Laccophilus bizonatus Regimbart , 1895

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 151-152

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus bizonatus Regimbart, 1895 Figs 116-117, 306, 455-456, 561

Laccophilus bizonatus Régimbart 1895: 143 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a:17 (catalogue, faunistics); Zimmermann 1926: 24 (discussion); Omer-Cooper 1956: 21, 23 (faunistics, biology); Guignot 1959a: 533, 536, 537 (description, faunistics); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 118 (faunistics, description); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 161, 176, 177, 187 (faunistics, description, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 1999: 232 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 241 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 155, 160, 174 (faunistics, list); Bilardo and Rocchi 2004: 286 (discussion); Bilardo and Rocchi 2008: 210, 234 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 2011: 194 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 2013: 141 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson 2015: 2409 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Gabon: Riv. N’Gounié, Chutes de Samba.

Type material studied

(3 exs.). Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Chutes de Samba Riv. N’Gounié Mocuerys / Type / Régimbart det., 1895 Laccophilus bizonatus Rég.” (IRSNB; habitus in Fig. 455). - Paralectotypes: Same data but also " Laccophilus bizonatus Rég. type" (1 ex. IRSNB); "Gabon Mocquerys / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / bizonatus Rég.” (1 ex. MNHN).

Additional material studied

(23 exs.). Cameroon: "Ekiliwindi 19.3. 1970" (17 exs. NHMB, 4 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 456). - Gabon: “Lambarènè 7.8. 1973 Bilardo & Pederzani / Laccophilus bizonatus Régb. det. Bilardo" (1 ex. CSR); "Belinga 12.5. 1963 Coiffait" (1 ex. NHMB).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus bizonatus is especially characterized by peculiar shaped penis; penis medially twisted and somewhat curved; forwards from middle almost straight and extreme apex distinctly hooked.

Description.

Body length 3.6-4.2 mm, width 2.0-2.3 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body fairly distinct; some variation often observed (Figs 455-456).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Submat, finely microsculptured; reticulation double. Large meshes contain generally 4-6 smaller meshes. Almost impunctate; at eyes with fine punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous; mediobasally and frontally (area between eyes) with a vague ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous marking. Rather shiny to submat. Reticulation fine, double. In particular medially, smaller meshes rather indistinct. Almost impunctate.

Elytra: Dark ferrugineous. Subbasal, transverse area provided with well-delimited pale ferrugineous, longitudinal spots; separate spots often in part confluent. Elytra posteriorly with rather sparse irrorations, which in part are rather indistinct (Figs 455-456). Submat, reticulation double. Large meshes extensively weakly developed and indistinct. Small meshes in general distinct. Punctation rather indistinct; laterally and discally with vague longitudinal area where punctures are discernible. Lateral, pre-apical furrow fine, finely pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous, prothorax extensively pale ferrugineous. Apex of prosternal process narrow, pointed. Rather shiny, very finely and indistinctly microsculptured. Basal ventrites with fine, curved striae. Metacoxal plates in anterior half with transversely located, shallow furrows; in posterior half furrows absent. Almost impunctate. Apical ventrite asymmetric; with a basal, right-hand, located process/knob (Fig. 116).

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

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect, medially twisted and somewhat curved; forwards from there almost straight and extreme apex distinctly hooked (Fig. 306).

Female: Apical ventrite simple (Fig. 117). Pro- and mesotarsus slender.

Distribution.

Cameroon, Gabon (Fig. 561).

Collecting circumstances.

Detailed information unknown. Some sampling localities in Gabon are described in Bilardo and Rocchi (1990, 2008, 2011 and 2013) and they give a general picture of the sites but not details of how Laccophilus bizonatus occurred in them.