Laccophilus desintegratus Regimbart , 1895

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 220-222

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus desintegratus Regimbart, 1895 Figs 178-179, 357-358, 501-502, 571

Laccophilus desintegratus Régimbart 1895: 143 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a:18 (catalogue, faunistics); Zimmermann 1926: 23 (faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 284, 285, 312 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 585, 587 (faunistics, description); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 119 (faunistics, description); Pederzani and Rocchi 1982: 72 (faunistics); Bilardo 1982a: 447 (given as Laccophylus , description, faunistics); Pederzani and Rocchi 1982: 78 (discussion); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 177 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 156, 161, 162, 174 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2006: 130 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2008: 211, 236 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 2011: 194, 228 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 2013: 141 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 211 (catalogue, faunistics).

Laccophilus gutticollis Régimbart 1895: 148 (original description, faunistics); Régimbart 1904: 66 (discussion); Zimmermann 1920a:19 (catalogue, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 284 (given as Laccophilus desintegratus ab. gutticolis), 285 (description, discussion); Guignot 1959a: 578, 587 (description, discussion, faunistics); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 119 (faunistics, description); Pederzani and Rocchi 1982: 79 (given as Laccophilus desintegratus var. gutticolis , discussion); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 160, 177 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 1999: 232 (given as Laccophilus desintegratus gutticolis; list, faunistics), 234 (given as Laccophilus desintegratus "variazione" gutticolis , faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy); Bilardo and Rocchi 2011: 228 (given as Laccophilus desintegratus sub gutticolis; list, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 211 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy). Confirmed synonym.

Laccophilus sanguinosus Régimbart 1895: 148 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a: 25 (catalogue, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 284 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 585, 586 (description, faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 250 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 174 (list, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 217 (catalogue, faunistics). New synonym.

Type localities.

Laccophilus desintegratus : Zaire: Loango interior, Ht Quilou.

Laccophilus gutticollis : Gabon: Montagnes de Cristal.

Laccophilus sanguinosus : Gabon: Montagnes de Cristal.

Type material studied

(13 exs.). Laccophilus desintegratus : Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Loango int. Ht Quilou / male symbol / Cotype / Laccophilus desintegratus Rég. cotype" (MNHN). - Paralectotypes: "Loango int. Ht Quilou / female symbol / Cotype / Laccophilus desintegratus Rég. cotype" (1 ex. MNHN); "Loango interior Haut Quilou Mocquerys 1893 / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / desintegratus Rég.” (3 exs. MNHN); "Loango int, Ht Quilou / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (1 ex. MNHN).

Laccophilus gutticollis : Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Mts de Cristal Mocquerys / male symbol / Cotype / Laccophilus gutticollis Rég. Cotype" (MNHN). - Paralectotypes: "Mts de Cristal Mocquerys / male symbol / Cotype / Laccophilus gutticollis Rég. Cotype" (1 ex. MNHN); "Mts de Cristal Mocquerys / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / gutticollis Rég.” (3 exs. MNHN); "Mts de Cristal Mocquerys / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (1 ex. MNHN).

Laccophilus sanguinosus : Holotype: female: "Mts de Cristal Benito Gabon / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / sanguinosus Rég.” (MNHN).

Additional material examined

(12 exs.). Central African Republic: "Zomea pres de Mbaiki 29-31.12. 1980 Onore" (2 exs. NHMB). - Gabon: "Bissok 9.8. 1991 Bilardo leg." (1 ex. NHMW); "Ovan chutes Mingouli 13.8. 1992 Bilardo leg. / Laccophilus desintegratus Rég. det. Rocchi 1994" (1 ex. CSR); "Makokou-Riv. Ivindo, Chutes Kongou 16.8. 2002 Bilardo / Laccophilus desintegratus Régb. det. Rocchi 2003" (1 ex. CSR); "Makokou F. Ivindo 26.8. 1987 Bilardo / Laccophilus desintegratus gutticollis Rég. det. Bilardo 1988" (1 ex. MSNM); "Makokou 7.8. 1983 Bilardo" (1 ex. MSNM); "Res. Lopé-Okanda, milieu de savane 1.2. 1986 Bilardo / Laccophilus desintegratus Rég. det. Bilardo" (2 exs. MSNM); "Cap Esterias 31.7. 1973 Bilardo & Pederzani" (2 exs. NHMB; habitus in Fig. 502). - Congo: "Dimonika (Mayombe) 27.6. 1980 Onore" (1 ex. NHMB; habitus in Fig. 501).

Comments on synonymy.

Lectotypes and holotype of the three involved species have been examined and compared. Despite clear differences in dorsal colour pattern of body, the three taxa undoubtedly are conspecific. Ground plan of colour pattern is similar in the morphs. Shape of penis is identical. All three were originally introduced in the same publication so the rule of age-preference is irrelevant. We chose Laccophilus desintegratus as the valid name for the species.

Diagnosis.

Colour pattern of body variable in Laccophilus desintegratus . The species is especially characterized by its peculiar penis in combination with uniform, simple microsculpture on dorsal aspect of body. Penis in lateral aspect slightly sinuate; towards apex, penis distinctly expands into an extensive enlargement; apex broadly truncate.

Description.

Body length 3.4-3.8 mm, width 1.9-2.1 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body variable.

Head: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, posteriorly, sometimes somewhat darker. Submat, finely and evenly microsculptured; reticulation simple, uniform and consists of small meshes. Impunctate, except at eyes; with fine, slightly irregular punctures; areas of punctures extend towards centre of head.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous, frontally and basally in middle with vague darker areas. In dark morph, pronotum almost totally dark, blackish ferrugineous with limited, small, pre-lateral, pale markings. Submat, finely and evenly microsculptured; reticulation simple, uniform; consists of small meshes. Impunctate, except anteriorly and laterally; with fine and somewhat irregular, sparse punctures. Medio-basally punctures very fine, hardly discernible.

Elytra: Dark ferrugineous, with distinctly delimited pale ferrugineous, slightly variable markings. Elytra at base often with transverse, pale area. In dark morph, basal, pale markings missing. With pale, longitudinal stripes posterior to middle. (Figs 501-502). Submat, finely and evenly microsculptured; reticulation simple, uniform, consists only of small meshes. Impunctate, except discal row; consists of fine, somewhat irregular punctures. Dorsolateral and lateral row indicated by a few fine, scattered punctures. Lateral pre-apical furrow fine, moderately pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, without distinct colour pattern. Rather shiny, although very finely microsculptured. Ventrites with fine, slightly curved striae. Almost impunctate. Prosternal process rather slender, apex somewhat extended, pointed. Metacoxal plates with some fine, transversely located, shallow furrows; furrows located to anterior half of plate. Apical ventrite on one side with a sharp knob (Fig. 178).

Legs: Pro- and mesotsarsus slightly enlarged, with fine suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect slightly sinuate; towards apex it grows distinctly into an extensive enlargement; apex broadly truncate (Figs 357-358).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender, not distinctly enlarged. Apical ventrite simple (Fig. 179).

Distribution.

Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, Zaire (Fig. 571). Bilardo (1982a) gives Cameroon.

Collecting circumstances.

Often associated with forests ( Bilardo and Rocchi 2008). Some additional information may be present in Bilardo and Rocchi (1990) where general information is given for collecting sites.