Review of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Tobochares Short & García, 2007 (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae): new lineages, new species, and new records

Abstract

The water scavenger beetle genus Tobochares Short & García, 2007 currently contains ten species, including one known but formally undescribed taxon. Although Tobochares was revised in 2017, ongoing fieldwork as well as an expanded concept of the genus has led to the recognition of numerous additional species. Here a combination of morphological and molecular data is presented to review this newly found Tobochares diversity. Fifteen new species are described from South America, bringing the total number of known species to 25: Tobochares akoeriosp. nov. (Suriname), T. arawaksp. nov. (Guyana), T. anthonyaesp. nov. (Venezuela: Bolívar), T. aturessp. nov., (Venezuela: Amazonas), T. benettiisp. nov. (Brazil: Amazonas), T. canaimasp. nov. (Venezuela: Bolívar), T. communissp. nov. (Brazil: Amapá and Roraima, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela: Bolívar), T. fusussp. nov. (Brazil: Amapá, French Guiana), T. goiassp. nov. (Brazil: Goiás), T. kappelsp. nov. (Suriname), T. kolokoesp. nov. (Suriname), T. luteomargosp. nov. (Venezuela: Bolívar), T. micropssp. nov. (Suriname), T. pemonsp. nov. (Venezuela: Bolívar), and T. romanoaesp. nov. (Brazil: Roraima). Both morphological and molecular analyses support four clades within the genus, which are here diagnosed and described as species groups. New distributional records are provided for T. kusad Kohlenberg & Short, 2017 and T. sipaliwini Short & Kadosoe, 2011, both of which are recorded from Brazil for the first time. Previously restricted to the Guiana Shield region of South America, the distributional range of the genus is now broadly expanded to include localities as far south as the central Brazilian state of Goiás. Consistent with the biology of the previously described species, almost all the new species described here are associated with seepage and wet rock habitats. Remarkably, one species, T. fusussp. nov., was collected in both seepage habitats as well as in the rotting fruits of Clusia Linnaeus (Clusiaceae), making it one of the few known acidocerines with terrestrial habits outside of the genus Quadriops Hansen, 1999. High-resolution images of most species are included, as well as a key to species groups, species, and habitat photographs.

The Acidocerinae (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae): taxonomy, classification, and catalog of species

“…Some other Agraphydrus species have ambiguous or incidental collecting information suggesting they may occur in terrestrial habitats, but more data is needed (e.g., A. vadoni Komarek). Additionally, Tobochares fusus Girón & Short has been collected from both seepage habitats as well as from the rotting fruits of Clusia, suggesting it might have a broad ecological niche (Girón and Short 2021a).…”

“…Tobochares microps Girón & Short was found to be polymorphic for hind wing development: the reduced hind wing morph (Fig. 15G) has most veins still well developed, but the entire apical region of the wing is reduced (Girón and Short 2021a).…”

“…Tobochares are among the smallest acidocerines. Some members of the group are unique in the presence of impressed elytral striae (striatus species group; Girón and Short 2021a). Tobochares without elytral striae may resemble some Agraphydrus (with eight antennomeres and mostly glabrous femora), and other than their distributions (Tobochares in the New World, Agraphydrus in the Old World) and slight differences in overall body shape, they can only be differentiated by the shape of the aedeagus (slender in Tobochares, Fig.…”

“…They can sometimes be found in large numbers. One species, T. fusus, has been collected in both seepage habitats as well as terrestrially in the rotten fruits of Clusia (see Kohlenberg andGirón andShort 2021a for more details).…”