Laccophilus deceptor Guignot, 1953

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 156-157

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus deceptor Guignot, 1953 Figs 124-125, 313-315, 460, 561

Laccophilus deceptor Guignot 1953d: 1 (original description, faunistics); Guignot 1954: 25 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 533, 535, 537 (description, faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Zaire: Parc National Upemba, Mubale.

Type material studied

(2 exs.). Holotype: male: "Holotypus / Congo belge P.N.U. Mubale (1.480 m.) 10-13-V-1947 Mis. G.F. de Witte. 352a / Coll. Mus. Congo (ex. coll. I. P. N. C. B.) / Laccophilus deceptor Guignot Type male / Guignot det. 1952 Laccophilus deceptor Guign. Type male" (MRAC). - Paratype: female: Same data as in holotype, but labelled as “Paratypus” (1 ex. MRAC).

Additional material studied

(2 exs.). Zaire: "Paratypus / Mbuye Bala (1750 m.) / F. Guignot det., 1953 Laccophilus deceptor sp. n. (1 ex. MRAC; habitus in Fig. 460); "PNU Katongo affl. Mubale (1750 m) 12.4. 1948 de Witte, 1522a / Paratype / Laccophilus deceptor Guign. det. Guignot 1953" (1 ex. IRSNB). [Comment: not type material although labelled as paratypes; label data do not fit the original description.]

Diagnosis.

Among resembling species most similar and probably closest related to Laccophilus bilardoi but body of Laccophilus deceptor is distinctly larger. Male genitalia resemble also of genitalia in Laccophilus bilardoi . Laccophilus deceptor can be distinguished by specific differences in shape of penis (see also, diagnosis of Laccophilus bilardoi on p. 170).

Description.

Body length 4.5 mm, width 2.40-2.5 mm. Dorsal, aspect of body as in Fig. 460. Pale markings quite distinct.

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Slightly mat, finely and quite densely microsculptured. Reticulation double but difference between fine and coarser meshes rather small. Coarser meshes contain 2-6 finer meshes. At eyes with fine punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, frontally and at base medially with a dark ferrugineous to ferrugineous area. Submat, reticulation double. Coarser meshes fine but clearly discernible; contain 2-6 finer meshes. Frontally and laterally with irregular, fine punctures.

Elytra: In frontal part with an irregular, transverse row of distinct, pale ferrugineous spots. Posterior to pale spots elytra, with somewhat irregular irrorations (Fig. 460). Submat, rather densely microsculptured. Reticulation double, posteriorly, difference between kinds of reticulation gradually disappears. Scattered fine punctures form on each elytron three somewhat indistinct, longitudinal areas of punctures. Lateral, pre-apical furrow distinctly pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous; exhibits no distinct colour pattern. Rather shiny to slightly mat, finely and extensively microsculptured. Almost impunctate. Basal ventrites with fine but distinct, somewhat curved striae. Metacoxal plates with a few very shallow transverse furrows. Prosternal process slender, apex pointed. Apical ventrite asymmetric; with lateral, on one side located, small but distinct knob (Fig. 124).

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus quite long, basally slightly enlarged; with distinct suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect with external outline strongly undulate but from middle forwards straightened; apex extended forwards to a distinct tip. Penis at base with a soft flap (Figs 313-315).

Female: Externally as male. Apical ventrite almost symmetric (striae with different location), lacks lateral knob (Fig. 125). Pro- and mesotarsus slender, basally not distinctly enlarged.

Distribution.

Zaire (Fig. 561).

Collecting circumstances.

Not documented, unknown.