Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschwendtner, 1932

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 58-63

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschwendtner, 1932 Figs 53-54, 252, 409, 538

Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschwendtner 1932b: 260 (original description, faunistics); Gschwendtner 1935a: 16, 17, 18 (description, faunistics); Gschwendtner 1938a: 5 (faunistics); Guignot 1943: 99 (faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 271, 273, 279, 280, 281, 312 (faunistics, biology); Guignot 1948: 15 (faunistics); Balfour-Browne 1950: 360 (faunistics); Guignot 1951: 215 (faunistics); Guignot 1952a: 533 (faunistics); Guignot 1952c: 522 (faunistics, biology); Guignot 1953b: 234 (faunistics); Legros 1954: 268 (faunistics); Guignot 1954: 26, 27 (faunistics, discussion); Guignot 1956b:219 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1956: 21 (faunistics, biology); Omer-Cooper 1957: 20, 21 (description, discussion); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 37, 43, 45 (description, discussion, faunistics, biology); Legros 1958: 211 (faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 570, 571, 573 (description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 81, 82 (description, discussion, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1970: 289, 290, 291 (description, discussion); Legros 1972: 466 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 1987: 104 (faunistics, biology); Curtis 1991: 186 (faunistics); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 81, 94 (discussion, biology); Nilsson 2001: 251 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 218 (catalogue, faunistics).

Laccophilus monas Guignot 1953a: 238 (original description, faunistics); Guignot 1954: 27 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 571 (list as synonym of Laccophilus simplicistratus ); Guignot 1959d: 162 (discussion, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 82 (list, synonymy); Nilsson 2001:251 (catalogue, list, synonymy, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 218 (catalogue, list, synonymy, faunistics). Confirmed synonym.

Type localities.

Laccophilus simplicistriatus : Zaire: Lusindol.

Laccophilus monas : Zaire: Route Shangugu-Usumbura, riv. Lua.

Type material studied

(12 exs.). Laccophilus simplicistriatus : Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Paratypus / Musée du Congo Lusindol 15-VIII-1911 L. Burgeon / R. Det. 2093 C" (MRAC; habitus in Fig. 409). - Paralectotypes: Same data as lectotype but “7-VIII-1911” (1 ex. MRAC); "Paratypus / Musée du Congo Albertville 20-X-1925 Dr. H. Schouteden / R. Det. 2093 C" (1 ex. MRAC); "Paratypus / Musée du Congo Karemi V-1912 Dr. Bayer / R. Det. 2093 C / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Gschwendt." (1 ex. MRAC); same data as preceding but no determination label (1 ex. MRAC); “Musée du Congo Haut Uelé: Moto 1920 L. Burgeon / R. Det. 2093 C" (2 exs. MRAC); “Musée du Congo Riv. Lobozi 5.11. 1912 Dr. Stappers 1548/ R. Det. 2093 C" (1 ex. MRAC); “Musée du Congo Bavrengura Haut Uelé L. Burgeon / R. Det. 2093 C" (1 ex. MRAC); “Musée du Congo Katanga: Katompe 1/15-VI-1930 Dr. P. Gerard / R. Det. 2093 C" (1 ex. MRAC); “Musée du Congo Kil. 345 de Kindu, nuit Dr. Russo / R. Det. 2093 C" (1 ex. MRAC). [Comments: no clarification exists why five of the specimens above have earlier been provided with a paratype label? Regarded as a case of mislabeling.]

Laccophilus monas : Holotype: male: "Holotypus / I.R.S.A.C. -Mus. Congo/Route Shangugu-Usumbura riv. Lua 5-VIII 1949 G. Marlier / Type / Eaux thermals rivier Lua 5-8-49/R Dét. I. 6182 / Guignot det., 1953 Laccophilus monas Guign. Type, male/= simplicistriatus Gschw. det. J. Omer-Cooper May 25th 1954" (MRAC).

Additional material studied

(396 exs.). Sudan: "Meya Saku 43 mi. from Amadi, Juba rd. 29.I. 1954 JOC" (2 exs. AMGS); "L. Yirol 6,33N, 30,3E 24.I. 1954 JJOC" (2 exs. AMGS); "Nimule, Fula rapids 4.XI. 1954 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Nimule Ferry 4.XI. 1954 JJOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "L. Nyibor 23.I. 1954 JJOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "Sandy river 50 mi. NW of Juba JJOC." (5 exs. AMGS); "Aluakluak 30,5E, 6,30N 15.IV. 1954" (2 exs. AMGS); "Stream from hot springs Nyangwara 30,5E, 4,39N 29.I. 1954 JJOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "Equatoria Tali Post 8.IV. 1954" (1 ex. AMGS); "L. Shambe 21.I. 1954 JJOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "Upper Nile, Malakal 5-20.1. 1963 Linnavuori / ad lucem" (4 exs. MZH); "Upper Nile, Malakal 5-20.1. 1963 Linnavuori" (10 exs. MZH); "Upper Nile Malakal Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "Upper Nile Pr. Malakal, nr junction Nile - Sobat 21.9. 1957 Forsberg/ Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "Blue Nile Ingessana Mts. 17-22.11. 1962 Linnavuori" (2 exs. MZH); "Weisser Nil bei Tonga 10-13.4. 1914 Ebner"(1 ex. NMW); "Mongalla 50 Werner" (2 exs. NMW); "Kadugli at light, 11. 1954 Sweeney" (1 ex. BMNH); "Torit 2.7. 1980 Armstrong" (11 exs. USNM, 2 exs. MZH); "Gilo water tank (pumped of from stream) 20.3. 1980 Armstrong" (13 exs. USNM, 3 exs. MZH); "Kinyetti Riv. at Imeila 19.3. 1980 Armstrong" (4 exs. USNM); "SW Sudan nr Yambio Abbott" (1 ex. USNM); "Nairege Riv. 27.2. 1980 Armstrong" (1 ex. USNM). - Ethiopia: "Arsi, Dehra 40 km N Assella 25.9. 1988 1800 m, temp pool, Persson / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson" (2 exs. MZLU); "Shoa, Soddere 16.10, 1988, 1500 m, temp. pool without vegetation Persson / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson" (1 ex. MZLU); "Shoa, Soddere 25.9. 1988, 1500 m Persson / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson" (2 exs. MZLU); "Shoa Dobre Zeit Hora lake 15.3. 1989, 2200 m, polluted water Persson / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson" (1 ex. MZLU); "7000 ft. Hora Harsadi Addas 2.XII. 1926 J. Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS); "West marsh L. Zwai 5500 ft. 2-3.XI. 1926 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS); 5000 ft. small pond Hora Shala 21.XI. 1926 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "7000 ft. Mt. Chilalu 8.XI. 1926 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS); "Baher Dar 8.10.1968 Horde leg. /Lichtfang" (7 exs. NHMB, 2 exs. USNM); "Bahar Dar, at light 4.4. 1967 P. Stys leg." (1 ex. NMPC). - Zaire: "Kigoma V. 1930 / Paratype / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Gschwendtner" (1 ex. OLML; not type material); same as preceding but no determination label (1 ex. MRAC; not type material); "Karemi V- 1912 Dr. Bayer / Laccophilus simplicistriatus G. J. Balfour-Browne det. 1963" (3 exs. MRAC); "Riv. Lobozi 5.11.1912 / Laccophilus taeniolatus Rég. var. R. Peschet det. 1914" (1 ex. MAC); "Kivu: Luvungi XII-1932" (2 exs. MRAC); "Elisabethville (a la lumière) X/XI-1950 / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Guignot 1953" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG I/c/4, 15.3. 1950 Demoulin 234 / Paratype / Laccophilus monas Guign. det. Guignot" (1 ex. IRSNB; not type material); "PNG Napokomweli 18.X. 1950 G. Demoulin 893 / Laccophilus monas Guign. det. Guignot 1957" (1 ex. AMGS); "PNG, I/a/2, 21.4. 1950 Demoulin 452" (1 ex. NHMB); "PNG, Ndelele 19.3. 1952, 3199" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG II/fd/12, 10.3. 1952, 3180" (2 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. MZH); "PNG PpK/14/g/14s, 4.4. 1952, 3290" (3 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. MZH); "PNG II/fd/14s, 3.4. 1952, 3278" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG II7fd/Gar 29.2. 1952, 3152" (1 ex. MAC). - Uganda: "Mabira Forest Tinga 19.7. 1970 Brown" (1 ex. BMNH). - Kenya: "Lambwe Valley on light 11.6.1974 van Etten" (1 ex. RMNH); "Aberdares NP 5.12. 1989 Jäch” (1 ex. NMW); "Thika 7.12. 1989 Jäch” (2 exs. NMW, 1 ex. MZH); "Meru Distr., Gatunga 5.4. 1987 Mourglia" (1 ex. NHMB). - Rwanda: "Rumonge, Regenwald Jan. 1986 Heiss" (1 ex. NHMB). - Tanzania: "Ukerewe Tang. Terr. VIII. / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Gschwendtner" (4 exs. OLML); "TPC S of Moshi canals 28.9. 1976 Holmen" (1 ex. ZMUC); "Mwanza nr. Lake Victoria 31.7. 1957 / sweet potato channels" (2 exs. BMNH); "Mwanza nr. L. Victoria 1957 / Marginal pools and ditches" (7 exs. BMNH); "Tanganyika 1959 Eccles" (1 ex. BMNH); "SW Tanganyika Mpanda (dans ruisseau) 6. 1960 Leleup" (1 ex. MAC); "T.T. Rukwa Milepa 25.4. 1951 Water in road- tracks Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "T.T. Rukwa Tumba 29.1. 1951 Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "T.T. Rukwa Tumba 12.1. 1951 T. river Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "T.T. Rukwa Kipangati 28.11. 1950 sulphurous pools, shallow in rich woodland Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "Tang. terr. Nzega, Naro 19.8. 1951 Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "Rukwa, Rungwa Riv. 18.5. 1950 Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "T.T. Shinyanga 21.2. 1935 Burtt" (1 ex. BMNH); "T.T. Rukwa Mkumbwa 12.5. 1950 Backlund / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Nilsson 1996" (1 ex. MZLU); "Iringa Prov., 100 km NE Iringa 07°37'S, 36°17'E, 9.1. 2007, 660 m, J. Halada leg." (2 exs. NMPC, 1 ex. MZH); "Mbeya prov., 120 km E Mbeya 08°51'S, 34°00'E, 1220 m, 6.1. 2007 m, J. Halada leg." (1 ex. NMPC). - Angola: "Namakunda 6. 1948, 16.15E, 18.50 S Koch" (13 exs. BMNH, 1 ex. MZH); "Namakunda 6. 1948, 16.15 E. 1850S, Koch" (11 exs. BMNH); "Mongua 4.6. 1954, shallow reedy vlei" (1 ex. BMNH); "Mossamedes Distr., Rio Coroca 23.6. 1954/small clear pool with Chara " (1 ex. BMNH); "Rio Coroca 8 m. N of Porto Alexandre 22-23.6. 1954/Pond with Algae & Lemna , fringing Juncus " (1 ex. BMNH); "Pediva, ca, 30 mi. E of Porto Alexandre 400 ft. 26-27.6. 1954 / Ponds in warm, saline river; thick weed" (1 ex. BMNH); "Angola Schönlein” (1 ex. ZMHB). - Zambia: "Central Pr. Lusaka 8.1. 1982 Selander / rain pond" (1 ex. MZH); "29.3.1993. Kafue NP., Chunga Camp, 15°02'35"S / 26°00'09"E, lux Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB). - Malawi: "Stream 20 mi. from Dedza on Lower Lilongwae rd 30.IX. 1948" (8 exs. AMGS); "R. Diedma Lilongwe rd 30.IX. 1948" (1 ex. AMGS); "Bua R. 2.X. 1948 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Dallys Hotel nr. Ft. Johnstone 23.VIII. 1948" (3 exs. AMGS); "Zomba plateau res.7.XI. 1948" (3 exs. AMGS); "Stream, Zomba plateau 6000 ft. 7.XI. 1948" (1 ex. AMGS); "Gomba plateau (?) 7.XI. 1948" (3 exs. AMS); "Stream 6 mi. N of R. Mtiti 2.X. 1948" (1 ex. AMGS); "Swampy pool nr. L. Nyasa 9.6. 1946" (1 ex. BMNH). - Zimbabwe: "Stream at Salisbury17.IX. 1948" (2 exs. AMGS); "Marandellas 2. XI. 1948 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS); "Small stream nr. Halfway Hotel Salisbury-Gatooma 14.IX. 1948" (2 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Reserve water holes 3.IX. 1948" (5 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Game Res. IX. 1948 water holes" (10 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Game Res. IX. 1948 water hole / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Omer-Cooper" (3 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Game Res. Mazume Dam 4.IX. 48 / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Omer-Cooper" (5 exs. AMGS); "Wankie game reserve, Shapi pan 5-6.IX. 1948 (7 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Game Reserve 4.9. 1948 / J. OmerCooper" (1 ex. BMNH); "Wanki Game Reserve 4-5.9. 1948 J. Omer-Cooper / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. J. Omer-Cooper"(4 exs. NHMB, 9 exs. USNM); "5 mi SE Wankie 7.4. 1968 Spangler" (9 exs. USNM, 3 exs. MZH); "Victoria Falls rainforest 6.X. 1948" (2 exs. AMGS); "Gwai River 3.4. 1968 Spangler" (7 exs. USNM, 1 ex. MZH). - Mozambique: "Niassa Prov., S12°17'28.8", E34°46'31.4" Mandambuzi Marsh, Watson 6.4. 2009" (1 ex. CGF); "Niassa Prov. Cmimulimuli River, S12°11.520', E34°42.288', Watson 10.2. 2008" (1 ex. CGF). - Namibia: "Windhoek Town Dam 7.VII. 39" (1 ex. AMGS); "Okahandja Distr. Toggekry 250, Omatako Ranch, 55 km NNW, NNW Okahandja, thornbush savannah / 7.2. 2001, 21°30'43"S /16°43'00" lux 22°-14°, 25.4. 2001, 17,45-20,00 Uhlig & Ebert" (1 ex. ZMHB, 1 ex. NMNW, 1 ex. MZH); "Damaral. Okahandja 21.59S- 16.52E / 12.9. 1974 shore washing, Endrödy-Younga” (2 exs. TMSA, 1 ex. MZH); "Damaraland Oshikango 5. 1948 15.55 E 17.25 S Koch" (1 ex. BMNH); "Kavango:Popa Falls 18°07'S- 21°35'E, 26.2.-3.11.1992 lux Uhlig leg." (1 ex. ZMHB); "Ovamboland Namutoni 31.5. 1954 / weedy waterhole and stream" (16 exs. BMNH, 2 exs. MZH); "Oshikango SE of frontier post 2.6. 1954/shallow water, svampy marsh" (27 exs. BMNH, 2 exs. MZH); "Ca. 7 mls N.E. of Grootfontein / waterhole in dolomite" (4 exs. BMNH); "Okarupa, ca. 17 mi. E of Okahandja, 4900 ft, 22.5. 1954 / pools in overflow stream from dam, much weed & algae " (2 exs. BMNH); "Kro, ca. 15 mi. SE of Namutoni 30.5. 1954 / shallow & muddy with algae " (1 ex. BMNH); " Etosha Pan Okaukujo camp 19.11S- 15.55E /28.12. 1974 shore washing Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex. TMSA); "Etosha Pan, 60 m. NW Namutoni 5. 1937"(1 ex. TMSA); "Etosha Game Res., Namutoni 27.5. 1937" (3 exs. TMSA, 1 ex. MZH); "Kaokoweld Kowares, 90 mi SE Ohopoho 3.6. 1951" (1 ex. MZLU); "Kaokoweld Sanitatas, abt 85 mi. WSW Ohopoho 14-16.6. 1951" (1 ex. MZLU); "Kaokoweld Anabib (Orupembe) 100 mi. W Ohopoho 12-13.6. 1951" (1 ex. MZLU); "Kaokowelld Omutati, 70 mi. WSW Ohopoho 5.6. 1951" (2 exs. MZLU); "Kaokoweld 17.10. 1963 Gaerdes" (1 ex. MZLU); "Kaokoweld Sesfontain, 17 km WSW, 19.12S- 13.32E /1.2. 1975 singled in riv. bed, Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex. TMSA); "Distr. Grootfontein leg. Irish / Farm klein Nosib 19.28S- 14.50E Anfang April 1989" (1 ex. ZMHB); "Okomite R, temp. pool, N-17.4305, E14.1666, 12.11. 1997 De Moor" (5 exs. AMGS); "Omapapurawe Guard Post, 200 m from campsite, Kunene R., N-17.218, E13.645, 15.11. 1997 Bethune & al." (3 exs. AMGS); "Kunene R., stream from cave into pool, N-17.00.07, E12.59.54, 20.6. 1997 De Moor & al." (1 ex. AMGS). - Botswana: "Tsotsorogo Pan 17.VI-9. VIII. 1930 / Type male / female / paratype / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Gschwendtner" (2 exs. AMGS, 2 exs. TMSA, 1 ex. OLML; not type material); "Chobe Park Savuti Camp11.3. 1993, 18°33'S / 24°03'E, lux Göllner” (1 ex. ZMHB); "5 km NW San-ta-Wani Safari Lodge 19°27'01 ”/23°38'46” lux, Uhlig" (1 ex.ZMHB). - South Africa: "Trsvl 5 mi W Warmbad 24-25.2. 1968 Spangler" (1 ex. USNM); "Trsvl Randburg, N-26.070, E27.950, 6.6.1971 Reavell" (1 ex. AMGS); "Caffraria / J. Wahlb." (1 ex. RMS); "Gauteng Cullinan Premier Mine Res. 25,40 S– 28,29E / 17.1.2002 Endrödy-Younga, light trap" (1 ex. TMSA); "Gauteng Tswaing 25.24S- 28.06E / 16.2. 2003 light trap, TMSA staff leg." (1 ex. TMSA); "Roodeplaat Pretoria distr. 10. 1960 Neubecker" (1 ex. TMSA); "Xolo R, small stream, riverbed, trib. Kunene R, 15.11. 1997 De Moor" (1 ex. AMGS). - Swaziland: "Eranchi 5-10.1. 1955 Capener / Laccophilus simplicistriatus J. Omer-Cooper det." (3 exs. MZH). - Lesotho: "Nazareth M. S., 20 mi.ESE Maseru 24.3. 1951" (1 ex. MZLU).

Specimen with uncertain determination.

Cameroon: female "Yaounde, Bor to Kosti by boat 13-14.3. 1978 Perkins" (1 ex. USNM).

Specimen with uncertain labelling.

Mauritius: male "Insel Mauritius Westw. Nr. 9984 / Laccophilus simplicistriatus Gschw. det. Brancucci 82" (1 ex. ZMHB). Until additional specimens from Mauritius are available, this record is considered a case of mislabelling.

Comments on synonymy.

Confusion regarding the original description and the type material of Laccophilus simplicistriatus followed when Gschwendtner (1932b) in a faunistic paper listed and mentioned Laccophilus simplicistriatus and at the same time he provided a short description of the species. Originally this act was not ment to be the original description, which it is in fact. Accordingly, the report ( Gschwendtner 1932b) is the original description and not the later publication of Gschwendtner (1935a). Designation of type in the later article is accordingly invalid. A lectotype has been chosen from the valid type material of Laccophilus simplicistriatus and it has been compared with the holotype of Laccophilus monas . This examination confirms earlier proposed synonymy of the two taxa.

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus simplicistriatus externally resembles most of Laccophilus taeniolatus and Laccophilus complicatus . From Laccophilus taeniolatus it is distinguished by elytral irroration, which is complete (uniform coverage) and not reduced frontally at suture. In Laccophilus taeniolatus elytral irroration frontally at suture is always sparser, often formed as a pale somewhat irregular spot. Shape of penis apex exhibits differences separating Laccophilus simplicistriatus from Laccophilus complicatus (apex of penis sharp and strongly curved) as well as from all other Laccophilus species.

Description.

Body length 3.6-4.3 mm, width 1.9-2.4 mm. Habitus, dorsal aspect as in Fig. 409. Dorsal colour pattern quite uniform exhibiting only minor variation.

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Finely microsculptured; reticulation indistinctly double. In part, coarser meshes not discernible. When visible one large mesh contains 2-6 fine meshes. At eyes with fine, irregular punctures; a few scattered punctures medially between eyes.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, anteriorly and posteriorly in middle with narrow ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous area. At margins, except basally in middle, with fine, irregular punctures. Microsculpture fine; reticulation indistinctly double (only in part, discernible). Slightly coarser, large meshes contain 2-6 fine meshes.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with quite coarse and distinct, dark ferrugineous irrorations (Fig. 409). Irrorations laterally sometimes slightly reduced and less distinct than at suture. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured; double reticulation indistinct, only in part discernible; coarser meshes extensively rudimentary and hardly visible. Very fine, sparse punctures laterally and discally (form an irregular, discal row of punctures) discernible. Lateral, pre-apical furrow fine, finely pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Ferrugineous, apical half of abdomen dark ferrugineous. Rather shiny, although extensively, very finely microsculptured. Almost impunctate. Metacoxal plates with some transversely located, shallow furrows. Abdomen with fine striae. Prosternal process narrow, apically pointed. Apical ventrite not distinctly asymmetric (no process or knob on one side) (Fig. 53).

Legs: Pale ferrugineous, hindlegs a little darker. Pro- and mesotarsus rather slender, claws not especially long, slightly curved. Pro- and mesotarsus with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect, with apical half, somewhat enlarged on both sides of apex; extreme apex with two small processes (Fig. 252).

Female: Externally as male but apical ventrite less impressed on both side of midline and apex more extended backwards and rounded (Fig. 54).

Distribution.

Sudan, Ethiopia, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho (Fig. 538). Uncertain female record from Cameroon. One male record from Mauritius is considered a probable case of mislabelling.

Collecting circumstances.

Very little, detailed information is available on the biology of Laccophilus simplicistriatus . In Malawi Laccophilus simplicistriatus was e.g. collected in a reservoir surrounded by a marshy area with small areas of open water and red mud and from a swift river with a wide coarse gravel bed where the species was collected in a pool. Additionally from Malawi, the species was sampled in a clear river with white water lilies, reed beds and patches of swamp. In Zimbabwe the species was collected in a number of water holes, springs and dams used by the game, and also in a dam with reeds and water plants, the bottom largely covered with dark mud, but sand in places. Finally, also in Zimbabwe collected in a series of pools with a small stream connecting them. The bottom of the water body was rock, sand and gravel with some deposited mud. Some vegetation growing in the pools. Also recorded from streams ( Omer-Cooper 1958b). Data of collection labels is also rather scarce and simply describe method of sampling or kind of water body; light collection or temporary pool, stream from hot spring, pond in warm, saline river etc.