Laccophilus mateui Omer-Cooper, 1970

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 27-28

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus mateui Omer-Cooper, 1970 Figs 29-30, 227, 389, 529

Laccophilus mateui Omer-Cooper 1970: 285, 287 (original description, faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 246 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2003: 76 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 214 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Algeria: Sahara, Hoggar, Aguelm, Ymeleulauen.

Type material, studied

(1 ex.). Holotype: male: "Type male / H. B. Leech Collection / det. J. Omer-Cooper Laccophilus mateui sp.n. / Aguelm, Ymeleulauen, Hoggar, Sahara J. Mateu coll. / 18-V- 1951" (AMGS; according to original description, holotype to be deposited in CAS).

Additional material, studied

(5 exs.). Algeria: "55 km N Tamanrasset 16-17 March 1971 J.A. Gruwell" (4 exs. USNM, 1 ex. MZH; habitus in Fig. 389).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus mateui is a close relative to Laccophilus minutus and Laccophilus sordidus . All three species have similar general appearance and same ground plan regarding penis-shape. Absence of stridulatory apparatus separates it from Laccophilus hyalinus and Laccophilus demoflysi . Shape of penis distinguishes it from Laccophilus minutus (penis apex is broader in Laccophilus mateui ) and Laccophilus sordidus (penis is stouter in Laccophilus mateui and longer in Laccophilus sordidus ). Laccophilus mateui (>5 mm) is also larger sized than Laccophilus minutus , a species which don’t exceed 5 mm in length.

Description.

Body length 5.1-5.3 mm, width 2.8-3.0 mm. Body dorsally pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, elytral colour pattern vague to fairly distinct (Fig. 389).

Head: Pale ferrugineous, at pronotum darker, ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous (delimitation of colours often vague). Almost impunctate, at eyes with a few, scattered, somewhat indistinct punctures. Submat, finely microsculptured; reticulation double. In central part of head fine reticulation indistinct, in part obliterated; in lateral parts of head fine reticulation clearly discernible; large meshes contain 3-6 fine meshes.

Pronotum: Ferrugineous, laterally pale ferrugineous (gradual change; no distinct delimitation of colours). Frontally, sometimes with a quite distinct dark ferrugineous area. Impunctate, at margin with a few, indistinct, coarser punctures discernible. Submat, rather densely microsculptured; reticulation double, fine meshes in part almost absent or indistinct.

Elytra: Ferrugineous, with vague pale ferrugineous markings (Fig. 389). Elytral colour pattern sometimes quite distinct. Submat, rather finely microsculptured; reticulation double, large meshes contain between 2-6 fine meshes. Each elytron with a discal, dorsolateral and lateral row of punctures, which are sparse and somewhat irregular, in part indistinct. Lateral, pre-apical furrow long, shallow, finely punctate and pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Ferrugineous, metacoxal plate in part dark ferrugineous but no distinct colour pattern formed (delimitation vague). Almost impunctate. Submat, finely microsculptured. No stridulatory apparatus. Metacoxal plates in anterior half with some vague, transversely located, slightly irregular furrows. Abdomen in basal half with rather distinct curved striae. Apex of prosternal process broken in holotype; it is keeled, short and apex pointed. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 29.

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

Male genitalia: Penis comparatively robust; in lateral aspect apical half evenly curved (Fig. 227).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 30.

Distribution.

Algeria (Hoggar, Sahara) (Fig. 529).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.