Laccophilus ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970

Scheers, Kevin, Thomaes, Arno, Hájek, Zimmerman, Michat & Reynoso-Velasco, 2017, The Laccophilinae Gistel, 1848 of Belize (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 65, pp. 1-18 : 1-18

Laccophilus ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970

( Figs 1G , 2F , 3F , 4G )

MATERIAL STUDIED. BELIZE DISTRICT: La Democracia , shallow exposed pool, 17°21'23,5"N, 88°33'1,8"W, 09.V.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (1ex) STANN CREEK: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, pool with leaf litter next to stream, 16°46'49,3"N, 88°28'7,1"W, 06.V.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (1ex); Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Wari Lagoon, 16°46'46,1"N, 88°28'2,4"W, 07.V.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (79ex) TOLEDO: BFree, Agami lagoon, 16°33'27,7"N, 88°42'14,8"W, 17.IV.2015, Leg. K. Scheers & A. Thomaes (2ex) .

DIAGNOSIS. TL: 3.3–3.8 mm; MW: 1.7–1.9 mm. Head and pronotum pale testaceous. Elytra pale testaceous marmorated with pitchy-brown, with pale markings along the base, lateral sides and near the apex originating from the absence of the dark marmorated pattern ( Fig. 1G ). The area between the base of the elytra and the basal fascia is distinctly paler than the rest of the elytra. Ventral parts testaceous to testaceous rufous ( Fig. 2F ). Male genitalia with median lobe very distinct ( Fig. 3F ).

SIMILAR SPECIES. The elytral pattern of Laccophilus gentilis suavis resembles that of L. ovatus zapotecus , but differs from it by the much darker pigmented elytra sharply contrasting with the pale markings. Furthermore the aedeagus of these two species is completely different ( Fig. 3D, 3F ).

DISTRIBUTION. Belize (first records), Costa Rica, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Mexico (Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz), Nicaragua, Panama.

ECOLOGY. ZIMMERMAN (1970) mentions that L. ovatus zapotecus is mainly found in pasture ponds and in roadside ditches with mud bottoms and that all localities are under 500 feet (about 150 meter) elevation. This species was found at only four sites, in three of which only

13 one or two specimens were found. The only site where it was abundant was in an old oxbow pond in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. At this site specimens were collected in high numbers in the mats of vegetation at the edge of the pond together with many other species of Hydradephaga.

Figures

Fig. 1. Dorsal view of Laccophilinae species in Belize. A, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); B, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882; C-D, Female of L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838, C, with distinct elytral flange, D, without elytral flange; E, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; F, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; G, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; H, L. proximus Say, 1823; I, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970 (Photograph: F. Trus).

Fig. 2. Ventral view of Laccophilinae species in Belize. A, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); B, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882 (pale specimen); C, L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838; D, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; E, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; F, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; G, L. proximus Say, 1823; H, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970 (Photograph: F. Trus).

Fig. 3. Median lobe, left lateral view. A, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); B, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882; C, L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838; D, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; E, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; F, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; G, L. proximus Say, 1823; H, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970.

Fig. 4. Known distribution of Laccophilinae species in Belize. A, sampled sites; B, Laccomimus pumilio (LeConte, 1878); C, Laccophilus duplex Sharp, 1882; D, L. fasciatus fasciatus Aubé, 1838; E, L. gentilis suavis Sharp, 1882; F, L. oscillator laevipennis Sharp, 1882; G, L. ovatus zapotecus Zimmerman, 1970; H, L. proximus Say, 1823; I, L. spangleri Zimmerman, 1970 (white dots indicate sampled sites and black dots indicate sites where the species is recorded, elevation map as background in which dark shading increases with height).