Laccophilus persimilis Regimbart , 1895

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 162-163

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus persimilis Regimbart, 1895 Figs 132-133, 320, 465, 563

Laccophilus persimilis Régimbart 1895: 144 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a: 24 (catalogue, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 533, 540 (description, faunistics); Bilardo 1982a: 447 (description, faunistics, given as Laccophylus ); Franciscolo and Sanfilippo 1990: 146 (description, faunistics); Nilsson et al. 1995: 505 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 248 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 155, 160, 174 (faunistics, list); Nilsson 2015: 216 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Gabon: Cap Lopez.

Type material studied

(4 exs.). Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Cap Lopez / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (MNHN; lectotype is the specimen to right on a label with two specimens, mounted side by side). - Paralectotypes: On same label as lectotype with same data (1 ex. MNHN); "Chutes de Samba, Riv. N’Gounie 92 Mocquerys / persimilis Rég. type / Régimbart det. 1895 Laccophilus persimilis Rég. / Type" (1 ex. IRSNB); "Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / Chutes de Samba, Riv. N’Gounié Gabon (Mocquerys) / persimilis Rég.” (1 ex. MNHN).

Additional material studied

(42 exs.): Gambia: "Bathurst Jan. 1968 Palm / Laccophilus persimilis Régb. det. S. Persson det." (1 ex. NHRS). - Guinea Bissau: "Oio, 2 km E Binar, temp. pool 21.7. 1992 Persson leg." (3 exs. MZLU); "Oio 10 km W Binar, flooded area 29.8. 1992" (3 exs. MZLU) "Cacheu, Bula, temporary pools 25.7. 1992 Persson leg." (10 exs. MZLU); same but “16.7.” (5 exs. MZLU); same but "5 km W Bula 18.7. 1992" (6 exs. MZLU); "Gabu, 10 km E Gabu, ponds 3.4. 1993 Persson leg." (8 exs. MZLU). - Sierra Leone: "Makeni 12°03'W, 8°53'N, 27.11. 1993 light trap 18-21 / Cederholm, Danielsson & Hall leg." (1 ex. MZLU; habitus in Fig. 465); "Njala Riv. Tiai 8. 1944 Walton" (1 ex. BMNH). - Nigeria: "Lagos Colony Iseri 29-30.3. 1949 B. Malkin / Meander pool, shallow water" (1 ex. BMNH). - Gabon: "Lagune Iguelà Gen. 97 Bilardo / Laccophilus persimilis Régb. det. Rocchi 1999" (3 exs. CSR).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus persimilis is particularly characterized by peculiar elytral colour pattern and uniquely shaped penis apex (broad and triangular). This character-combination distinguishes the species from all other African Laccophilus species.

Description.

Body length 3.8-4.3 mm, width 2.0-2.3 mm. Dorsal aspect with distinct colour pattern (Fig. 465); slight variation observed in appearance of pale, transverse, subbasal marking of elytra.

Head: Pale ferrugineous, posteriorly at eyes with vague, somewhat darker area. Reticulation double; in part weakly developed. Large meshes (when discernible) contain generally 3-6 small meshes. Almost impunctate; at eyes with a few, rather indistinct, slightly coarser punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, frontally at head (between eyes) and mediobasally with dark ferrugineous, slightly vague marking. Slightly mat, rather distinctly microsculptured. Reticulation double. Large meshes contain generally 2-6 small meshes. Small meshes sometimes, weakly developed and rather indistinct. Almost impunctate.

Elytra: Dark ferrugineous, with distinct pale ferrugineous, subbasal and pre-apical markings (Fig. 465). Subbasal, pale marking sometimes formed by a number of connected, pale spots located transversely over elytra. Submat, with double reticulation. Larger meshes at base and frontally at suture distinct and their shape mainly longitudinal. Laterally and posteriorly large meshes indistinct or absent. A longitudinal mesh may contain 4-10 small meshes. Discal and lateral row of punctures discernible, but very weakly developed and rather indistinct. Lateral, pre-apical furrow fine, finely pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous. Abdomen laterally and apically with vague darker (dark ferrugineous to ferrugineous) area. Rather shiny, very finely and indistinctly microsculptured. Basal ventrites with fine, in part indistinct, curved striae. Almost impunctate; scattered fine punctures may be discerned. Prosternal process slender, apex somewhat extended, pointed. Metacoxal plates in anterior half with quite distinct, transversely located, shallow furrows. Posteriorly the furrows are almost absent. Apical ventrite asymmetric; on one side with a sharp knob (Fig. 132).

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

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect strongly modified; from base to apex enlarged, broadly triangular with a sharp knob in middle of external outline (Fig. 320).

Female: Apical ventrite lacks lateral knob, almost symmetric (Fig. 133). Pro- and mesotarsus rather slender.

Distribution.

Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gabon (Fig. 563). Bilardo (1982) adds Cameroon to range state.

Collecting circumstances.

According to label data the species has been collected in flooded area, in temporary ponds and at light.