Liodessus noviaffinis
K.B. Miller, 1998
Liodessus noviaffinis is a small predaceous diving beetle described in 1998 from Florida. It belongs to the L. affinis , a group of four closely related North American that are difficult to distinguish based on external . The species is known from the eastern United States and Canada, with records from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Male genitalia provide the only reliable means of identification.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Liodessus noviaffinis: //ˌlaɪ.oʊˈdɛs.əs ˌnoʊ.vi.əˈfɪ.nɪs//
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Identification
Males are distinguished from other Liodessus by features of the male genitalia, specifically the lobe and parameres. External characters including coloration, punctation, and general body shape are too variable within and between species to be diagnostically useful. Females cannot be reliably identified to species based on and require geographic information for identification.
Images
Distribution
Eastern North America. Type locality: Gainesville Forest Insect Lab, Alachua County, Florida. Documented from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada.
Similar Taxa
- Liodessus affinisMember of the same ; external overlaps extensively, requiring dissection of male genitalia for separation
- Liodessus obscurellusFormerly synonymized with L. affinis; now recognized as distinct with overlapping range and
- Liodessus saratogaeDescribed in same 1998 revision; western (type locality California) with similar