Laccophilus bellus, Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 134-135

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus bellus sp. n. Figs 99-100, 288, 443, 555

Type locality.

Benin: Dep. Zou, Hlanzoun Riv, Zogbodomè Lokoli (forest) (07°03'N 02°15'E).

Type material

(20 exs.). Holotype, male: “Bénin: Dep. Zou, Zogbodomè Lokoli (forest), Hlanzoun Riv. 6.II. 2006 leg. Goergen, Komarek & Hounguè (18)/ 07°03'N 02°15'E muddy stream" (NMW). - Paratypes: Same data as holotype: (11 exs. NMW, 3 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 443). - Nigeria: "In vegetation in the river/Nigeria: Abraka (Kwale),? Warri Prov. ii. 1949 B. Malkin/Brit-Mus. 1956-234" (1 ex. BMNH); "Nigeria Delta St. Osobi Wetland Area N5.533; E5.816, 14.5. 2008 Mesumbe" (1 ex. AMGS); "Nigeria Delta St., R. Orogoda N6.333, E6.250 nr water, 20.7. 2005 Mesumbe" (2 exs. AMGS, 1 ex. MZH).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus bellus is characterized by peculiar elytral, colour pattern, by comparatively small body and by the shape of the penis, differing it from all other recognized Laccophilus species in Africa. Penis in lateral aspect, delicate, close to base at external outline distinctly angled and forwards from there almost straight to slightly extended tip. Extreme apex only weakly hooked. Possibly, close to Laccophilus amicus on the basis of external resemblance. Male genitalia of Laccophilus amicus are thus far unknown since only female is known of it.

Description.

Body length: Length 3.1-3.3 mm, width 1.6-1.7. Elytral colour pattern quite uniform; rarely reduced or extended (Fig. 443). Specimen from Nigeria with elytral colour pattern slightly vague.

Head: Uniformly pale ferrugineous. At eyes with fine, irregular punctures, which extend towards middle of head. Finely microsculptured; reticulation double. Size classes of microsculpture in part difficult to distinguish because almost equally, strongly developed. Large meshes, when discernible may contain 2-5 fine meshes.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous. Basally in middle with a rather narrow, dark brownish area. Frontally in middle with a narrow, weakly delimited darker area. Discally, broadly impunctate. At margins with fine, irregular punctures except medially at base where pronotum is also impunctate. Rather shiny although finely microsculptured. Reticulation indistinctly double. Size-classes of reticulation in part, difficult to distinguish. Large meshes extensively hardly discernible.

Elytra: Dark ferrugineous to dark brown, generally with well delimited, pale ferrugineous markings. On dark areas broad, dark undulations may be discerned (Fig. 443). Discal row of punctures somewhat irregular but clearly discernible. Dorsolateral and lateral rows of punctures rather indistinct, consist of scattered, irregular punctures. Pre-apical, lateral row of punctures finely pubescent. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Reticulation double; coarse meshes reduced and in part difficult to discern.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, no distinct colour pattern. Almost impunctate. Rather shiny although finely microsculptured. Sternites with sparse, slightly curved striae. Metacoxal plates with about 10 fine, partly reduced, almost transverse furrows. Apical sternite asymmetric, with small knob on one side (Fig. 99). Prosternal process slender, extended and apically pointed.

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus slightly enlarged, with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect, delicate, close to base at external outline distinctly angled and forwards from there almost straight/slightly sinuate to slightly extended tip. Extreme apex only weakly hooked (Fig. 284).

Female: Apical sternite lacks knob (Fig. 100). Pro- and mesotarsus narrower.

Etymology.

The name bellus is a Latin adjective meaning “beautiful”. The name refers to the external appearance of the new species, being especially handsome.

Distribution.

Benin, Nigeria (Fig. 555).

Collecting circumstances.

Almost unknown. From label data it appears that the species has been collected in a muddy stream and in vegetation of a river.