Dineutus (Merodineutus) macrochirus Régimbart, 1899

Fig. 6

Dineutes macrochirus Régimbart, 1899: 196 .

Dineutus (s. str.) macrochirus: Hatch, 1926: 344 .

Dineutus (Merodineutus) macrochirus: Ochs, 1955: 153 .

Material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Central Prov.: 1 male, 2 females, Owen Stanley Range, upper Udabe River, 1.25 km. SSE of Woitape, 1570 m. [5150 ft.], 8°33'34"S, 147°15'26"E, water temp. 18 °C., 2 October 2003, 11:00–11:45 hrs., CL 7250, D. A. Polhemus (USNM); 1 male, 1 female, Owen Stanley Range, Om Creek, trib. to upper Udabe River, 1.85 km. SSE of Woitape, 1585 m. [5200 ft.], 8°33'28"S, 147°15'22"E, water temp. 19 °C., 2 October 2003, 12:00–12:30 hrs., CL 7251, D. A. Polhemus (USNM); 1 male, 1 female, Owen Stanley Range, Mas River, 2.0 km. SW of Fane, 1235 m. [4050 ft.], 8°33'25"S, 147°04'04"E, water temp. 20 °C., 5 October 2003, 10:00–13:30 hrs., CL 7257, D. A. Polhemus (USNM).

Discussion. This very large species is widely distributed at higher elevations in the Owen Stanley Range (Fig. 6). At the Om Creek locality this species was found on a moderately swift, clear creek traversing a cleared valley floor in a bed of dark, water-rounded rocks and boulders, bordered by steep, grassy banks and partially shaded by remnant trees. The water here was 0.3–1.0 m. deep, occupying a channel 2– 3 m. wide, with the gyrinids occurring on shaded pools.

Based on known collections, this subspecies occupies the Owen Stanley Mountains area of freshwater endemism (Area 31) as defined by Polhemus & Allen (2007). The records above were also provided in Kraus et al. (2006).