Laccophilus concettae Pederzani, 1983

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 153-155

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus concettae Pederzani, 1983 Figs 120-121, 309-310, 458, 563

Laccophilus concettae Pederzani 1983: 139 (original description, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 161, 176, 177 (faunistics, description, biology); Leonardi et al. 1995: 192 (list, types in MSMN); Bilardo and Rocchi 1999: 232 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 174 (list, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2004: 286, 291 (discussion, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2006: 129 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Central African Republic: Zomea at de Mbaiki.

Type material studied

(8 exs.). Holotype: male: "R. Centraficaine Zomea près de Mbaiki 29-31.XII. 1980 leg. G. Onore / Laccophilus concettae sp. n. det. Pederzani /Holotypus" (MSNM). - Paratypes: Same data as in holotype but labelled “Paratypus” (7 exs. CFP).

Additional material studied

(14 exs.). Central African Republic: Same data as holotype (2 exs. NHMB; habitus in Fig. 458). - Cameroon: "Foumbot, March 67/B. de Miré” (1 ex. NHMB); "Ebolowa 3.6. 1966 / B. de Miré” (1 ex. NHMB); "Abong-Mbang N. 1966 / B. de Miré” (1 ex. NHMB); “Ngoundéré 14.9. 1969" (1 ex. NHMB). - Equatorial Guinea: "Nkolentangan 11. 07-5. 08 G. Tessmann S.G." (4 exs. ZMHB, 1 ex. MZH). - Gabon: “Mékambo, vill. Malouma, rivière Louaié 24.7. 2001 A. Bilardo / Laccophilus concettae Ped. det. S. Rocchi 2002" (3 exs. CSR).

Diagnosis.

The species Laccophilus biai , Laccophilus deceptor , Laccophilus bilardoi , Laccophilus decorosus and Laccophilus concettae have a similar groundplan on their male genitalia. Their penises, in lateral aspect have strongly curved, undulate external outline; penis being also quite slender posterior to middle. Laccophilus concettae is characterized by dark elytra with pale transverse area posterior to base and apical part of elytra provided with pale, irregular and sparse irrorations. Apex of penis is obtuse in Laccophilus concettae . See also diagnosis of Laccophilus biai (p. 167).

Description.

Body length 3.7-3.9 mm, width 2.0-2.2 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body distinct, rather uniform, exhibits only minor variation (Fig. 458).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Rather shiny although finely microsculptured; reticulation double. Difference between mesh-size categories rather indistinct; large meshes only slightly more strongly developed than small meshes. In part meshes rather indistinct and reduced. When discernible, large meshes may contain 2-6 small meshes. Almost impunctate, except at eyes, with fine, irregular punctures. Area of punctures extends towards middle of head-discussion

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous. Anteriorly, with vague, slightly darker area. Basally, with a vague dark ferrugineous area. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured; reticulation double. Large meshes slightly more strongly developed in comparison with small meshes. Large meshes contain 2-6 small meshes. Discally meshes in part slightly reduced and indistinct. Almost impunctate; at margins except basally with fine, irregular punctures.

Elytra: Blackish ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous, with distinct, quite uniform, pale ferrugineous markings (Fig. 458). Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured; reticulation double. Large meshes slightly more strongly developed in comparison with small meshes. Large meshes, when discernible, contain 2-6 small meshes. Laterally and posteriorly mesh-size categories become reduced and difficult to distinguish; still distinctly reticulated. Fine, somewhat irregular punctures form a discal row. Dorsolateral and lateral rows indistinct; indicated by a few fine, scattered punctures. Laterally, with a shallow, finely pubescent, pre-apical furrow.

Ventral aspect: Blackish ferrugineous to ferrugineous, except prothorax, pale ferrugineous. Almost impunctate. Rather shiny, finely microsculptured but reticulation extensively indistinct or totally absent. Abdomen with curved striae, which are reduced at midline. Prosternal process slender; apex extended, pointed. Metacoxal plates in anterior half with about ten, almost transverse and shallow furrows. Apical ventrite with laterobasal, flattened knob (Fig. 120).

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

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect undulate, posterior to middle quite slender and apex in dorsal aspect obtuse; in lateral aspect penis slightly extended to narrow tip. Furthermore, penis at base provided with a soft flap (Figs 309-310).

Female: Not studied; all four examined specimens are males. According to original description ( Pederzani 1983) apical ventrite apically pointed (Fig. 121); most probably female lacks lateral knob on apical ventrite, although absence not mentioned in description.

Distribution.

Central African Republic, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon (Fig. 563). Bilardo and Rocchi (2006) report the species from Congo Brazzaville

Collecting circumstances.

Some information is available in Bilardo and Rocchi (1990): The site of Laccophilus concettae is briefly described as streams in forest with the banks in some places covered by less shaded, semi-submerged vegetation. The bottom is sandy and water is running even in the dry season.