Laccophilus inobservatus, Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 55-58

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus inobservatus sp. n. Figs 51-52, 251, 406-408, 537

Type locality.

Chad: Near Bongor.

Type material

(234 exs.). Holotype: male: "Chad nr Bongor 27.5. 1973 R. Linnavuori" (MZH; habitus in Fig. 406). - Paratypes: Gambia: "Abuko Nature Reserve, at light at the bamboo pool 18.30-20.30, 18.11. 1977 UTM 28 PCK2181 Loc. 24 / Cederholm-Danielsson-Hammarstedt-Hedquist-Samuelsson" (1 ex. MZLU, 1 ex. NHMB); "Outside Abuko Nature Reserve at waterworks. At light 19.00-22.00, 26.2. 1977 Loc. No. 6 UTM 28 PCK 214812 / Cederholm-Danielsson-Hammarstedt-Hedquist-Samuelsson" (1 ex. MZLU); "Tendeba Camp at light in semiarid veg. near River Gambia 18.30-20.30, 14.11. 1977, UTM 28 POK1285 Loc. 12a / Cederholm-Danielsson-Hammarstedt-Hedquist-Samuelsson" (1 ex. MZLU); "3.5 km S Georgetown, Hilltop at Sankuli Kunda, alt. about 30 m, at light 18.30-20.15, 15.11. 1977 UTM 28PEK2593 Loc. 37 /-Danielsson-Hammarstedt-Hedquist-Samuelsson" (1 ex. MZLU); "2 km S Kitty, 7 km SSW Brikama Road junction. In and at Fresh Water Stream 13.11. 1977 UTM 28PCK 1761 Loc 7/-Danielsson-Hammarstedt-Hedquist-Samuelsson" (1 ex. MZLU, 1 ex. MZH, 1 ex. NHMB); "Gam Bathurst Jan. 68 Palm / Laccophilus taeniolatus Reg. det. Sven Persson" (4 exs. MZLU); "Bathurst Jan. 1968 T-E Leiler" (5 exs. NHRS, 1 ex. MZH); "Kuntaur NW Georgetown 21.11. 2003 B. Vondel / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Rocchi 2004" (1 ex. CSR); Gambia: Bakau 6-26.11. 1984 leg. Palm / Laccophilus taeniolatus Rég. det. Sven Persson" (1 ex. MZLU); "Gambia Oil Palm and mangrove veg. close to the beach, about 5 km SSW Gunjur, at light 18.45-20.30 13.11. 1977 UTM 28PCK0554 Loc. 8 / Cederholm & al." (1 ex. NHMB); "Gambia-southern Senegal 13°10'N 16°36'W stream N of Selety 19,2, 1976 M. Holmen" (1 ex. ZMUC). - Senegal: "70 km W Tambacounda 13°57.4'N, 14°15.9'E, 29.6. 2004 Halada leg." (2 exs. NMPC); "Senegal, Parc National de Niokolo Koba 16.2. 1989" (1 ex. NHMB); "Senegal Cayare II. 46 A. Villiers" (1 ex. NHMB). - Mali: "NW Afr., K. Macina 10.11. 1973 D.R. Reynolds (C. O. R.R.) BM 1974-222" (1 ex. BMNH, 1 ex. MZH); "Kogoni X. 1966 G. Schmitz" (8 exs. MRAC, 2 exs. MZH); "Korioume, Niger Riv. 18.2. 2000 18°40'N, 3°00'W, leg. Komarek & Mayer / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Wewalka 2001" (1 ex. NMW); "Markala Niger River, 13°40'N, 6°05'W, leg. Komarek & Mayer 9-4 / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Wewalka 2001" (1 ex. NMW); "S Tombouctou 16°40'N, 3°00'W, 18.2. 2000 leg. Komarek & Mayer 18-1 / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Wewalka 2001" (1 ex. NMW, 1 ex. MZH); "Mopti Niger Riv. 14°30'N, 4°12'W, 21.2. 2000 leg. Komarek & Mayer 21-2 / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Wewalka 2001" (1 ex. NMW, 1 ex. MZH); "Goundaka, Bandiagara Riv. 14°29'N, 3°56'W, 12.2. 2000 leg. Komarek & Mayer 12-1 / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Wewalka 2001" (2 exs. NMW) "SE Douna, Bani Riv. 13°13'N, 5°54'W, 10.2. 2000 leg. Komarek & Mayer 10-1 / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. Wewalka 2001" (1 ex. NMW). - Niger: "Nr. Boureimi 9.11. 1973 R. Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); “Rég. de Zinder, Sultanat de Damagherim Dungass, Mission Tilho Dr. R. Gaillard 1910" (6 exs. NHMB). - Sudan: "Blue Nile Ingessana Mts. 17-22.11. 1962 Linnavuori" (6 exs. MZH); "Nile Blue Nile Singa-Roseiras 15-17.11. 1962 Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "Upper Nile Malakal 5-20.1. 1963 Linnavuori" (6 exs. MZH); "Kordofan Lake Keilak 8-11.2.1963 Linnavuori" (4 exs. MZH); "Bahr el Gazal, Wau 19.2. 1963 Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "Bahr el Abiad Trägårdh / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régt var." (1 ex. NHRS); "Torit 2.7. 1980 Armstrong" (1 ex. USNM); "Nairege River 27.2. 1980 Armstrong" (1 ex. USNM); "Gilo water tank (pumped up from stream) 20.3. 1980 Armstrong (8 exs. USNM, 3 exs. MZH); "Kinyetti River at Imeila 19.3. 1980 Armstrong" (5 exs. USNM, 1 ex. MZH); "Sudan Wad Medani am Bl. Nil, 18.10, 1979 lux, leg. Hieke" (1 ex. NHMB); same but "21.10. 1979" (1 ex. NHMB); same but "29.10. 1979" (1 ex. MZH); same but "12.10. 1979" (1 ex. NHMB); same but "30+31.10. 1979" (1 ex. NHMB); "Tombe 17.1. 1954 Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS). - Chad: Same data as holotype (5 exs. MZH); "Distr. Kanem N’Gouri X-XI. 1958 P. Renaud ex. coll. Breuning" (21 exs. MRAC, 2 exs. MZH). - Ethiopia: "Shoa, Awash NP, Filwoha Hot Springs 25.12. 1988, 1500 m leg. S. Persson / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. A. Nilsson" (2 exs. MZLU); "Shoa, Metahara 2.10. 1988 950 m, water hole in lava field, leg. S. Persson / Laccophilus taeniolatus Régb. det. A. Nilsson" (6 exs. MZLU, 2 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 407); "Hora Harsadi, Addas 7000 ft 2.12. 1926 J. Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS). - Burkina Faso:"Pundu Mte Volta1927-1928 Dez.-Juni Olsufiew" (2 exs. NHRS); "Pundu Olsufiew" (38 exs. NHRS, 3 exs. MZH); "Yatenga Gourcy Barrage 300 m 14.1. 1995 Trockengefallen lehmiges Ufer leg. B. Maier / Laccophilus taeniolatus Rég. det. Rocchi 2002" (1 ex. CSR). - Ivory Coast: “Comoé NP, N8,5°, W3,5° leg. N. Reintjes, det. F. Pederzani / 1.3. 1999 rock pool in Comoé river bed" (1 ex. NMW). “Comoé NP, N8,5°, W3,5° leg. N. Reintjes, det. F. Pederzani / 3.4. 1999 temporary Pond" (1 ex. NMW). - Ghana: "Upper E Prov. Navrongo env. 11-13.6. 2006 Pokorny leg." (5 exs. NMPC, 1 ex. MZH). - Nigeria: "Kano St. Wudil-Kari 17.5. 1973 R. Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "NW St. Gummi-Anka 24.7. 1973 R. Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "NE St. Gombe-Bauchi 27.8. 1973 R. Linnavuori" (4 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 408); "Detritus pond, Jos-Bauchi rd 9.4. 1963 JOC"(4 exs. AMGS); "Samaru 17.5. 1959 W. Sands B.M. 1961-525 / Light trap" (1 ex. BMNH); "Marsk, road Katsina-Daura 6.4. 1963 JOC" (14 exs. AMGS). - Cameroon: "Maroua ( lumière) X-XI. 1965 G. Schmitz" (1 ex. MRAC); "Maroua, Miss. Cath. 26.8. 73" (1 ex. NHMB); "Maroua 5 Aout 71" (1 ex. NHMB); "Tokombere, dint. Maroua, 12.7. 1979 Onore / Laccophilus congener O-C. det. Rocchi 1980" (1 ex. CSR). - Zaire: "P.N.G. Ndelele. K.117/14S, 19.3. 1952 H, De Saeger, 3199" (2 exs. MRAC). P.N.G. II/fd/13, 5.5. 1952 H, De Saeger, 3421" (1 ex. MRAC). - Non-African records: Yemen: "Wadi am Rija W Lahj Al Hulah by road, 13.01.57N, 44.33.30E (GPS) 25-26.10. 2007, 297 m a.s.l., Reitter leg." (7 exs. NMPC, 2 exs. MZH).

Specimens with unclear labelling.

Two specimens in NHRS labelled “Egypten” also belong to this species. The material is fairly old and the exact location of these records is somewhat unclear. The specimens are therefore not included in type material.

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus inobservatus is closely related especially to Laccophilus continentalis , Laccophilus simplicistriatus and Laccophilus taeniolatus . The species can be distinguished by study of penis apex-shape, which is peculiar and stable in all four species. Penis apex of Laccophilus inobservatus is cut off straight and lacks any signs of anterior processes - resembling species have all at least minor kinds of modifications/processes on penis apex.

Description.

Body length 3.6-4.0 mm, width 1.9-2.2 mm. Colour pattern dorsally, reasonably uniform; rarely reduced so that elytral irrorations are in part fragmentary (Figs 406-408).

Head: Pale ferrugineous, lacks darker areas. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double. Large meshes only slightly more strongly developed in comparison with small meshes. Large meshes may contain 2-6 small meshes. Impunctate, except at eyes, with fine, irregular punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous. At foremargin between eyes with a dark ferrugineous to blackish, slightly vague marking. At base in middle with two narrow, blackish spots. Sometimes dark areas on pronotum may be reduced. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double. Large meshes only slightly more strongly developed than small meshes. Large meshes may contain 2-6 small meshes. Impunctate, but at margins except basally in middle with very fine scattered punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with dense, blackish to dark ferrugineous irrorations. Irrorations generally quite evenly distributed; sometimes irrorations reduced and at least in part separate irrorations rudimentary. Posterior to middle irrorations can be strongly reduced forming an irregular pale spot on each elytron (Figs 406-408). Slightly mat, finely microsculptured; reticulation double. Large meshes only slightly more strongly developed than small meshes. Large meshes contain 2-6 small meshes. Punctures very fine, sparse and irregularly distributed; on disc, irregular punctures form a vague row of punctures. Pre-apical, lateral row of punctures form a shallow furrow provided with hairs.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous, abdomen distinctly darker; dark to blackish ferrugineous. Almost impunctate, except apical ventrite; with some, fine, irregular punctures. Apical ventrite lacks lateral knob (Fig. 51). Rather shiny although finely microsculptured; microsculpture in part indistinct and reduced. Ventrites with fine, slightly curved striae. Metacoxal plates with some 10 almost transversely located, shallow and in part reduced, furrows. Prosternal process slender, posteriorly distinctly extended, apex pointed.

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus somewhat extended and enlarged, provided with distinct suckers.

Male genitalia: Extreme penis apex, blunt, abruptly broken and lacks any kinds of processes (Fig. 251).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsi slender. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 52.

Etymology.

The species name inobservatus is a Latin adjective meaning “unobserved”. It here refers to the peculiar situation that the species remained overlooked for a long time due to misinterpretation, although it is widespread and common.

Distribution.

Africa: Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire and Asia: Yemen (Fig. 537). Only personally verified records are included in the map. Egypt is also among examined material but exact location of this record is unknown and therefore record is not mapped.

Collecting circumstances.

Label data provide some information on the living habits of Laccophilus inobservatus . Accordingly, in Gambia collected at light at a bamboo pool and in semiarid vegetation near a river. Moreover the species has been collected in and at a fresh water stream and in a rock pool in river bed.