Laccophilus complicatus Sharp, 1882

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 72-75

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus complicatus Sharp, 1882 Figs 59-60, 255, 414, 541

Laccophilus complicatus Sharp 1882: 308, 309 (original description, faunistics, discussion); Kolbe1883: 402 (description, faunistics); v. d. Branden 1885: 20 (catalogue, faunistics); Régimbart 1895: 138 (description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1919: 122 (faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a:17 (catalogue, faunistics); Bertrand 1928a: 184, 185 (juvenile faunistics); Bertrand 1928c: 365 (juvenile description); Bertrand 1948: 12: (juvenile faunistics); Bertrand 1954: 284 (juvenile discussion, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 279, 281, 283 (discussion, description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 570, 573, 574 (description, faunistics); Bertrand 1963: 411 (discussion, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1970: 290, 291 (description); Bertrand and Legros 1971: 245 (faunistics, biology); Bameul 1984: 94 (faunistics); Rocchi 1991: 80, 86 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics); Pederzani and Rocchi 2009: 95 (faunistics, list); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Madagascar.

Type material studied

(2 exs.). Laccophilus complicatus : Lectotype (by present designation) male: "Type / Madagascar / Sharp Coll. 1905-313 / Madag. / Laccophilus rivulosus Klug /Type 574 Laccophilus complicatus sp. n. Madagascar" (BMNH). - Paralectotype: female: "574 / Cotype / Madagascar / Sharp Coll. 1905-313 / Madagascar / Laccophilus complicatus Shp Co-type" (1 ex. BMNH).

Additional material studied

(390 exs.). Madagascar: "E-Mad., Morarano, N. Morananga 900 m asl, 13.1. 1995 Janák” (9 exs. NMW; habitus in Fig. 414); "Moramanga env. 10-18.12. 1997 Pacholátko” (1 ex. NHMB); "E-Mad. Ampamoho nr Andilamena 1200-1300 m asl 18-20.1. 1995 Dunay & Janák” (20 exs. NMW); "Ambatombe nr Andilamena 900 m asl, 17.1. 1995 Dunay & Janák” (10 exs. NMW, 10 exs. MZH, 1 ex. NHRS); "E-Mad. Andranokobaka, N Moramanga 800 m asl 13.1. 1995 Dunay & Janák” (21 exs. NMW); "W-Mad. Manindaray W Sakahara 700-800 m asl 30.1. 1995 Dunay & Janák” (1 ex. NMW); "5 km S Ampamoho 950-1000 m asl 18-20.1. 1995 Dunay & Janák” (3 exs. NMW); "E Sakahara 30.1. 1995 Manindray 700-800 m Dunay & Janák” (1 ex. NMW); "Mad. Centr. Antananarive 18-19.1. 1993 Janák” (1 ex. NMW); "Envir. de Tananarive 7. 1970 Pederzani" (1 ex. AMGS, 2 exs. NHMB); "Prov. Tananarive, env. de Arivonimamo 22.7. 1970 Pederzani" (1 ex. AMGS); "Tan. Manjakatompo 3.1. 1958 Keiser" (1 ex. NHMB); "Mandrare Bas., Loc. prés Andaza, affl. non nommé, Riv., 46°34'05"E, 24°03'16"S, Alt. 315 m 26.4. 1995 Elouard & Pilaka" (1 ex. NMW); "Prov. Tamatava, 3.3 km N Ambabasoratra 31.8. 1962 Cashatt" (1 ex. USNM); "Mad-est 1100-1200 m, NP Ranomafana / Vohiparara 21-24.1. 1993 Janák” (2 exs. NMW); "Prov. Fianarantsoa 7 km W Ranomafana, 1100 m 8-21-10. 1988 Steiner W.E. / At black light in montane rainforest" (3 exs. USNM, 1 ex. MZH); "Prov. Fianarantsoa 7 km W Ranomafana, 1000 m 23-28.2. 1990 Steiner W.E." (1 ex. USNM); "Ankaratra (Antananarivo) Res. Manjakatompo 6.10. 2001 / Gerecke et Goldsmith leg. / Helocrene at left border of affluent to Lac Froid, 1700 m asl" (2 exs. BMNH); "Manjakatompo 5.10. 1989 Bartolozzi & Taiti leg. / m 1700 Stazione pescicoltura / Laccophilus complicatus Sharp det. Rocchi 1989"(3 exs. CSR); "Antranovy (Antananarive) 13 km W from Arivonimana, 13.7. 2001 helocrene in rice field exp. N / 1480 m asl / Gerecke et Goldsmith leg." (9 exs. BMNH, 2 exs. MZH); "Tsimelahy (Tuelar) 5.9. 2001, Riv. Antarantsa downstr. piceine naturelle / 200 m asl / Gerecke et Goldsmith leg." (1 ex. BMNH); "Foret de l’Est Perinet-Anosibe 11-12. 1959" (1 ex. BMNH); "Tan. Madag, Ampefy, Lac Kavitaha wi 25.III. 58 Keiser" (1 ex. NHMB); "Tam. Perinet 3.12. 1957 Keiser" (1 ex. NHMB); "La Mandraka, ex. coll. Breuning" (1 ex. MRAC); "Suberbieville, ex. coll. Breuning" (5 exs. MRAC); "Tananarive 22-29.i. 1972 Hecq" (1 ex. MRAC); "Tananarive, at light 12.12. 1955 E. Mac (?) Callan" (1 ex. AMGS); "Tananarivo Friedrichs / Laccophilus complicatus Sharp det. Brancucci" (1 ex. ZMHB); "Fianarantsoa Prov., Foret d’Antsirakanbiaty, 7.6 km 285˚ WNW Itremo, elev. 1550 m 22-26.1.2003 / 20°35'36"S 046°33'48"E, collected at light in montane rainforest, Fischer, Griswold & al. leg." (2 exs. CAS); "Fianarantsoa Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely res. lab. area, black light mercury vapour / light, elev. 940 m 21°14'53,5"S, 47°25'35,9"E, 31.10-20.11.1998 Lee & Ribardo leg." (1 ex. CAS); "Fian Isalo Menamaty R., degraded river with lots of vegetation used by women to wash clothes in, 11.5. 2006, N-22°33.001, E45°24.074, 757 m Bergsten et al." (12 exs. NHRS, 5 exs. MZH); "Fian Andringitra Zomandao R. bridge on road to the camp belamba, vegetation rich edges along the river N-22°6.225, E46°55.244, 8-9.5.2006, 1421 m Bergsten et al." (13 exs. NHRS); "Fian. Col. des Tapias Rte Tana-Fianarantsoa, vegetation- rich pond with fish 6.5. 2006 N-20°46.376, E47°10.749, 1718 m Bergsten et al." (9 exs. NHRS); "Mangoky Bas, Loc. Andringitra, Camp B, Zomandao River 46°53'46"E / 22°07'12"S 1600 m asl 30.11. 1993 leg. ORSTOM" (1 ex. NHRS); "Andringitra Rambavy R. (Cascade) N-22.153, E 46.9, 1979 m, 8.5. 2006 Bergsten et al. / BMNH(E) <794244> DNA Voucher" (1 ex. NHRS); "Ft Dauphin, rice paddies N-24.824, E 46.866, 34.44 m 19.5. 2006 Bergsten at al/BMNH(E)(E) <794247> DNA voucher" (1 ex. NHRS); "TOLI Zombitse, N-22 64 Andramomena R. pool, N-22.64, E44.864: 577 m, 15.5.2006 leg. Bergsten" (1 ex. NHRS); "Mangoro Bas Loc. Ankirihitra Tsarantanana River 47°17'37"E / 19°23'00"S, 11.1. 1997 Elouard leg." (1 ex. NHRS); "Mad-est. 1100-1200 m P.N. Ranomafana / Vohipara 21-24.1. 1993 Dunay & Janák leg." (1 ex. NHRS); "Mah/Tol. Melaky/Menabe Ambojihanahary NP, S18.26849. E045.46346, 906 m.a.o., 19.12. 2009 water net, field Bergsten et al. / NHRS-JLKB 000000723" (1 ex. NHRS); “Madagascar” (1 ex. USNM, 2 exs. ZMHB).

Specimen with uncertain locality

(2 exs.). "Dirjo 24" (1 ex. NMW); “Mexique” (1 ex. MHNG).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus complicatus , distributed solely on Madagascar, resembles most of three species on mainland of Africa, viz. Laccophilus simplicistriatus , Laccophilus taeniolatus and Laccophilus propinquus . In general Laccophilus complicatus is somewhat larger than the three other species. Elytral colour pattern in Laccophilus complicatus is uniform and more evenly distributed than in Laccophilus taeniolatus and in Laccophilus propinquus , in which a vague and irregular, dark, longitudinal marking can be discerned discally on each elytron. Elytral colour pattern in Laccophilus simplicistriatus is fairly uniform and exhibits only slight variation. In Laccophilus complicatus penis in lateral view is not expanded posterior to apex while in Laccophilus simplicistriatus corresponding feature is clearly expanded on each side. From Laccophilus taeniolatus the species is distinguished by the tip of penis, which is clearly curved ”upwards” while tip of Laccophilus complicatus penis is almost straight. Regarding Laccophilus propinquus , Laccophilus complicatus is separated from it as Laccophilus taeniolatus is but tip of penis vague.

Description.

Body length 3.9-4.6 mm, width 2.2-2.6 mm. Pale ferrugineous, with blackish ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous, dense irrorations on elytra (Fig. 414). Dorsal colour pattern of body quite stable; rarely elytral irrorations laterally and at base slightly reduced.

Head: Pale ferrugineous, posteriorly, narrowly dark ferrugineous. Submat, reticulation in part double; large meshes often weakly developed and hardly visible. At eyes, with fine and irregular punctures, extending medially towards midhead.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, anteriorly and posteriorly in middle with vague, darkened areas. Reticulation quite dense, double. Large meshes weakly developed; one mesh contains between three and six fine meshes. At margins with fine, irregular punctures, which are rather indistinct at posterior margin.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with dense blackish ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous irrorations (Fig. 414). Submat, with quite dense reticulation. Reticulation indistinctly double; indistinct fragments of larger meshes extensively discernible. Each elytron provided with three, longitudinal, rather vague areas of fine and sparse punctures.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, abdomen in posterior part blackish to dark ferrugineus. Rather shiny to submat, very finely reticulated. Almost impunctate; fine punctures discernible on apical ventrite. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 59. Basal ventrites provided with fine, slightly curved, striae. Metacoxal plate with some very shallow, almost transversely located furrows. Prosternal process, slender, extended and pointed.

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus somewhat enlarged; provided with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect evenly curved, broad; extreme apex curved upwards and sharp (Fig. 255).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 60. Rarely microsculpture of body is strongly developed and such a specimen is clearly matter than ordinary female specimens.

Distribution.

Madagascar (Fig. 541).

Collecting circumstances.

In literature, detailed documentation is not available. From collecting labels appear that Laccophilus complicatus has been sampled in areas between 700-1700 m a.s.l. At least once collected in a degraded river with lots of vegetation, used to wash clothes in. Obviously it is attracted by light and sampled in a montane rain forest.