Laccophilus olsoufieffi Guignot, 1937

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 96-98

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus olsoufieffi Guignot, 1937 Figs 71-72, 265, 420-421, 545

Laccophilus olsoufieffi Guignot 1937: 141 (original description, faunistics); Gschwendtner 1938a: 5 (faunistics); Guignot 1941: 36 (description, discussion); Guignot 1946c: 269, 273, 274, 275, 276, 278, 312 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 558, 562, 565, 566 (description, discussion, faunistics); Bameul 1984: 94 (faunistics); Hernando 1990: 177, 178 (discussion, description); Rocchi 1991: 86 (faunistics, list); Nilsson 2001: 248 (catalogue, faunistics); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 40 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 215 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Madagascar: Maroansétra.

Type material studied

(8 exs.). Holotype: male: “Maroansétra, Madagascar X. 1936 / male symbol / Type" (MNHN). - Paratypes: males and females: "Madagascar Maroansetra X 1936 / Paratype" (1 ex. IRSNB); "Antakotako Madagascar II 1936 / female-symbol / Paratype" (1 ex. IRSNB); same data but "male symbol" (1 ex. MNHN; habitus in Fig. 416); same data, but with "n. spec. det. Gschwendt", (1 ex. MNHN); "Male / Madagascar Vatomandry VIII. 1934 Vadon / Paratype" (1 ex. AMGS); "Madagascar Antakotako 11. 1936 / female-mark / Paratype" (2 exs. AMGS).

Additional material studied

(12 exs.). Madagascar: "Tananarive 7. 1934 Vadon / Lac Tzimbamzaza / male symbol / Type / ab. fuscinus " (1 ex. MNHN). [Comment: the specimen has no status as type material being associated with the name ab. fuscinus, which is infrasubspecific.] - "E-Mad. Ampamoho nr Andilamena 1200-1300 m asl.18-20.1. 1995 Dunay & Janak" (7 exs. NMW, 2 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 420); "Ese 5 km S Ampamoho pr. Andimalena 1. 1995 G. Dunay & J. Janak leg." (1 ex. NMPC); "Toliara Menabe, Kirindy RS, S20.07655, E044.67532, 57 m.a.o., 12.12. 2009, water net, field, Bergsten et al. / 000000470 NHRS-JLKB" (1 ex. NHRS).

Diagnosis.

Resembles most of and probably closely related to Laccophilus adspersus from which Laccophilus olsoufieffi can generally be distinguished by study of the penis. Minor difference can be recognized in bending of the penis. Moreover, body of Laccophilus olsoufieffi seems to be slightly more robust than Laccophilus adspersus in general. In Laccophilus olsoufieffi irroration covers often almost entire elytron but sometimes there is posterior to middle a patch with sparse irroration or irroration is totally absent. Further study may reveal that the two species are synonymous.

Description.

Body length 3.8-4.3 mm, width 2.1-2.4 mm. Specimens regarded as aberration “fuscinus” are slightly larger; length 3.9-4.4 mm, width 2.2-2.5 mm. Additionally “fuscinus” lacks pale area (irroration absent or strongly reduced) posterior to middle of elytron. Habitus and dorsal colour pattern (Figs 420-421).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Slightly dull, rather finely reticulated. Reticulation double; large meshes contain 3-4, often indistinct small meshes. Almost impunctate, except at eyes; fine and scattered punctures may be discerned.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous; no distinct colour pattern. Submat, reticulated; reticulation quite distinct and double. Large meshes may contain 4-7 small meshes. Anteriorly and laterally with fine, in part indistinct, scattered punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, extensively provided with ferrugineous irrorations (Figs 420-421). Somewhat posterior to middle with a vague transverse area where irrorations extensively absent (forming a vague transverse pale marking interrupted by suture). Rarely pale area lacking; " ab. fuscinus ". Submat, finely and quite distinctly reticulated. Reticulation distinctly double; large meshes contain generally 3-6 smaller meshes. Laterally, sublaterally and discally with sparse and irregular punctures (forming longitudinal areas with scattered puncture). Lateral, pre-apical furrow fine, finely pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, distinct colour pattern lacking. Rather shiny to submat; extensively with fine reticulation, which in part is rather indistinct. Basal ventrites with rather distinct, curved striae. Almost impunctate. Apex of prosternal process slender, slightly extended and pointed. Metacoxal plates in anterior half with fine, transversely located, shallow furrows; in posterior half furrows absent. Apical ventrite asymmetric, with knob on one side (Fig. 71).

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsi slightly enlarged, extended, with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis long, bended and extreme apex points forwards (Fig. 265).

Female: Apical ventrite symmetric, lacks knob (Fig. 72). Protarsus slender; claws slightly extended and moderately curved.

Distribution.

Madagascar (Fig. 545). Records outside Madagascar are to be considered uncertain.

Collecting circumstances.

Not documented.