Laccophilus testudo Régimbart

Michat, Mariano C., 2008, Description of the larvae of three species of Laccophilus Leach and comments on the phylogenetic relationships of the Laccophilinae (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Zootaxa 1922, pp. 47-61 : 57

Laccophilus testudo Régimbart ( Figs. 4 , 7 , 10, 16 , 21 , 23 , Table 1 )

Distribution. This species is known from Brazil, and within Argentina from Catamarca, Córdoba, San Luis and Tucumán Provinces ( Trémouilles 1998).

Source of material. Eight specimens of instar I were used for the description. Larvae were collected in association with adults at the following locality: Argentina, Córdoba Province, Altas Cumbres road, Las Suelas River, 4-I-1992.

Diagnosis. Color of cephalic capsule as in Fig. 7 (instar I). Head width = 0.50–0.52 mm (instar I) ( Table 1 ). Cephalic capsule subovate, with a faint neck constriction (instar I) ( Fig. 4 ). Distal third of ventrointernal margin of MN without denticles (instar I). Legs more densely covered with minute slender spinulae (instar I). Seta AN3 located ventrally (instar I) ( Fig. 10 ). Setae MX 5 and MX 6 straight (instar I) ( Fig. 16 ). Seta FE5 elongate on meso- and metaFE (instar I) ( Fig. 21 ). Seta AB11 elongate (instar I) ( Fig. 23 ). Measurements and ratios that characterize body shape are shown in Table 1 .

Description of color. Instar I. Cephalic capsule testaceous except for one large light brown macula centrally and one light brown macula laterally on each ocular area ( Fig. 7 ); head appendages testaceous, MN slightly darker; thoracic and abdominal sclerites testaceous, eighth abdominal segment slightly darker; membranous parts white to testaceous; legs testaceous; U testaceous to light brown.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Laccophilus, first-instar larva. 1 – 3, L. obliquatus: 1, habitus, dorsal aspect; 2, cephalic capsule, ventral aspect; 3, cephalic capsule, dorsal aspect; 4, L. testudo, cephalic capsule, dorsal aspect. Scale bars: Fig. 1 = 0.50 mm, Figs. 3 – 4 = 0.07 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 7. Laccophilus, first-instar larva, color pattern of cephalic capsule, dorsal aspect: 5, L. obliquatus; 6, L. paraguensis; 7, L. testudo. Scale bars = 0.10 mm.

FIGURES 8 – 18. Laccophilus, first-instar larva. 8 – 9, L. obliquatus, antenna: 8, dorsal aspect; 9, ventral aspect. 10, L. testudo, antenna, ventral aspect. 11, L. obliquatus, mandible, dorsal aspect. 12, L. paraguensis, mandible, ventral aspect. 13 – 14, L. obliquatus, maxilla: 13, dorsal aspect; 14, ventral aspect. 15, L. paraguensis, maxilla, ventral aspect. 16, L. testudo, maxilla, ventral aspect. 17 – 18, L. obliquatus, labio: 8, dorsal aspect; 9, ventral aspect. Scale bars = 0.04 mm.

FIGURES 19 – 21. Laccophilus, first-instar larva. 19 – 20, L. obliquatus, metathoracic leg: 19, anterior aspect; 20, posterior aspect. 21, L. testudo, metathoracic leg, posterior aspect. Scale bars = 0.10 mm.

FIGURES 22 – 25. Laccophilus, first-instar larva. 22, L. obliquatus, abdominal segment VIII, ventral aspect. 23, L. testudo, abdominal segment VIII, ventral aspect. 24, L. obliquatus, abdominal segment VIII, dorsal aspect. 25, L. obliquatus, urogomphus, dorsal aspect. Scale bars: Figs. 22 – 24 = 0.03 mm, Fig. 25 = 0.10 mm.