Laccodytes

Toledo, Mario, Spangler, Paul J. & Balke, Michael, 2010, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical diving beetles genus Laccodytes Régimbart, 1895 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Zootaxa 2347, pp. 37-58 : 56

Laccodytes sp. 1

Figs (38, 61, 62)

Material examined. 1 Ƥ ( NMW) Venezuela: Bolivar, Quebrada, near Paraitepui Village, stream crossing tourist pathway to Mt. Roraima, 1000 m, 31.I.1999, Derka & Reitmeier

Provisional diagnosis. Habitus ( Fig. 38 ). Similar to L. bassignanii n.sp. and L. obscuratus n.sp., from which it is distinguished by the extension of the orange patterns on the elytra and the sharp contrast of these with the black background; from L. obscuratus n.sp. also by the pale head. Body length 1.7 mm. Body slightly drop-shaped, tip of elytron rounded. Hind angle of pronotum rounded. Angle between pronotum and elytra missing.

Color. Head orange. Pronotum orange, narrow band along base blackish. Elytron blackish with sharply contrasting orange markings: a broad subbasal band, that hardly reaches margin and does not reach suture; the apex, reaching the last third of elytra and including the subapical patches ( Fig. 38 ). Body appendages orange. Venter orange, metaventrite and metacoxa darker.

Sculpture. MR as in the preceding three species; metaventrite with fine and sparse dots, becoming closer and deeper on metasternal lateral expansion a. A series of transverse shallow grooves is visible at about the anterior fourth of metacoxal plates.

Structures. Pronotum with narrow lateral bead; posterior angle rounded. Prosternum and prosternal process with ridge; prosternal process broadly carinate and with a long, acute tip. Epipleuron broad up to level of sternite 7. Metatarsomeres 1–4 with apico-lateral angle slightly lobed. Hind lobes of metacoxal process rather straight, with a deep medial V-shaped notch.

Hind margin of sternite 7 ( Fig. 61 ) forming a V-shaped emargination, as in L. bassignanii n.sp.

Distribution ( Fig. 62). Southeastern Venezuela, close to the border with Guyana.

Biology. Taken from a stream.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 39. Subschematic body shape and colour patterns: 28) Laccodytes apalodes; 29) L. rondonia; 30) L. americanus; 31) L. phalacroides; 32) L. takutuanus; 33 a – 33 b) L. neblinae (variation of elytral patterns); 34) L. bassignanii; 35) L. obscuratus; 36) L. olibroides; 37) L. androginus; 38) Laccodytes sp. 1.; 39) Laccodytes sp. 2.

FIGURES 54 – 61. Last abdominal segment (left male; right female) in Laccodytes species: 54) L. apalodes; 55) L. rondonia; 56) L. americanus; 57) L. phalacroides; 58) L. takutuanus; 59) L. neblinae; 60) L. bassignanii; 61) Laccodytes sp. 1 female.