Laccophilus laeticulus Regimbart , 1895

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 244-245

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus laeticulus Regimbart, 1895 Figs 204, 373-374, 524, 579

Laccophilus laeticulus Régimbart 1895: 145 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a:19 (catalogue faunistics); Guignot 1943: 98 (faunistics); Guignot 1955b: 1096 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 37, 38, 39, 41 (description, faunistics, biology); Guignot 1959a: 533, 538 (description, faunistics); Medler 1980: 155 (faunistics, catalogue); Franciscolo and Sanfilippo 1990: 145, 146 (description, faunistics); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 79, 94 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson et al. 1995: 505 (faunistics); Rocchi 2000: 23 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 245 (catalogue, faunistics); Reintjes 2004: 67 (faunistics); van Vondel 2005: 131 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson 2015: 213 (catalogue, faunistics).

Notes on taxonomy.

Records, published later than Régimbart (1895) and Zimmermann (1920a) are considered uncertain because they may refer also to other species than Laccophilus laeticulus .

Type locality.

Guinea.

Type material studied

(1 ex.): Holotype: male: “Guinée / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / laeticulus Rég.” (MNHN; habitus in Fig. 524).

Additional material studied

(1 ex.). Sierra Leone: "Sierra Leone Freetown A. Mocquerys 1889 / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (1 ex. MNHN).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus laeticulus is especially characterized by distinct elytral colour pattern and peculiar, narrow apex of penis. It is closely related to Laccophilus occidentalis sp. n., also occurring on mainland of the African continent. Male genitalia must be examined for correct determination. Apex of penis narrows in Laccophilus laeticulus while clearly broader in Laccophilus occidentalis . Subbasal pale marking on elytra in Laccophilus laeticulus is generally broader than corresponding marking in Laccophilus occidentalis . See also diagnosis of Laccophilus transversovittatus occurring in Madagascar (p. 260).

Description.

Body length 3.1-3.2 mm, width 1.7 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern uniform (Fig. 524).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Submat, finely and somewhat indistinctly microsculptured. Reticulation double. Difference between size-categories of meshes minor and separation accordingly difficult. Large meshes, when discernible, contain about 3-5 small meshes. Head impunctate, except at eyes; with fine, scattered punctures. A few separate punctures may be discerned in centre of head between eyes.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, frontally and at base in middle with a somewhat vague dark ferrugineous to ferrugineous area. Submat, finely and somewhat indistinctly microsculptured. Reticulation double. Difference between size-categories of meshes of microsculpture minor and separation accordingly difficult. Large meshes, when discernible, contain about 3-5 small meshes. Frontally and laterally with very fine, rather sparse punctures, which in part may be difficult to discern.

Elytra: Dark ferrugineous, with distinct, pale ferrugineous markings (Fig. 524). Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double. Difference between size-categories of meshes minor and separation accordingly difficult. Large meshes, when discernible, contain about 3-5 small meshes. Laterally and posteriorly double reticulation becomes indistinct and finally disappears. Almost impunctate. In posterior half lateral punctures form a narrow and shallow, pre-apical furrow.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, posteriorly gradually darker but exhibits no distinct colour pattern. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured. In part reticulation reduced and obliterated. Almost impunctate. Basal ventrites with fine, curved striae. Prosternal process rather slender, apex extended and pointed. Metacoxal plates with some indistinct, shallow furrows. Fine stridulatory apparatus file consists of broad, fine ridges. Apical ventrite asymmetric, with lateral, triangular knob (Fig. 204).

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus slightly enlarged, extended. With distinct suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis curved; narrows distinctly towards apex, provided with a small and blunt hook (Figs 373-374).

Female: Unknown.

Distribution.

Guinea, Sierra Leone (Fig. 579).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.