Laccophilus pullatus Omer-Cooper, 1958

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 136-137

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus pullatus Omer-Cooper, 1958 Figs 103-104, 291-292, 445, 557

Laccophilus pullatus Omer-Cooper 1958b: 42, 45 (original description, faunistics, biology); Omer-Cooper 1967: 60 (discussion, Laccophilus pullatus synonym with Laccophilus septicola Guignot, Laccophilus alberticus Guignot and Laccophilus luteosignatus Gschwendtner); Nilsson 2001: 246 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy, Laccophilus luteosignatus Gschwendtner); Nilsson 2015: 213 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy, Laccophilus luteosignatus Gschwendtner). Restored species.

Type locality.

Malawi: Florence Bay below Livingstonia.

Type material studied

(2 exs.). Holotype: male: "Holotype / Laccophilus pullatus mihi Det. J. Omer-Cooper / Nyasaland, lake shore below Livingstonia 21.10. 1948 / Brit. Mus. 1978-308 / Laccophilus pullatus J. O.C. M. E. Bacchus det 1978 HOLOTYPE" (BMNH). - Paratype: female: "Allotype / Laccophilus pullatus sp. n. J. Omer-Cooper / Nyasaland, Dambo below Livingstonia 21.10. 1948 / Brit. Mus. 1978-308" (1 ex. BMNH).

Additional material studied

(3 exs.). Malawi: "Nkhotakota env. 2-3.1. 2002 J. Bezdek leg." (1 ex. NMPC); "Selima env. 4.1. 2002 Kantner" (1 ex. NHMB, 1 ex. MZH; habitus in Fig. 445).

Specimen with uncertain determination.

South Africa: "Natal Zululand Mtuba-Tuba 23.9. 1947 J. O-C" (1 ex. female AMGS).

Comments on synonymy.

Earlier synonymy rejected - study of type material shows that Laccophilus pullatus is a valid species.

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus pullatus externally resembles most of Laccophilus luteosignatus but can be distinguished by absence of pale spots on elytra. Laccophilus pullatus is also close to Laccophilus septicola ; elytra of Laccophilus septicola is, however, much paler than in Laccophilus pullatus . Penis of Laccophilus pullatus in lateral aspect is evenly curved from base to apex while in Laccophilus septicola penis curvature is somewhat angled.

Description.

Body length 3.0-3.3 mm, width 1.6-1.8 mm. Head and pronotum predominantly pale, elytra dark, lack pale spots (Fig. 445).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation almost simple; vague indications of double reticulation discernible. Almost impunctate; at eyes with some, irregular and very fine punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous. Frontally, a little posterior to foremargin with a vague, transverse, ferrugineous marking. Posteriorly, in the middle with a rather vague, transverse, ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous marking. Finely microsculptured. Reticulation double. Large meshes vary in size. Finer meshes sometimes obliterated and not distinguishable within large meshes. At margins with very fine, irregular punctation, which in part is indistinct.

Elytra: Blackish to blackish ferrugineous. Laterally, narrowly paler, ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous (Fig. 445). Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Reticulation double, but differences between large and small meshes superficial; sometimes difficult to distinguish (posteriorly meshes hardly discernible). Large meshes variable in size and may contain 2-10 small meshes. Almost impunctate; discally with two vague areas where scattered, fine punctures discernible. Elytron with a pre-apical, lateral furrow (provided with haired punctures).

Ventral aspect: Black to blackish ferrugineous, except for head and prothorax, which are pale ferrugineious. Slightly mat, very finely and in part, indistinctly microsculptured. Metacoxal plates with variable, transverse, shallow (vague) furrows. Basal ventrites with longitudinal, fine striae. Impunctate. Prosternal process rather slender, apex pointed. Apical ventrite has a sharp knob on one side (Fig. 103).

Legs: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. Pro- and mesotarsi somewhat enlarged; provided with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect evenly curved from base to apex; extreme apex extended to a small tip (Figs 291-292).

Female: Apical ventrite lacks knob (Fig. 104). Pro- and mesotarsus slender.

Distribution.

Malawi (Fig. 557). One female with uncertain determination has been examined from Natal, South Africa.

Collecting circumstances.

Collected in a “dambo” swamp on a lake shore ( Omer-Cooper 1958b).