Leiodytes nicobaricus ( Redtenbacher, 1867 )

Hendrich, Lars & Balke, Michael, 2004, Aquatic Coleoptera Of Singapore: Species Richness, Ecology And Conservation #, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (1), pp. 97-145 : 113-114

Leiodytes nicobaricus ( Redtenbacher, 1867)

( Fig. 19 )

Hydroporus nicobaricus Redtenbacher, 1867: 21 ; Sharp, 1882: 802.

Bidessus nicobaricus (Redtenbacher) - Régimbart, 1899: 228.

Bidessus (s.str.) nicobaricus (Redtenbacher) - Zimmermann, 1920: 55.

Guignotus nicobaricus (Redtenbacher) - Vazirani, 1977: 34.

Clypeodytes (Lioclypeus) nicobaricus (Redtenbacher) - Wewalka, 1982: 124.

Leiodytes nicobaricus (Redtenbacher) - Biström, 1988: 27; Hebauer et al., 1999: 337; Nilsson, 2001: 128.

Material examined. – 59 specimens - Central catchment area - 10 ex., Nee Soon Swamp Forest , 16 Jan.1992, y 786A, coll. C. M. Yang ( ZRC) ; 1 ex., Nee Soon Swamp Forest , 22 May.1992, coll. K. L. Yeo ( ZRC) ; 1 ex., Nee Soon Swamp Forest , 9 May.1992, 795D, coll. K. L. Yeo et al. ( ZRC) ; 1 ex., Chestnut Drive , Gangsa stream, 23 Jun.1994, coll. C. M. Yang ( ZRC) ; 2 ex., MacRitchie Reservoir , 21 Apr.1994, NS 124 F/H, coll. K. L. Yeo ( ZRC) ; 4 ex., MacRitchie Reservoir , 21 Apr.1997, coll. M. Balke & L. Hendrich & C. M. Yang ( CBH) ; 5 ex., Nee Soon Swamp Forest , at blacklight, 22 Apr.1997, coll. M. Balke & L. Hendrich ( ZRC) ; 5 ex., Lower Peirce Reservoir , after the concrete water runoff, 22 Apr.1997, 230a, coll. H. K. Lua ( ZRC) . Bukit Timah - 1 ex., Bukit Timah N.R., swampy meadow near fishpond, 9 Apr.1997, coll. M. Balke, L. Hendrich & H. K. Lua ( CBH) . Other areas – 23 ex., Botanical Garden , small artificial pond, 21 Apr.1997, coll. M. Balke, L. Hendrich, H. K. Lua & C. M. Yang ( CBH) ; 1 ex., Bukit Batok Nature Park , pond, 23 Apr.1997, coll. M. Balke & L. Hendrich ( CBH) ; 2 ex., Lorong Banir , pond 1, 29 Jun.1995, NS 193, coll. H. K. Lua & C. M. Yang ( ZRC) ; 1 ex., Lorong Banir , pond 2, 16 Jun.1995, NS 192, coll. H. K. Lua & C. M. Yang ( ZRC) .

Distribution. – India: Nicobar Islands ( Vazirani, 1977); Thailand (Wang, in litt.). First record for the Malaysian Peninsula and Singapore!

Ecology. – Leiodytes nicobaricus is the most widespread species of Bidessini in Singapore. The species inhabits exposed or semi-shaded, temporary and permanent water bodies rich in vegetation and plant debris, such as ponds, pools and drainage ditches in primary and cultivated areas. The beetle occupies the very shallow zone just at the edge of the water bodies.

Figures

Figs. 18-23. 18.Hydaticus fabricii (MacLeay, 1825) (Fam. Dytiscidae, 10.5 mm); 19. Leiodytes nicobaricus (Redtenbacher, 1867) (Fam. Dytiscidae, 2.1 mm); 20. Hydrovatus rufoniger rufoniger (Clark, 1863) (Fam. Dytiscidae, 3.6 mm); 21. Laccophilus medialis Sharp, 1882 (Fam. Dytiscidae, 3.3 mm); 22. Copelatus minutissimus Balfour-Browne, 1939 (Fam. Dytiscidae, 4.1 mm); 23. Eretes griseus (Fabricius, 1781) (Fam. Dytiscidae, 13.5 mm).