Laccophilus canthydroides Omer-Cooper, 1957

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 230-231

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus canthydroides Omer-Cooper, 1957 Figs 184-185, 362, 512, 513, 575

Laccophilus canthydroides Omer-Cooper 1957: 13, 90 (original description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 76, 81 (description, faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 241 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

South Africa: Transvaal, Barberton, (trib. of Koop River).

Type material studied

(2 exs.). Holotype: female: "Type / Transvaal Trib. of Koop R. nr Barberton / Brit. Mus. 1957-660 / Laccophilus ? sp. n. J. Balfour-Browwne det. / Laccophilus canthydroides " (BMNH; habitus in Fig. 512). - Paratype: female: "Paratype / Transvaal, Trib. of Koop R. nr. Barberton 1.12. 1948 / Laccophilus canthydroides / Laccophilus ? sp. n. J. Balfour-Browne det." (1 ex. AMGS; according to the original description to be deposited in TMSA).

Additional material studied

(56 exs.). Ethiopia: "Bahar Dar 8.10. 1968 Harde" (2 exs. NHMB). - Cameroon: "Emana Obala 16.5. 1970" (1 ex. NHMB). - Zaire: "Parc National Garamba 10.3. 1952 De Saeger" (3 exs. MRAC, 2 exs. NHMB, 1 ex. MZH); "Elisabethville, à la lumière 1957-1958 Seydel" (1 ex. AMGS, 10 exs. MRAC, 2 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 513); same but "1. 1956-1. 1957" (1 ex. MRAC); same but "11. 1951-2. 1952" (1 ex. MNHN); same but "11. 1950-6. 1951" (1 ex. MNHN); same but “1953-1955” (1 ex. AMGS, 2 exs. NHMB); "Elisabethville 2. 1940 H.J. Brédo” (2 exs. OLML); "Elisabethville, lumière 11. 1951-2. 1952 Seydel" (2 exs. IRSNB); "Kivu, Kavimvira (Uvira), à la lumière 1. 1956 Marlier" (1 ex. NHMB). - Kenya: "Meru distr., Matiri (Mitunguu) mt. 800, 18.10. 1982 Mourglia" (3 exs. NHMB); same but "8.11. 1983" (1 ex. NHMB). - Tanzania: "Tang. Terr. Ukerewe 7. 1933" (3 exs. OLML); "Mufundi Mafinga m. 1900 21.11.-4.12. 1989 leg. R. Mouglia" (1 ex. CSR); "NP Udzungwa, Ifakara, at street from entrance, S08.02.55, E36.43.59, 251 m, trunk under bark 18.7. 2004 Sprecher" (1 ex. NHMB); "Zanzibar Mangapwani rd 13.9. 1955 JOC."(6 exs. AMGS). - Zambia: "Mbesuma Ranch (Isoka) 9-10.12. 2004 Werner & Smrz" (5 exs. NHRS); "Luapula Pr., Lake Bangweulu, Chilubi 11.2. 1982 Selander" (1 ex. MZH). - Malawi: "Nkhata Bay env. rainforest 1.1. 2002 Kantner" (1 ex. NHMB). - South Africa: "Wellington, Witte River 1500 ft." (1 ex. SAMC).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus canthydroides seems to be closest related to Laccophilus inornatus - for separation of the two species, vide diagnosis of Laccophilus inornatus (p. 241).

Description.

Body length 3.2-3.6 mm, width 1.8-1.9 mm. Head and pronotum extensively pale while elytra often somewhat darker. Often with two, pale spots on base of elytra. Sometimes pale spots absent or reduced to one humeral spot (Figs 512-513).

Head: Pale ferrugineous, posteriorly slightly darker but darker area anteriorly with vague delimitation. Submat, finely microsculptured; reticulation double but large meshes only slightly stronger than fine meshes. By large, 3-7 fine meshes included in one large mesh. At eyes with irregular cluster of fine, rather indistinct punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, basally in middle often with rather narrow darker area. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured; reticulation double but large meshes only slightly stronger than fine meshes. By large, 3-7 fine meshes included in one large mesh. Laterally and frontally on pronotum with scattered, fine punctures.

Elytra: Dark ferrugineous to ferrugineous, at humeral region and posteriorly often with vague, small, pale spots (Figs 512-513). Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured; reticulation double but in part (laterally and posteriorly) division of meshes in two size-classes indistinct. In general large meshes (when discernible), contain 2-5 fine meshes. Impunctate, except for discal, dorsolateral and lateral rows of fine, somewhat irregular punctures.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous, except ventrites often somewhat darker; ferrugineous. Rather shiny, although with fine reticulation (densely located fine lines). Metacoxal plates with some irregular and indistinct, laterally projecting striae. Basal, abdominal ventrites laterally with a few, distinct striae. Almost impunctate. Apex of prosternal process slender and pointed. Apical ventrite on one side with a minute knob (Fig. 184).

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

Male genitalia: External, extreme, apex of penis not distinctly extended, nor sharp (Fig. 362).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender. Apical ventrite (Fig. 185).

Distribution.

Ethiopia, Cameroon, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa (Fig. 575).

Collecting circumstances.

Largely unknown. Collected in a light trap.