Laccophilus morondavensis Guignot, 1957

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 16-17

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus morondavensis Guignot, 1957 Figs 16, 216-218, 381, 527

Laccophilus morondavensis Guignot 1957b: 72 (original description, faunistics); Rocchi 1991: 86 (faunistics, list); Nilsson 2001: 247 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 214 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Madagascar: Foret sud de Befasy.

Type material studied

(1 ex.). Holotype: male: "Morondava foret sud de Befasy I-56 R.P. / Institut Scientifique Madagascar / F. Guignot det., 1956 Laccophilus morondavensis sp. n. Type, male symbol" (MNHN; habitus in Fig. 381).

Additional material studied

(1 ex.): Madagascar: "W Madag. 60 km NE of Morondava, Foret de Kirindi, 30 m Bednarik leg. 28.1.1996 / Laccophilus morondavensis Guignot 1957 Jiri Hájek det. 2006" (1 ex. NMPC).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus morondavensis is characterized by its distinct, elytral colour pattern and by peculiarly shaped penis apex. The species resembles externally most of Laccophilus productus but body is somewhat larger and broader. Additionally, pronotum is extensively dark while in Laccophilus productus almost entirely pale ferrugineous. Tip of penis is slightly upwards curved in Laccophilus morondavensis while it is almost straight in Laccophilus productus .

Description.

Body length 5.3 mm, width 2.9 mm. Dorsal, aspect of body with rather distinct colour pattern (Fig. 381).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Posteriorly, head becomes gradually slightly darker but lacks distinct colour pattern. Rather shiny, although finely and densely microsculptured; reticulation simple, of one kind. Impunctate, except at eyes, with fine, slightly irregular punctures. Medially, areas with punctures extend slightly towards centre of head.

Pronotum: Blackish to ferrugineous, laterally pale ferrugineous. Colour change gradual; colour pattern vague. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Reticulation of one kind; consists of small meshes. Entire disc with fine, sparse punctures. At margins, except mediobasally, with slightly irregular, coarse punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with blackish to dark ferrugineous markings (Fig. 377). Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Reticulation dense, of one kind; meshes moderately sized. Discal row of punctures consists of fine to very fine, scattered, punctures. Dorsolateral and lateral row of punctures as discal row but sparser and more irregular. Laterally, elytra with a rather shallow pre-apical, finely pubescent and quite extensive furrow.

Ventral aspect: Blackish ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous, prothorax paler; pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Abdominal reticulation reduced, in part absent. Abdomen, with fine, curved striae. Metacoxal plates with reduced, transverse furrows, which are only discernible in anterior half. Almost impunctate. Apical ventrite, with punctures, symmetric, lacks lateral knob (Fig. 16). Prosternal process rather slender, apex arrow-shaped, quite short, pointed.

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus rather slender, somewhat extended, with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis both in lateral and dorsal aspect broader than related species; apical tip curved upwards (Figs 216-218).

Female: Unknown.

Distribution.

Madagascar (Fig. 527).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.