Research Article
Two new high Andean species of Liodessus diving beetles from Venezuela (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Bidessini)
Michael Balke‡,
David T. Bilton§|,
Mauricio García¶,
Ángel L. Viloria#,
Adrián Villastrigo¤,
Lars Hendrich¤
‡ Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
§ University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
¶ Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
# Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
¤ SNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
Corresponding author:
Michael Balke
(
balke.m@snsb.de
)
Academic editor: Andreas Sanchez
© 2022 Michael Balke, David T. Bilton, Mauricio García, Ángel L. Viloria, Adrián Villastrigo, Lars Hendrich. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Balke M, Bilton DT, García M, Viloria ÁL, Villastrigo A, Hendrich L (2022) Two new high Andean species of Liodessus diving beetles from Venezuela (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Bidessini). Alpine Entomology 6: 7-12. https://doi.org/10.3897/alpento.6.79598
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Abstract
Two new species of the diving beetle genus Liodessus Guignot, 1939 are described from high mountain regions in Venezuela: Liodessus meridensis sp. nov. from Laguna de Mucabají, Mérida and L. venezuelensis sp. nov. from Laguna de Mucabají and below Pico Bolívar, Mérida. We delineate the species using morphological characters such as male genital structure and beetle size, shape and color. Mitochondrial cox1 sequence data provided an additional character source. Both new species occur at altitudes above 3,500 m and were collected in shallow water at the edge of high-altitude ponds.
Key Words
Dytiscidae, Liodessus, new species, Venezuela, Mérida
Introduction
Liodessus Guignot, 1939 are small diving beetles, usually less than 3 mm long, and occur in the New World as well as the Afrotropical region (Biström 1988; Nilsson and Hájek 2021). In the high Andes, at altitudes from ca. 3,000 to nearly 5,000 meters, they are probably the most abundant aquatic beetles (Balke et al. 2020a; Balke et al. 2020b). However, diving beetles from such high altitudes of the Páramo and Puna regions remain poorly studied. Since 2019, eleven new species have been described from Peru (Balke et al. 2020a, b) and Colombia (Balke et al. 2020c; Balke et al. 2021; Megna et al. 2019). Since then, it has become apparent that many more remain to be discovered, most of them likely microendemics. To address this in a combined evidence framework, we established a DNA sequence-supported project for the study of these beetles (Balke et al. 2020a, b), using the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) of the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding and the 5’ mitochondrial cox1 gene fragment (www.boldsystems.org) (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2007). Here, we continue our collaborative research project on the water beetle fauna of the higher mountain regions of South America by reporting the discovery of two new species of Liodessus from Venezuela.
Materials and methods
The following acronyms are used in the text: CBP (Collection D. T. Bilton, Plymouth, UK); MIZA (Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola “Francisco Fernández Yépez”, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Maracay, Venezuela); SEMC (Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas) and ZSM (SNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung, München, Germany, temporarily stored for further morphological work).
Morphological descriptions and photography. The description of morphological characters follows our previous work on Liodessus beetles, e.g. Balke et al. (2020b). Images were taken with a Canon EOS R camera. We used Mitutoyo 10× (habitus) or 20× (genital structures) ELWD Plan Apo objectives. These were attached to a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 3.5/135 MC, used as a focus lens. Illumination was with three LED segments SN-1 from Stonemaster (https://www.stonemaster-onlineshop.de). Image stacks were generated with the Stackmaster macro rail (Stonemaster), and images were then assembled with the computer software Helicon Focus 4.77TM on an iMac with a Radeon Pro 5500 XT GPU.
DNA analysis. The DNA sequencing and data analysis protocols follow standard Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB) barcoding procedures (www.ccdb.ca). We delivered tissue samples to CCDB, which were processed and the barcode data uploaded to BOLD systems. We used a simple approach to calculate a neighbour-joining tree (p-distances) in Geneious software (version 11.0.4.), in order to learn if newly added entries could be assigned to existing species groups or not. This approach has been proven helpful in guiding the morphological descriptive process, not the least by enabling us to unambiguously identify the new species presented here, even in the absence of male specimens.
Results
Liodessus
meridensis
sp. nov.
Type locality
Laguna de Mucabají, Mérida, Venezuela.
Type material
Holotype
: Male: Venezuela; Mérida, Laguna de Mucabají, 3,500 m, i.2004, 8.7964, -70.8255, García & Balke (MIZA). Paratypes: 13 exs same label data as holotype (MIZA, ZSM); 47 exs Venezuela: Mérida, ca. 5 km E Gavidia, 3,600 m, 23.I.2012, 8.6895, -70.8817, Short, Arias & Gustafson, lagoon margin, VZ12-0123-03A (MIZA, SEMC).
Description
Habitus with only slight discontinuity between pronotum and elytron (Fig. 1A), pronotum widest before base and more parallel sided laterally (Fig. 1A). Total length (TL) 2.1 mm; length without head (TL-h) 1.9 mm; maximum width (MW) 0.9 mm.
Color. Very dark brown to blackish dorsally and ventrally, basal antennomeres, base of meso- and metatibia contrastingly of lighter color (Figs 1A, 2A, B).
Surface sculpture. Head with few larger and smaller setiferous punctures; with distinct microreticulation except on middle of head between the eyes (Figs 1A, 2A, B). Pronotum and elytron shiny; with moderately dense and coarse setiferous punctation (Fig. 1A).
Structures. Antenna stout. Head without occipital line; with rounded clypeus. Pronotum with distinct lateral beads; with distinct long and deep basal striae (Fig. 1A). Elytron with short basal stria; without sutural line; without basal epipleural transverse carina. Metathoracic wings not examined in holotype (in paratype: short, about half the length of elytron).
Genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus of long, simple curvature in lateral view, more or less gradually narrowing towards tip; also gradually narrowing towards a narrow tip in ventral view; parameres of simple “Bidessini” type, two-segmented (Fig. 3A).
Female. Pronotum and elytra microreticulate, dull (specimens from Gavidia); shiny in the ones from Laguna de Mucabají.
Variation. Size variation of the paratypes is TL 2.1–2.3 mm; TL-h 1.8–2.0 mm; MW 0.9–1.1 mm. The elytral striae are hardly noticeable in a few paratypes.
Etymology
Named after the state of Mérida, in which the collecting localities are situated. The name is an adjective in the nominative singular.
Comparative notes
Distinguished from the other species of Liodessus by the diagnostic combination of the following features: Species from Venezuela; beetle smaller (TL 2.1–2.3 mm); very dark brown to blackish; head without occipital line; pronotal and elytral striae present; wings reduced considerably; shape of median lobe (narrow and “pointed” in lateral and ventral view, with its particular shape).
BOLD platform
We provided 1 entry to our BOLD Liodessus project. The species is well delineated from all other Liodessus, with an uncorrected p-distance of around 9% or more.
Distribution
Known from around Mérida, Venezuela.
Habitat
Collected from shallow water at the edge of high-altitude ponds (Fig. 4).
Liodessus
venezuelanus
sp. nov.
Type locality
Laguna de Mucubají, Mérida, Venezuela.
Type material
Holotype
: Male: Venezuela; Mérida, Laguna de Mucubají, 3,500 m, i.2004, 8.7964, -70.8255, García & Balke” (MIZA). Paratypes: 1 ex. same label data as holotype (ZSM); 8 exs Venezuela: Mérida, Pico Bolívar, Laguna de Gallo, 4,000 m, 6.XII.1998, 8.5269, -71.0722, Bilton (CBP, ZSM); 3 exs Venezuela: Mérida, ca. 5 km E Gavidia, 3,600 m, 23.I.2012, 8.6895, -70.8817, Short, Arias & Gustafson, lagoon margin, VZ12-0123-03A (MIZA, SEMC).
Description
Habitus with more evident discontinuity between pronotum and elytron (Fig. 1B), pronotum widest before base and more rounded laterally (Fig. 1B). Total length 2.2 mm; length without head 2.0 mm; maximum width 1.0 mm.
Color. Very dark brown to blackish dorsally and ventrally, basal antennomeres, base of meso- and metatibia contrastingly of lighter color (Figs 1B, 2C, D).
Surface sculpture. Head with few larger and smaller setiferous punctures (Figs 1B, 2C, D); with distinct microreticulation except on middle of head between the eyes. Pronotum and elytron shiny; with moderately dense and coarse setiferous punctation (Fig. 1B).
Structures. Antenna stout. Head with occipital line; with rounded clypeus. Pronotum with distinct lateral beads; with distinct long and deep basal striae (Figs 1A, B). Elytron with short basal stria; without sutural line; without basal epipleural transverse carina. Metathoracic wings not examined in holotype (in paratype: short, about half the length of elytron).
Genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus broadened towards apex, then narrowing in lateral view; also broadening towards tip in ventral view, tip broadly rounded; parameres of simple “Bidessini” type, two segmented (Fig. 3B).
Female. Pronotum and/or elytra microreticulate, dull (specimens from Laguna de Gallo); shiny in the single females from Laguna Mucabají and Gavidia.
Variation. Size variation of the paratypes is TL 2.0–2.3 mm; TL-h 1.8–2.0 mm; MW 0.9–1.1 mm. In few paratypes, the elytral basal stria is not very obvious.
Etymology
Named after the country of origin. The name is an adjective in the nominative singular.
Comparative notes
Distinguished from other species of Liodessus by the diagnostic combination of the following features: Species from Venezuela; beetle relatively small (TL 2.0–2.3 mm); very dark brown to blackish; head without occipital line; pronotal and elytral striae present; wings reduced considerably; shape of median lobe (broad in lateral and ventral view, with its particular shape).
BOLD platform
We provided 1 entry to our BOLD Liodessus project. The species is well delineated from all other Liodessus, with an uncorrected p-distance of around 8% or more.
Distribution
Known from around Mérida, Venezuela.
Habitat
Collected from shallow water at the edge of high-altitude ponds (Fig. 4).
Checklist of the High Andean species of Liodessus Guignot, 1953
- 1.
Liodessus acollensis
Guignot, 1955: Peru
- 2.
Liodessus alpinus
Balke et al., 2020a: Peru
- 3.
Liodessus altoperuensis
Balke et al., 2020b: Peru
- 4.
Liodessus andinus
Guignot, 1957: Bolivia
- 5.
Liodessus azufralis
Megna et al., 2019: Colombia
- 6.
Liodessus bogotensis
Guignot, 1953: Colombia
- 7.
Liodessus caxamarca
Balke et al., 2020b: Peru
- 8.
Liodessus hauthi
Balke et al., 2020a: Peru
- 9.
Liodessus lacunaviridis
Balke et al., 2020a: Colombia
- 10.
Liodessus picinus
Balke et al., 2021: Colombia
- 11a.
Liodessus quillacinga quillacinga
Megna et al., 2019: Colombia
- 11b.
Liodessus quillacinga cochaensis
Megna et al., 2019: Colombia
- 11c.
Liodessus quillacinga cumbalis
Megna et al., 2019: Colombia
- 12.
Liodessus quimbaya
Megna et al., 2019: Colombia
- 13.
Liodessus rhigos
Balke et al., 2020a: Peru
- 14.
Liodessus thespesios
Balke et al., 2020a: Peru
- 15.
Liodessus meridensis
sp. nov.: Venezuela
- 16.
Liodessus venezuelanus
sp. nov.: Venezuela
Discussion
The two new species described here are the first high-altitude species of Liodessus reported from Venezuela, and we expect to discover additional species in the vast, unsampled Venezuelan mountain regions. Their phylogenetic position remains to be established based on a multigene dataset. Based on the single DNA fragment we utilized here, the two species are genetically well delineated from all other known high-altitude Liodessus. It is well understood that one genetic marker alone cannot be the ultimate tool for taxonomy (Dietz et al. 2021), in particular markers such as cox1, which are not involved in speciation per se (Kwong et al. 2012). Rather, such DNA sequence data can be used to guide the sorting of specimens to operational units and support the taxonomic decision-making process. This approach has been utilized successfully to study very diverse beetle taxa (Riedel et al. 2013a; Riedel et al. 2013b; Tänzler et al. 2012), including our own previous work on Liodessus. The approach can be technically scaled up massively, using next-generation sequencing technology, which also reduces analytical costs (Srivathsan et al. 2021; Wang et al. 2018). Such data do not, however, replace taxonomic expertise and the evaluation of morphological structure (Riedel et al. 2013a).
Acknowledgements
We are grateful for the generous support from the SNSB-Innovative scheme, funded by the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Project: 2018 „Geographische Isolation, Endemismus und Artbildungsprozesse bei Insekten in der hochmontanen Páramo Kolumbiens (und darüber hinaus)” as well as 2021 „The origin of the world’s widest altitudinal gradient“), and Bayerischer Pakt für Innovation (BayPFI) for digitizing equipment. Michael Balke acknowledges support from the EU SYNTHESYS program, projects FR-TAF 6972 and GB-TAF-6776, which helped preparing this research during type study visits to NHM and MNHN in 2017. We thank Andrew E.Z. Short for kindly providing specimens and advice for this study; he acknowledges support from the US National Science Foundation grant #DEB-0816904. Michael Balke acknowledges support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (BA2152/27-1). Adrián Villastrigo is a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which enabled his participation in this research. Thanks to our colleagues at MIZA for hosting us in 2004.
Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) data use statement: “Data on genetic material contained in this taxonomic article are published for non-commercial use only. Utilization by third parties for purposes other than non-commercial scientific research may infringe the conditions under which the genetic resources were originally accessed, and should not be undertaken without obtaining consent from the original provider of the genetic material.”
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