Laccophilus secundus Regimbart , 1895

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 214-217

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus secundus Regimbart, 1895 Figs 173-175, 354-355, 508-509, 573

Laccophilus secundus Régimbart 1895: 146 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a: 25 (catalogue, faunistics); Peschet 1925: 31 (faunistics); Gschwendtner 1930: 90 (faunistics); Gschwendtner 1931: 181 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1931: 759 (discussion); Gschwendtner 1935a: 15 (faunistics); Gschwendtner 1938b: 337 (faunistics); Guignot 1943: 99 (faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 577, 578, 581 (description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 76, 80 (description, discussion, faunistics); Legros 1972: 467 (faunistics); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 119 (discussion, faunistics, description); Pederzani and Rocchi 1982: 72 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 1987: 104 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 160, 162, 177 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson 2001: 250 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 174 (list, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2008: 211, 236 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 2013: 141 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson 2015: 217 (catalogue, faunistics).

Laccophilus torquatus Guignot 1956c: 318, 320 (original description, faunistics); Guignot 1956b: 219 (faunistics, discussion); Guignot 1956e: 52 (discussion, female ab. description); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 37, 38, 39, 41 (description, faunistics, biology); Guignot 1959d: 160 (discussion, faunistics); Bruneau de Miré and Legros 1963: 873, 888 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 76, 80 (description, discussion, faunistics); Bertrand and Legros 1967: 862 (faunistics); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 119 (discussion); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 81, 94 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 252 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 218 (catalogue, faunistics). New synonym.

Type localities.

Laccophilus secundus : Zaire: Boma.

Laccophilus torquatus : Zaire: Kivu, Kavimvira (Uvira).

Type material studied

(21 exs.). Laccophilus secundus : Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Congo belge Boma / male symbol / Cotype" (MNHN). - Paralectotypes: "Gabon Mocquerys / female symbol / Cotype" (1 ex. MNHN); same data as preceding, but additionally labelled "Museum Paris Coll. Maurice Régimbart / secundus Rég.” (4 exs. MNHN).

Laccophilus torquatus : Holotype: male: "Holotypus / I.R.S.A.C. -Mus. Congo Kivu: Kavimvira (Uvira) ( à la lumière) IX/X-1954 G. Marlier / Type male / F. Guignot det., 1955 Laccophilus torquatus sp. n. Type male" (MRAC). - Paratypes: Same sampling data as in holotype but labelled as "Paratype / R. DET. 6777" (7 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. IRSNB); same sampling data but “XII-1954” (1 ex. IRSNB, 1 ex. AMGS; status as paratype uncertain); "Soudan Egyptien Roseires (Ht Nil Bleu) Ch. Alluaud 1906 / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN); "Ethiop. Merid. Bourié, Bord de la Riv. Omo 600 m / Mission de l’Omo / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN); "Senegal IFAN - 1948 Tianaga / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN); "Afrique Orient. Angl. Kisoumou Baie Kavirondo Ch. Alluaud 1909 / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN).

Additional material studied

(233 exs.). Sudan: "Minkammon 31,31E, 6,2N, 16-17.1. 1954 JJOC." (2 exs. AMGS); "1 mi. from Tali Post 5,53N, 30,47E 14.1. 1954 JJOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Tombe 17.1. 1954 JJOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "R. Lau at Payii 7 mi. west of Yirol 17.I. 1954 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "L. Nyibor 25.I. 1954 JJOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "L. Nyibor II. 1954 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS); "Tombe 17.1. 1954 JJOC." (5 exs. AMGS); "L. Baya 6.II. 1954 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Khor Gwaar 31,34E, 5,7N, 17.1. 1954 JJOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Upper Nile Malakal 5-20.1. 1963 Linnavuori" (3 exs. MZH). - Ethiopia: "Bahar Dar, at light 4.4.1967 P. Stys leg." (1 ex. NMPC). - Benin: "Dep. Mono, Lakossa, Doukonta (village) 2.2.2006 leg. Goergen, Komarek & Hounguè / 06°40'21,3"N, 01°41'33,5"E, ca. 40 m asl, very slowly running stream" (1 ex. NMW, 1 ex. MZH); "Dep. Atlantique, Glotomè (village) 1.2. 2006 leg. Goergen, Komarek & Hounguè / 06°41'06,8"N, 02°02'36,8"E, 17 m asl, slowly running stream" (1 ex. NMW). - Nigeria: "Ondo Prov. Akure 30.1.1949 Malkin / muddy pool, gravelly bottom" (1 ex. BMNH). - Cameroon: "Matute, Tiko Plantation 24.4.-6.5. 1949 Malkin / at light" (1 ex. BMNH); "Dimako 12-13.6. 1973 Linnavuori" (2 exs. MZH). - Gabon: “Ogové Riv., Good leg." (1 ex. CSR); "Makokou 1-14.5. 1975 Mateu / Laccophilus secundus Régb. det. Hájek” (4 exs. NHMB); "Makokou 1-30.IV. 1971 Mateu light / Laccophilus secundus Rég. det. Brancucci" (5 exs. NHMB). - Central African Republic: "Bozo 21.5. 1981 / Degallier" (1 ex. NHMB); Bozo 12. 1981 / Degallier" (1 ex. NHMB). - Congo: "Rep. pop., Plateau Koukouya, Lekana 9.4. 80 Onore" (1 ex CSR); same data but "4. 1980 (stagno soleggiata in savana)" (3 exs. NHMB); same data but "m. 850" (1 ex. NHMB); "Voka prés de Boko I / 1980 Onore / Laccophilus secundus Régb. det. Pederzani" (1 ex. NHMB). - Zaire: Same sampling data as paratypes above, except "6. 1955" (2 exs. IRSNB); "PNG II/fd/13, 5.5. 1952 De Saeger 3421" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG PpK.51/g/9, 2.4. 1952 De Saeger 3272" (10 exs. MRAC, 3 exs. MZH); "PNG II/fd/12, 10.3. 1952 De Saeger 3180"(3 exs. MRAC); "PNG II/fd/12, 6.3. 1952 De Saeger 3886" (1 ex. NHMB); "PNG II/gd/8, 10.4. 1952 De Saeger 3316" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG II/fd/14s, 3.4. 1952 De Saeger 3278" (2 exs. MRAC); "PNG II/fd/14, 28.1. 1952 De Saeger 3061" (1 ex. MRAC); "Tshuapa Bamanya 1968 P. Hulstaert" (1 ex. MRAC); "Kivu Kavimvira (Uvira), à la lumière 10. 1955 Marlier" (1 ex. MRAC); same data but "9-10. 1954" (1 ex. MNHN); same data but "12. 1954" (3 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. MZH, 2 exs. NHMB; habitus in Fig. 508); same data but "6. 1955" (4 exs. MRAC); same data but "I. 1955" (6 exs. MRAC, 2 exs. MZH); same data but "1. 1956" (1 ex. NHMB); "Tshuapa-Mbandaka ca. 0°03'N, 18°28'E, a.l., 1964 A.B. Stam" (26 exs. RMNH, 2 exs. MZH); same data but "3-4.4. 1963" (7 exs. RMNH); same data but "17-18.5. 1963" (9 exs. RMNH); same data but "24-25.5. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but "zonder datum" (3 exs. RMNH, 1 ex. MZH); same data but "18-19.3. 1962" (2 exs. RMNH); same data but "2-3.3. 1963" (4 exs. RMNH); same data but "8-22.10. 1962" (10 exs. RMNH); "Balenge nr Mbandaka ca. 0°03'N, 18°28'E, 14.5. 1963 A.B. Stam" (2 exs. RMNH); "Coquilhatville 3-4.4. 1963 Stam / at light" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but "27-28.4. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but "13.5. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but "26-27.6. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but "16-17.7. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH, 1 ex. MZH); same data but "10-19.4. 1963" (1 ex. MZH); same data but "20-21.1. 1962" (2 exs. RMNH); same data but "10-11.6. 1962" (2 exs. RMNH, 3 exs. MZH); same data but "11-12.6. 1962" (2 exs. RMNH); same data but " Hygiene Publique 20.5.-3.6. 1963" (2 exs. RMNH); same data but "4-5.7. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but "17-18.6. 1963" (1 ex. RMNH); "Dima 23.9.1908 A. Koller / Laccophilus secundus Régb. det Gschwendtner" (1 ex. OLML); "Bukama 7. 1937 Lt. Marée / Laccophilus secundus Régb. det Gschwendtner" (1 ex. OLML); "Elisabethville 2. 1940 H.J. Brédo / Laccophilus secundus Régb. det Gschwendtner" (1 ex. OLML); "Elisabethville, á la lum., 1953-1955 Seydel" (1 ex. NHMB). - Uganda: "Jinja L. Victoria, Malaise trap 17.9. 2003 Prikryl I. leg." (1 ex. NMPC). - Kenya: "Naivasha Lake 22-27.10. 1995 Wewalka / Laccophilus torquatus Guign. det. Rocchi 2003" (1 ex. RMNH); same data but no determination label (11 exs. CGW, 2 exs. MZH); "Naivasha Crater Lake 26.10. 1995 Wewalka" (1 ex. CGW). - Tanzania: "E Usambara Mts, Amani Pond 1000 m, 20.7. 1980 Stoltze & Scharff" (1 ex. ZMUC, 1 ex. MZH); same data but "Dodwe Stream 900 m, 10.7. 1980" (1 ex. ZMUC); "L. Malawi Matena 1.7. 1979 Stoltze leg." (1 ex. ZMUC); "Tang. Terr. Ukerewe I., Father Conrad" (1 ex. BMNH). - Zambia: "Luapula Prov., Lake Bangwulu, Chilubi 11.2. 1982 J. Selander" (3 exs. MZH). - Zimbabwe: "Victoria Falls, Zambezi NP camp, 17°53'S, 25°49'E, 11-12.12. 1993 lux, Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB). - Namibia: "E Capriwi, 30 km SE Katima Mulilo 17°31'S, 24°25'E, Zambesi Altwasserarm, lux 6.3. 1992 Uhlig" (8 exs. ZMHB, 2 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 509); "E Capriwi, Mundumu NP, Buffalo Trails Camp, lux ca. 18°10'S, 23°26'E, 13.3. 1992 Uhlig" (2 exs. ZMHB, 1 ex. MZH); "E Capriwi, Katima Mulilo 17°29'S, 24°17'E, Gesiebe, Geschwemme Tümpelufer 7.3. 1992 Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB, 1 ex. NMNW); "E Capriwi, Mundumu NP Nakatwa 18°10'S, 23°26'E,8-13-3. 1992, lux Göllner” (5 exs. ZMHB); "Kavango Popa Falls 18°07'S, 21°35'E, lux 26.2-3.3. 1992 Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB); same data but “Göllner leg." (1 ex. ZMHB); "Kavango, Mahongo Game Res. 18°14'S, 21°43'E, piknik site lux, 1.3. 1994 Uhlig" (2 exs. ZMHB, 1 ex. MZH). - Botswana: "Sitatunga Camp, SE Maun 24°04'33"S, 23°21'16"E, 7.3. 1993 lux, Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB); "Tsotsorogo Pan 17.6.-9.7. 1930 V.-L. Kal. Exp. / Laccophilus secundus Régb., det. Gschwendtner" (1 ex. TMSA). - South Africa: "Kwa Zulu Natal St. Lucia park, 28°12'S, 32°25'E, Koch" (1 ex. ZMHB); "Natal, Waterton Timber Co. 3. 1985, N-28.20.5, E32.14, at light Atkinson" (1 ex. NHMB).

Comments on synonymy.

Lectotype of Laccophilus secundus and holotype of Laccophilus torquatus have been examined and compared. Male genitalia of both taxa are identical but elytral colour pattern exhibits a clear difference. The appearance of elytra is, however, variable and there is a series of intermediates between two extremes. Accordingly, it seems clear the two species are conspecific. Laccophilus secundus is the valid name of the species, being the older one of the two available names.

Diagnosis.

The peculiar shape of penis in combination with small-medium sized body and blackish elytra with pale markings separates Laccophilus secundus from all other African Laccophilus species, except of Laccophilus australis sp. n. Penis of Laccophilus secundus is delicate, almost straight and extreme apex strongly bent forming a minor lateral extension. Penis of Laccophilus australis is slightly larger and apical extension, distinctly longer.

Description.

Body length 3.0-3.4 mm, width 1.6-1.9 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body variable between extremes (Figs 508-509).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double. Large meshes in part reduced and difficult to discern; when discernible they may contain 3-7 small meshes. Almost impunctate except at eyes, with dense and irregularly distributed fine punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous; basally in middle often with a distinct, blackish area. Rather shiny, although densely and finely microsculptured. Reticulation double but large meshes in part reduced and only slightly more strongly developed than fine meshes. When discernible, large meshes may contain 3-9 small meshes. Frontally and laterally, with fine irregular punctures.

Elytra: Blackish to blackish ferrugineous with variable, pale ferrugineous markings. At base with a single, humeral, pale spot, which sometimes is replaced by two or three small, pale spots, which form a subbasal, transverse area. Posterior to elytra-middle and apically with slightly vague, variable, pale markings, which sometimes can be rather indistinct. (Figs 508-509). Submat, finely and densely microsculptured. Reticulation double but large meshes reduced, weakly developed and in large areas difficult to discern. Discal row of punctures consists of irregularly located fine punctures. Lateral row and especially dorsolateral row of punctures indistinct, only indicated by a few, fine punctures.

Ventral aspect: Blackish to dark ferrugineous, prothorax and apex of abdomen paler, ferruginous. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Microsculpture in part reduced and missing. Almost impunctate. Prosternal process rather slender, apex slightly extended and pointed. Basal ventrites with fine, curved striae. Metacoxal plates with about 10 shallow and transversely located furrows. Apical ventrite assymmetric; on one side with a minute knob (Fig. 173).

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus slightly enlarged, basally with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect almost straight, extreme apex strongly bent and formed as a small, short and truncate extension (Figs 354-355).

Female: Externally resembles male but apical ventrite lacks knob, almost symmetric (Figs 174-175). Pro- and mesotarsus slender.

Distribution.

Sudan, Ethiopia, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa (Fig. 573). Non-verified, country records are Angola ( Peschet 1925), Ivory Coast ( Guignot 1943) and Senegal ( Legros 1972). Furthermore, additional, country records under the name Laccophilus torquatus are Guinea ( Guignot 1956b), Malawi ( Omer-Cooper 1958b), Chad ( Bruneau de Miré and Legros 1963) and Swaziland ( Bertrand and Legros 1967).

Collecting circumstances.

Label data indicate that the species has been collected in a slowly running stream. Moreover, the species is reported from a muddy pool with gravel bottom. Often recorded at light collection. Some information on ecology is available in Omer-Cooper (1958b), who briefly describes some sites where the species has been collected. Similar kind of information is available in Bilardo and Rocchi (1987, 1990, and 2013). Additionally, listed as a savannah-species in Bilardo and Rocchi (2008).