﻿Two new species of Helochares, with additional faunistic records from China (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae).

Zhenming Yang,Fenglong Jia,Lu Jiang,Yudan Tang

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1078.73458

Abstract

Two new species, Helocharesguoi Yang & Jia, sp. nov. and Helocharesdistinctus Jia & Tang, sp. nov., are described. Two species are recorded for the first time from China: Helocharesnegatus Hebauer, 1995 from Yunnan, and Helocharesminusculus d’Orchymont, 1943 from Guangdong. Additional faunistic data from China are provided for the following species: Helochareshainanensis Dong & Bian, 2021, Helocharesnipponicus Hebauer, 1995, Helocharessauteri d’Orchymont, 1943, Helocharesdensus Sharp, 1890, Helochareslentus Sharp, 1890, Helocharesneglectus (Hope, 1854) and Helocharesanchoralis Sharp, 1890. The Chinese fauna of Helochares comprises 16 species, 11 of which are illustrated in this contribution. Helocharescrenatus Régimbart, 1921 is removed from the Chinese fauna.

Highlights

Helochares Mulsant, 1844 is one of the most diverse and widespread genera of Hydrophilidae, mainly distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australian realms, with a few species present in the Palearctic, Neotropical and Nearctic realms. d’Orchymont (1919) recognized five subgenera within Helochares: Hydrobaticus MacLeay, 1871, Chasmogenus Sharp, 1882, Helochares Mulsan, 1844, Helocharimorphus Kuwert, 1890 and Sindolus Sharp, 1882. Hansen (1991) added Batochares Hansen, 1991 as a subgenus of Helochares he recognized Helochares as a polyphyletic group at that time. Fernández (1986) separated subgenus Chasmogenus from Helochares and reinstated its generic status
Subgenera Batochares and Sindolus were elevated to generic status based on the molecular phylogeny by Short et al (2021)
Of the 20 species known from China, 18 occur south of the Qinling-Huaihe Line, Helochares obscurus (Müller, 1776) occurs in Xinjiang and H. nipponicus Hebauer, 1995 in the Palearctic Realm from Jilin to Zhejiang (Fig. 65)

Summary

Introduction

Helochares Mulsant, 1844 is one of the most diverse and widespread genera of Hydrophilidae, mainly distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australian realms, with a few species present in the Palearctic, Neotropical and Nearctic realms. d’Orchymont (1919) recognized five subgenera within Helochares: Hydrobaticus MacLeay, 1871, Chasmogenus Sharp, 1882, Helochares Mulsan, 1844, Helocharimorphus Kuwert, 1890 and Sindolus Sharp, 1882. Hansen (1991) added Batochares Hansen, 1991 as a subgenus of Helochares he recognized Helochares as a polyphyletic group at that time. Fernández (1986) separated subgenus Chasmogenus from Helochares and reinstated its generic status. D’Orchymont (1919) recognized five subgenera within Helochares: Hydrobaticus MacLeay, 1871, Chasmogenus Sharp, 1882, Helochares Mulsan, 1844, Helocharimorphus Kuwert, 1890 and Sindolus Sharp, 1882. Subgenera Batochares and Sindolus were elevated to generic status based on the molecular phylogeny by Short et al (2021). 16 species have been recorded (e.g., d’Orchymont 1919, 1925, 1940, 1943a, b; Pu 1963; Gentili et al 1995; Fikáček et al 2015; Jia and Tang 2018; Dong and Bian 2021). Of all known Chinese species, thirteen occur south of the Yangtze River, and the other three in the northwest, northeast and southwest China (Jia and Tang 2018; Dong and Bian 2021). In China, Helochares is the only hydrophilid genus in which adult females carry their egg cases beneath their abdomens

Material and methods

Discussion