Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878)

Scheers, Kevin, Thomaes, Arno, Hájek, Zimmerman, Michat & Reynoso-Velasco, 2017, The Laccophilinae Gistel, 1848 of Belize (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 65, pp. 1-18 : 1-18

Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878)

( Figs 1A , 2A , 3A , 4B )

= Laccophilus pumilio LeConte, 1878

MATERIAL STUDIED. STANN CREEK: Maya Center , stream, 16°47'48,9"N, 88°22'50,2"W, 07.V.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (27ex) TOLEDO: Punta Gorda, fishpond, 16°06'24,6"N, 88°48'25,5"W, 23.IV.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (1ex); Bladen NR, pond transition savannah-forest, 16°32'26,3"N, 88°42'57,1"W, 20.IV.2015, Leg K. Scheers &

4 A. Thomaes (10ex); Bladen NR, pond in forest, 16°32'55,3"N, 88°43'1,7"W, 19.IV.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (10ex); Punta Gorda, temporary stream, 16°06'20,1"N, 88°49'44,7"W, 24.IV.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (1ex); Punta Gorda, temp. stream in forest, 16°06'37,6"N, 88°49'18,8"W, 25.IV.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (1ex); Indian Creek , Lake of former Lodge, 16°18'45,1"N, 88°49'31,4"W, 29.IV.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (6ex); San Miguel, puddle in intermittent stream, 16°16'52,5"N, 88°53'3,1"W, 02.V.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (2ex) .

PUBLISHED RECORDS. TOLEDO & MICHAT, 2015

DIAGNOSIS. TL: 2.1–2.3 mm; MW: 1.0–1.2 mm. Outline droplet-shaped. Head and pronotum testaceous to testaceous-rufous, darkened between the eyes and along the base of the pronotum. Elytra dark rufous to pitchy, each with a paler, diffuse and broken up subbasal band and with small lateral and subapical paler markings ( Fig. 1A ). Elytra and pronotum with prominent characteristic iridescence. Ventral parts reddish-brown ( Fig. 2A ). This species is very similar to the other species of Laccomimus and is distinguishable only by the morphology of the male and female genitalia ( Fig. 3A ).

DISTRIBUTION. Belize, Cuba, Guatemala, USA (Florida).

ECOLOGY. Laccomimus pumilio has, like most other species of the genus, a preference for lentic or stagnant waters that are rich in debris and vegetation. In Florida, YOUNG (1954) collected this species from the heavily shaded edges of a large, permanent woodland pond and mentioned that the occurrence of the adults of this species is seasonal. In Belize it is found mainly in partly shaded ponds with a thick layer of organic debris in the form of decaying leaves and branches or at the edge of larger permanent ponds in a thick mat of vegetation.

Figures

Fig. 1. Dorsal view of Laccophilinae species in Belize. A, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); B, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882; C-D, Female of L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838, C, with distinct elytral flange, D, without elytral flange; E, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; F, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; G, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; H, L. proximus Say, 1823; I, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970 (Photograph: F. Trus).

Fig. 2. Ventral view of Laccophilinae species in Belize. A, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); B, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882 (pale specimen); C, L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838; D, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; E, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; F, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; G, L. proximus Say, 1823; H, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970 (Photograph: F. Trus).

Fig. 3. Median lobe, left lateral view. A, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); B, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882; C, L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838; D, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; E, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; F, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; G, L. proximus Say, 1823; H, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970.

Fig. 4. Known distribution of Laccophilinae species in Belize. A, sampled sites; B, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); C, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882; D, L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838; E, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; F, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; G, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; H, L. proximus Say, 1823; I, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970 (white dots indicate sampled sites and black dots indicate sites where the species is recorded, elevation map as background in which dark shading increases with height).