Laccophilus decorosus, Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 159-160

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus decorosus sp. n. Figs 128-129, 317, 462, 463, 561

Type locality.

Uganda: Lake Nabugabo.

Type material

(3 exs.). Holotype, male: "Stn. No. B31(HR) / Uganda Lake Nabugabo vii-viii. 1962 / Cambridge Univ. Biol. Survey 1962. B.M. 1963-727" (BMNH; habitus in Fig. 462). - Paratypes: Same data as holotype (1 ex. BMNH, 1 ex. MZH; habitus in Fig. 463).

Diagnosis.

Closest relatives to Laccophilus decorosus seem to include Laccophilus concettae , Laccophilus biai , Laccophilus bilardoi and Laccophilus deceptor . These species are characterized especially by their complicated aedeagus-structure, ground plan of which is still similar in all the species. Differences in shape of male genitalia and elytral colour pattern distinguish Laccophilus decorosus from the other species.

Description.

Body length 4.2 mm, width 2.2-2.3 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body distinct but on elytra it is quite variable; transverse row of pale spots may be reduced to simple, humeral spots (Figs 462-463).

Head: Pale ferrugineous, posteriorly head becomes gradually darker; at pronotum dark ferrugineous to brownish. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured; reticulation distinctly double (size-categories clearly separated). Large meshes contain 2-6 small meshes. Almost impunctate. At eyes with fine, irregular punctures. Puncture-areas extend towards head-middle but leave still a wide, impunctate gap between them.

Pronotum: Dark ferruginous to dark brown, with small, pale ferrugineous spots on pronotal disc posterior to eyes. Rather shiny to slightly mat, finely microsculptured; reticulation clearly double. Large meshes contain 2-6 small meshes. Impunctate, except at margins, where fine, scattered punctures are discernible.

Elytra: Blackish to dark ferrugineous, with well delimited but variable pale ferrugineous spots. Basally with a transverse row of irregularly shaped, pale spots. Spots can be reduced and restricted to a humeral spot. Laterally, in middle and apically with a small, pale area. Extensively on elytra, dark, quite rude irrorations may be discerned (Figs 462-463). Discal row of punctures is formed by slightly irregular, fine punctures. Laterally, to discal puncture-row with scattered, fine punctures, not forming distinct rows. Pre-apical, lateral row of punctures located in a shallow, pubescent furrow posteriorly along edge of elytron. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured, reticulation clearly double. Large meshes may contain between 2-6 small meshes. Laterally and posteriorly size-categories of reticulation becomes diffuse and difficult to distinguish.

Ventral aspect: Dark ferrugineous to ferrugineous, apically blackish ferrugineous. Colour change gradual, no distinct colour pattern formed. Rather shiny, although with very fine microsculpture, except on abdomen which is mainly shiny with microsculpture extensively absent. Ventrites, with sparse, fine and slightly curved striae. Almost impunctate; apical ventrite with a few, scattered, fine punctures. Apical ventrite asymmetric; provided with a comparatively low, but broad, sharp, process on one side (Fig. 128). Metacoxal plates with shallow, rather indistinct, transverse furrows, which in posterior half are strongly reduced and almost absent.

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

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect with external outline undulate; posterior to middle penis slender. Extreme apex of penis with a quite broad extension and a pre-apical enlargement (Fig. 317).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender. Apical ventrite lacks lateral, process (Fig. 129). Body of female slightly duller because of microsculpture stronger than in male.

Etymology.

The species name decorosus is a Latin adjective meaning "very fair". It relates to the nice and decorative appearance of the new species.

Distribution.

Uganda (Fig. 561).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.