the type locality of <i>H. angeli</i> <b>n. sp.</b> This female is morphologically very similar to the females of the species described herein. However, observed 4 % molecular distance, measured as uncorrected p-distance on 816bp long fragment of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (tree not shown), suggest that the female from the Gran Sabana should belong to another species.</p> <p> <b>Habitat</b>. The specimens were caught on light, so we can only suggest that <i>H. angeli</i> <b>n. sp.</b> adults live in and around rapids of the Río Churún, as do most of other related Larainae species, and their larvae develop in the same river or their tributaries. At the place of collecting, the river was about 15 m wide, relatively shallow. Substrate was formed by gravel with large stones and boulders weekly covered by periphyton (Figs. 13, 14). Water was naturally humic, brown coloured.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>. The species is named after Jimmie Angel, an American aviator who was the first man flying over the Angel falls. These waterfalls are the highest in the World, falling from the slopes of the Auyán tepui close to the type locality.</p>Published as part of <i>Laššová, Kristína, Čiampor, Fedor & Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, Zuzana, 2014, Two new Larainae species from Guayana region, Venezuela (Coleoptera: Elmidae), pp. 187-195 in Zootaxa 3753 (2)</i> on pages 188-191, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3753.2.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/227808">http://zenodo.org/record/227808</a&gt

Onychelmis leleupi Deleve 1968

<i>Onychelmis leleupi</i> Delève, 1968 <p>Figs 3A, 6A, 8 A–B, 10E, 11A, 12A–B</p> <p> <i>Onychelmis leleupi</i> Delève, 1968: 217, figs 4–11.</p> <p> <i>Onychelmis leleupi –</i> González-Córdoba <i>et al.</i> 2016: 10, figs 5c–d, 6b–c.</p> Differential diagnosis <p> <i>Onychelmis leleupi</i> can be distinguished from all species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: 1) larger size (CL: 1.44–1.51 mm); 2) pro- and mesofemora with tomentum reaching around middle (Fig. 6A); 3) humeri produced; 4) prominent carina on sixth interval present; 5) elytral punctures shallowly impressed; 6) apeX of aedeagus trilobate (Fig. 8 A–B).</p> Material examined <p>ECUADOR • 5 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, 1 eX.; “Ecuador, Morona-Santiago prov., Limón env., Río Yungantza, 02°59′49.3″ S, 78°29′18.9″ W, 1522 m a.s.l., 27. 8. 2013, stream ca. 3 m wide, fast flowing, partly shaded, with boulders, stones, gravel, Čiampor & Čiamporová-Zaťovičová lgt.”; PUCE / CCB.</p> Redescription <p> <b>Male</b></p> <p>BODY. Obovate, black (Fig. 3A); length 1.44–1.51 mm; width 0.66–0.68 mm; dorsum conveX, glabrous with sparse, light yellowish setae. Hairy or scale-like tomentum distributed on following areas: genae, sides of prosternum, mesoventrite, metaventrite and abdomen, epipleura, and medial and lateral portions on bases of femora.</p> <p>COLOUR. Head, pronotum and elytra black; venter dark brown to black with reddish tinge; coxae, femora and tarsi dark brown with reddish tinge; trochanters and tibiae brown; basal segments of antennae and tarsal claws pale brown.</p> <p>HEAD. Partly retractable into prothoraX, dorsally shiny. Antennae filiform, 11-segmented; pedicel about twice as long as scape; remaining segments about 4 times as long as scape and pedicel combined; segments 3–10 subrectangular, subequal in length; terminal segment longest, suboval, with pointed apex. Labrum with anterior margin very slightly emarginate medially; anterolateral angles broadly arcuate with numerous golden, recumbent hair-like setae; clypeus shorter and wider than labrum, about 3.5 times as wide as long, anterior margin slightly concave, anterolateral angles rounded; frontoclypeal suture almost straight. Eyes well developed, HW: 0.29–0.31 mm, ID: 0.13–0.15 mm, suboval in lateral view, protruding from head outline in dorsal view, circumocular surface raised. Frons convex between eyes.</p> <p>THORAX. Pronotum widest behind middle, PW: 0.41–0.43 mm, PL: 0.66–0.68 mm; surface shiny, with microreticulation only along basal margin and posterolateral angles, with dense tiny punctures; sublateral carinae never well-developed, but a short, very fine raised line in basal ¼ present; disc conveX, divided by a broad, deep transverse impression before middle; two prescutellar foveae separated by a raised line extending from base to apical discal half, connecting both halves and merging into them; anterior margin arcuate; posterior margin bisinuate; sides of pronotum convex before and after transverse constriction; lateral margins narrowly rimmed; posterolateral angles orthogonal; anterolateral angles slightly produced. Hypomeron finely microreticulate, widest in middle. Prosternum moderately long in front of procoxae, with anterior margin concave; sides raised around procoxae, forming carinae, not reaching anterior margin, prosternal process long, moderately broad and with posterior margin broadly rounded. Mesoventrite coarse, short and wide, with deep triangular groove for reception of prosternal process; posterior margin around mesocoxae raised. Metaventrite slightly wider than long, wrinkled, more or less shiny; disc convex with deep, medial, triangular depression in posterior half; discrimen in basal ¾; with one prebasal fovea on each side. Elytra (EL: 0.96–0.99 mm, EW: 0.68–0.69 mm) conveX, widest in anterior ¾; sides strongly declivous; surface shiny, with dense tiny punctures; elytral margin narrowly rimmed; humeri protruding from outline; epipleuron tapering posteriorly. Prominent carina on siXth interval reaching ⅘ of elytron. Elytra with ten rows of small, shallowly impressed punctures, separated by 2–4 times puncture diameter, diminishing toward lateral margins and elytral apeX. Scutellum subovate, flat. Legs moderately long; femora clavate; tibiae longest. Protibiae with anterior cleaning fringe on apical ⅓; mesotibiae with two cleaning fringes – anterior on apical ⅕ and posterior on apical ⅓; metatibiae with posterior cleaning fringe on apical ⅓. Tarsi 5-segmented, first four segments each with one fine pale, recumbent seta, fifth segment slightly shorter than remaining segments combined; claws with a large subbasal and smaller basal teeth.</p> <p>ABDOMEN. With 5 ventrites. First ventrite with basal margin broadly rounded; fifth ventrite longest, apically setose, with posterior margin broadly arcuate. Aedeagus (Fig. 8 A–B) elongate. Penis without fibula; corona at apeX, well developed; in ventral view parallel-sided, apically eXtended, apeX rounded with medial projection; in lateral view slender, evenly narrowed from base to slightly curved apex. Parameres absent. Phallobase slightly longer than penis, parallel-sided, in ventral view straight, curved in lateral view.</p> <p> <b>Female</b></p> <p>Externally similar to male, except metaventrite without distinct medial, triangular depression in posterior half and without two prebasal foveae, fifth ventrite more elongate and eXtension of femoral tomentum slightly greater. Ovipositor (Fig. 10E) with very short, laterally curved stylus; preterminal segment long, narrow, widened at base, well sclerotized, about 10 times as long as stylus, with sparse curved blunt and acuminate spines; basal segment membranous, about as long as preterminal and distal segments combined, baculus curved, well sclerotized.</p> Biology <p>This species inhabits fast-flowing, mountain or submontane streams (Fig. 11A).</p> Distribution <p> Known from Ecuador, Colombia and Peru (Delève 1968; Shepard & Chaboo 2015; González-Córdoba <i>et al.</i> 2016) (Fig. 12 A–B).</p>Published as part of <i>Linský, Marek, Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, Zuzana & Čiampor, Fedor, 2021, A revision of Onychelmis Hinton, 1941 (Coleoptera: Elmidae), with description of new species, DNA barcoding and notes on the geography of the genus, pp. 1-35 in European Journal of Taxonomy 739 (1)</i> on pages 11-13, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.739.1263, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4600344">http://zenodo.org/record/4600344</a&gt

Neblinagena mira Čiampor, Čiamporová-Zaťovičová & Kodada, 2017, sp. n.

<p> <i>Neblinagena mira</i> <b>sp. n.</b></p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> Small stream at the foothills of the Kukenán tepui with cascades and riffles, large boulders, stones and gravel, flowing through savannah, surrounded by remnants of gallery forest (Fig. 32).</p> <p> <b>Type material</b>: <b>holotype</b> ♂ (NMW): ” Venezuela, Estado Bolivar, 29.XI.2015, Kukenán River, below Kukenán tepui, 5°09.359'N 60°49.508'W, 1631 m a.s.l., T. Derka & D. Gruľa lgt.", <b>paratypes 7</b> ♂, 3 ♀ (CCB, CKB, MIZA): with the same locality data as holotype.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Body elongate (Fig. 1), CL: males 5.64–6.14 mm, females 5.90–6.01 mm, 3–3.2 times as long as wide (CL/EW), dorsum moderately convex, surface hairy. Body dark brown to black; scape, pedicel, basal parts of femora paler; ventral side lighter due to yellowish pubescence.</p> <p> <b>Head</b> (Figs 5, 7) partly retractable into thorax, densely setose, HW: males 1.06–1.09 mm, females 1.04–1.09 mm, ID: males 0.62–0.66 mm, females 0.60–0.63 mm. Labrum (Fig. 5) with long setae, short, anterior margin shallowly emarginate in the middle, lateral angles rounded; clypeus about as long as labrum; frontoclypeal suture scarcely visible. Eyes well developed, protruding beyond outline of head, suboval in lateral view; setae around eyes short; frons with longitudinal depressions near eyes. Maxilla (Fig. 9): cardo and stipes densely setose; lacinia slightly elongated, distally with rows of dense, apically curved setae; galea two-segmented; maxillary palpus foursegmented, terminal segment longest and widest, truncate apically, segments 2–4 densely setose. Mandibles as in Fig. 8. Labium (Fig. 10): mentum transverse with very long setae, anterior margin with dense shorter setae; palpus three-segmented, distinctly larger and longer than maxillary palpus, terminal segment robust, truncate apically, with apical sensory field. Antennae (Fig. 6) eleven segmented, densely setose, scape long, curved, pedicel short, segments 3–11 forming elongated club, longer than scape and pedicel combined.</p> <p> <b>Thorax.</b> Pronotum (Fig. 11) widest at base then sinuately narrowing anteriorly, anterior margin widely arcuate, PW: males 1.66–1.81 mm, females 1.63–1.74 mm, PL: males 1.22–1.35 mm, females 1.30–1.31 mm; base broadly sinuate on each side and narrowly so in front of scutellum; posterolateral angles acute, slightly protruding, depressed; middle of base with 2 short prescutellar oblique carinae; each carina with distinct lateral depression; disc convex, with median groove from base to ca. anterior ¼, less depressed in the middle; transverse curved grooves in anterior ¼; lateral margins narrowly explanate; anterior angles very indistinctly protruding. Hypomeron sinuate, widest at base. Prosternal process (Fig. 12) less than 1.2 times as long as wide, constricted at base, obliquely widened in middle, then narrowing toward rounded apex. Surface of prosternum densely setose. Mesoventrite (Fig. 16) short and wide, with deep rhomboid depression for reception of prosternal process. Metaventrite (Fig. 16) with sides of disc raised in posterior ¾, discrimen fine, depressed from the anterior ¼ to posterior margin. <b>Elytra</b> (Figs 1, 14) with 10 rows of minute punctures, sides subparallel in anterior 0.55, then tapering toward feebly produced apices, 2.33–2.52 times as long as wide; EL: males 4.42–4.79 mm, females 4.60–4.70 mm; EW: males 1.88–2.05 mm, females 1.86–2.00 mm; disc without tubercles or accessory rows (Fig. 15); epipleuron narrow, setose. Scutellum flat, obovate. <b>Legs</b> (Fig. 13) moderately long, femora flattened, mesofemora longest, pro- and mesofemora dorsally with elongated setae; tibiae not flattened, protibiae longest; tarsi setose, terminal tarsomere longest but shorter than combined length of tarsomeres 1–4, claws well developed, pointed; metacoxae transverse, laterally distinctly narrowed.</p> <p> <b>Abdomen</b> (Fig. 17) setose; intercoxal process of first ventrite triangular, carinae of ventrite 1 behind coxae weak or absent; ventrites transverse, with slightly convex lateral sides; ventrite 5 about as long as ventrites 3 and 4 combined, narrowed distally. <b>Aedeagus</b> (Figs 18–20) elongate, fibula absent, corona membranous; parameres ca. ¾ as long as median lobe, wide in basal ¼, distal ¾ extremely narrow (lateral view), apices subacute; median lobe slender with narrowed rounded apex; phallobase short with basal apophyse. <b>Ovipositor</b> very similar to that of <i>N. prima</i>.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>N. mira</i> is known only from the type locality (Fig. 32) next to the Kukenán tepui in the Bolivar state (Fig. 33).</p> <p> <b>Differential diagnosis.</b> <i>N. mira</i> can be easily distinguished from the two known <i>Neblinagena</i> species by its pointed elytral apices, constricted prosternal process, short setae around eyes and by shape of male genitalia.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The new species was named “ <i>mira</i> ”, which means in Latin “strange, remarkable, amazing”. The name underlines the fact, that <i>N. mira</i> is genetically very distant from <i>N. doylei</i>, and differs morphologically from <i>N. prima</i> figured in Spangler, 1985 and also in Maier 2013. On the other hand, the pronotum of <i>N. mira</i> and some other features resemble that of the original description of <i>N. prima</i> (the type species of the genus). Unfortunately, the DNA data for <i>N. prima</i> are not available, so we cannot be certain whether <i>N. mira</i> belongs to the genus <i>Neblinagena</i> or represents morphologically similar, but genetically distinct genus.</p> <p> <b>Description of larva.</b> Length ca. 10.7 mm, greatest width ca. 1.70 mm. Dorsal side dark grey-brown, ventral side slightly paler, legs brown. Body (Figs 2, 3, 4, 21) cylindrical in cross section, ventral side slightly flattened. Spiracles present laterally on mesotergum and abdominal segments I–VIII; surface densely covered by flattened or adpressed scales of various shape.</p> <p> <b>Head</b> (Figs 22, 23) prognathous, partially retracted into prothorax. Cuticle covered by scales intermixed with few long semierect setae. Five stemmata separated in two groups on each side of head (Fig. 24). Antennae short, three segmented; scape widest with ring of apical scales; pedicel elongate, glabrous; flagellum and sensorium were unfortunately absent in all specimens available in this study. Epicranial suture and frontoclypeal suture hardly visible. Clypeus narrow, labrum broader than long with sides converging, anterior portion covered with yellowish setae. Maxilla (Figs 23, 25) slender, subparallel, slightly curved; maxillary palpus four-segmented, last segment shortest. Labium (Fig. 23) about 1.5 times longer than wide, parallel-sided, slightly narrowed anteriorly; labial palpi very short. Maxillae and labium with sparse scales, apically and subapically with pectinate setae (Fig. 25).</p> <p> <b>Thorax.</b> Protergum widest in basal half (Figs 2, 21), convex, disc with pair of admedian carinae reaching protergal margins, pair of sublateral carinae interrupted in about middle and pair of lateral carinae extending from base to about middle of protergum, carinae with erect scales. Lateral margins with scales, distal margin, as on all other segments except the last, with longer recumbent flattened setae. Mesotergum and metatergum shorter with three setigerous carinae on each side as on protergum. Sclerites of thorax as in Figs 26–27. Forelegs shortest, mid- and hindlegs longer, similar in shape. Coxae long and robust, transverse; trochanter about half as long as coxa, subtriangular; femur slender, basally oblique; tibia narrowing toward tarsungulus.</p> <p> <b>Abdomen</b> (Figs 21, 28) with nine sparsely setigerous segments, tergites I–VIII with three shortened setigerous carinae on each side, ninth tergite with mesal carina narrow, posterior margins with dense elongate scales; lateral parts bearing biforous spiracles (Fig. 28). Sternites I–VIII similar in shape, wider than long, punctate, pleurites I–VIII elongate rectangular, pleurites VII narrowed posteriad, triangular, pleurites VIII fused with sternites. Abdominal segment IX narrowed toward rounded apex; ventral operculum (Figs 29, 30) suboval, concave, with apical opercular claws well developed.</p> Discussion <p> The Guiana Highlands, with its tropical lowlands and numerous isolated flat-topped tepuis reaching up to 3000 m a.s.l., is known for its remarkable biodiversity and high level of endemism (e.g. Derka <i>et al.</i> 2012, Nieto & Derka 2011). The streams flowing from the tepuis also harbour endemic insects (Derka <i>et al.</i> 2015, Kodada <i>et al.</i> 2012, Čiampor & Kodada 1999), including a few genera of Elmidae (e.g. <i>Roraima</i>, <i>Jolyelmis</i>). The genus <i>Neblinagena</i> was described from the Cerro de la Neblina tepui. The type series of <i>N. prima</i> (type species of the genus) included specimens from wide altitudinal interval: 770–2100 m a.s.l. (see Spangler 1985), which is not very common within South American Elmidae.</p> <p> Here we described the new species from another table mountain—Kukenán tepui, and according to the molecular data from larval specimens we confirmed the occurence of <i>Neblinagena</i> also in the Auyán tepui. <i>Neblinagena mira</i> sp. n. is morphologically similar to <i>N. prima</i> and <i>N. doylei</i>, but genetically it is more related to representatives of the genus <i>Roraima.</i> The distinct genetic distance of <i>N. mira</i> from <i>N. doylei</i> suggests that they might even represent different genera. Unfortunately, molecular data on <i>N. prima</i> are not available. Thus for the moment we cannot solve the taxonomic question, whether <i>N. doylei</i>, usually distributed in lower altitudes, represents a different genus, or it belongs to <i>Neblinagena</i> and that <i>N. mira</i> sp. n. should be classified in a new genus. Due to lack of important molecular data and due to the morphological similarity, we decided to describe the new species in the genus <i>Neblinagena</i>. Nevertheless, the molecular data proved invaluable in distinguishing species and elucidating the biological diversity more precisely. We added to the knowledge of the distribution and diversity in the Guiana Highlands, even from one locality where only larvae were available. We also showed that morphologically similar species from the same area can be phylogenetically well separated, and can form distinct and well isolated lineages with differences similar to those between morphologically well delimited genera.</p>Published as part of <i>Čiampor, Fedor, Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, Zuzana & Kodada, Ján, 2017, A new species of Neblinagena Spangler from Kukenán tepui and DNA barcoding of Neblinagena and related genera (Coleoptera: Elmidae), pp. 176-186 in Zootaxa 4286 (2)</i> on pages 178-184, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4286.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/829719">http://zenodo.org/record/829719</a&gt