Laccophilus vermiculosus Gerstaecker, 1867

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 143-146

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus vermiculosus Gerstaecker, 1867 Figs 110-111, 299-300, 449-450, 451, 559

Laccophilus vermiculosus Gerstaecker 1867: 25 (original description, faunistics); Sharp 1882: 287, 822 (description, faunistics); v. d. Branden 1885: 24 (catalogue, faunistics); Régimbart 1895: 136 (description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a: 28 (catalogue, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 268, 271, 273, 312 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1952c: 521 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1956: 21 (faunistics, biology); Omer-Cooper 1957: 14, 90 (discussion, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 37, 45, 46 (discussion, description, faunistics); Legros 1958: 211 (faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 557, 559, 560, 562 (discussion, description, faunistics); Guignot 1959d: 161 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 77, 83 (description, faunistics); Bertrand and Legros 1967: 862, 867 (faunistics); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 119 (faunistics, description); Forge 1981: 500, 501 (description, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 1987: 104 (faunistics, biology); Pederzani and Rocchi 1982: 72 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 177 (faunistics); Curtis 1991: 186 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 252 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 174 (list, faunistics); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 40 (faunistics); Reintjes 2004: 68 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2008: 211, 235 (faunistics); Rocchi 2013: 141 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 219 (catalogue, faunistics).

Laccophilus mocquerysi Severin 1892: 472 (nomen nudum); Régimbart 1895: 139 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1919: 122 (faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a: 23 (catalogue, faunistics); Zimmermann 1926: 23 (description, discussion, synonymy, faunistics); Gschwendtner 1935a: 15 (faunistics); Gschwendtner 1938a: 5 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 83 (list, synonymy); Nilsson 2001: 252 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy); Nilsson 2015: 219 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy, Laccophilus vermiculosus Gerstaecker).

Laccophilus vermiculosus ab. mocquerysi Régimbart, Zimmermann 1926 a: 23 (synonym, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 268, 271 (description, discussion, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 559, 560 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959d: 161 (faunistics).

Laccophilus vermiculosus var. mocquerysi Régimbart, Omer-Cooper 1957: 14 (discussion, faunistics). Confirmed synonym.

Type localities.

Laccophilus vermiculosus : Kenya: Mombasa.

Laccophilus mocquerysi : Senegal: Dakar.

Type material studied

(9 exs.). Laccophilus vermiculosus : Lectotype (by present designation): female: "43615 / Typus / Hist.-Coll. ( Coleoptera ) Nr. 43165 Laccophilus vermiculosus Gerst. Mombas v.d. Decken Zool. Mus. Berlin / vermiculosus Gerst. Mombas v.d. Decken" (ZMHB). - Paralectotype: female: "Mombasa v.d. Decken Nr. 43615 / Typus / Hist.-Coll. ( Coleoptera ) Nr. 43165 Laccophilus vermiculosus Gerst. Mombas v.d. Decken Zool. Mus. Berlin" (1 ex. ZMHB).

Laccophilus mocquerysi : Lectotype (by present designation): male: “Sénégal Dakar A. Moquerys Février 1889 / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / mocquerysi Régb.” (MNHN). - Paralectotypes: Senegal: Sama data as lectotype (1 ex. MNHN); "Db / Senegal Dr. Roussel / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (1 ex. MNHN). - Gabon: "Gabon Mocquerys / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (1 ex. MNHN). - Zaire: "Matadi Congo / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (3 exs. MNHN).

Additional material studied

(208 exs.). Senegal: "Dakar V. 1939 Bouvet" (4 exs. MNHN). - Sudan: "Agadi Dar el Fungi Alluaud 1906 / Mares temporaries d’eau de pluie" (3 exs. MNHN); "S. Sudan Alel rock pool 30,56E, 6,11N, 18.1. 1954 JJOC." (5 exs. AMGS). - Ivory Coast: “Comoé Nat. Pk, N 8.5°, W3.5° /11.4. 1999 Temp. Creek leg. Reintjes" (1 ex. NHMW). - Benin: "Dep Littoral Cotonou City, pond 8.2.2006 leg. Goergen, Komarek & Houngué” (1 ex. NHMW, 1 ex. MZH). - Zaire: "PNA 23.8. 1957 Vanschuytbroeck VS 127a/b/Secteur Nord riv. de Semliki rte Muramba, 905 m" (4 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. MZH). - Kenya: "Gulanze Dam, Kwale Distr., 19.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (7 exs. ZMUC, 1 ex. MZH); "Mafisini Pond, Kwale Distr., 19.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (4 exs. ZMUC, 1 ex. MZH); "Makalanga Dam, Kwale Distr., 19.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (2 exs. ZMUC); "Makalanga Dam, Kwale Distr., 19.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (2 exs. ZMUC); "Rice field, Mwande Dam, Kwale Distr., 19.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (1 ex. ZMUC); "Maji ya Chumvi Riv., Kwale Distr., 16.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (1 ex. ZMUC); "Dam at Kaloleni Mission, Kilifi Distr., 15.9.1976 Holmen leg." (2 exs. ZMUC); "Mombasa / Ch. Alluaud / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 " (1 ex. MNHN); "Mombasa Ch. Alluaud" (2 exs. MNHN); "Cote d’Afr. Or. Angl. Tiwi Alluaud & Jeannel 1911 St. 5" (1 ex. MNHN). - Tanzania: "Lukoka, pond, Tanga Distr., 22.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (2 exs. ZMUC, 1 ex. MZH); "Narobi b. Tanga 2. 1951 Methner leg." (1 ex. ZMHB); "DOA Uruba Methner" (1 ex. ZMHB); same but “15.9.” (1 ex. NHMB); "Tandaguru Linndi Dec. 1909- Jan. 1910 Janensch S.G." (1 ex. ZMHB); "Petukiza, ponds, Tanga Distr., 23.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (1 ex. ZMUC, 1 ex. MZH); "Ngezani ponds, Tanga Distr., 23.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (3 exs. ZMUC); "Pongwe, rice field, Tanga Distr., 24.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (1 ex. ZMUC); "Rice fields of Tanga, Tanga Distr., 26.9. 1976 Holmen leg." (4 exs. ZMUC); "Tang. Terr. Ukerewe L. Conrad leg." (1 ex. BMNH); "Zanzibar Pemba 23. September 1955 Fowler" (2 exs. AMGS); "Zanzibar 17.5. 1888" (2 exs. ZMHB); “Zanzib.” (1 ex. ZMHB). - Angola: "20 km E Luanda, Luanda-Katete Hwy 9.10. 1949 Malkin / waterhole, gravel and clay bottom" (1 ex. BMNH). - Malawi: "River near Portuguese border nr Malanza 4.XI. 1948" (2 exs. AMGS). - Namibia: "E. Kapriwi: Katima Mulilo 17°29'S, 24°17'E, 3-8.3. 1992 Uhlig leg." (1 ex. ZMHB). - Botswana: "Tsotsorogo Pan 17.6.-9.7. 1930 / Laccophilus mocquerysi Rég. det. Gschwendt." (1 ex. MNHN, 25 exs. TMSA, 4 exs. MZH); "Serowe sevage ponds, Farmer’s Brigade 1.6. 1987, SE22 26BD Forschhammer leg." (1 ex. MZH); same data but "9. 87 / Laccophilus vermiculosus Ger. det. Rocchi 1993" (1 ex. CSR). - Zimbabwe: "Matopos NP 20°33'S, 28°30E, lux 28.9-1.12. 1993 Uhlig leg." (28 exs. ZMHB, 4 exs. MZH; habitus in Fig. 449-451); "S Rhod. Pool Lundi 22. N. 1948 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Wankie Game Reserve, Shapi Pan 5.9. 1948 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS, 1 ex. TMSA); "Wankie Game Reserve, Sept. 1948 water holes JOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Game Reserve Masumu Dam 4.9. 1948" (10 exs. AMGS, 1 ex. BMNH); "Wankie Game Reserve 5. September 1948 JOC. Pools at Robins restcamp" (2 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Game Res., waterholes nr head-quarter 2.9. 1948" (2 exs. AMGS); "Wankie Nat. Pk, Pan 0-8 M. V. light trap 9. 1961 Weir leg." (1 ex. BMNH); "5 mi SE Wankie 7.4. 1968 Spangler" (3 exs. USNM); "Gwai River 3.4. 1968 Spangler" (13 exs. USNM, 4 exs. MZH). - Mozambique: "Beira 7 September 1955 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Moz. Dambo Pan 30.6. 1960" (1 ex. AMGS). - South Africa: "Kruger Nat. Pk, Skukuza 12 km S, 25.04S, 31.37E / 6.3. 1996 UV light leg. Endrödy-Younga” (17 exs. TMSA, 3 exs. MZH); "Kruger Nat. Pk, Malonga Springs 22.36S, 31.20E / 8.2. 1994 shorewashing leg. Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex. TMSA); "Kruger Nat. Pk, Punda Maria Ngots Dam 21.26S, 31.14E / 7.2. 1994 shorewashing leg. Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex. TMSA); "Transvaal small cattle dam Louis Trichart 23.III. 1948 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Transvaal Kruger Park 29.VI. 1960" (1 ex. AMGS); "Kw. Natal, Lake Nhlange, Kosi lake compl. N-27.00, E32.50, 27.1. 1967 Allanson" (1 ex. AMGS); "Natal Crocodile R. 5.V. 1956" (1 ex. AMGS).

Specimen with collecting site unknown.

"Magude 16.8. 1915 C.J. Sw. / Laccophilus adspersus Boh. det. Gschwendtner" (1 ex. TMSA).

Comments on synonymy.

Synonymy of Laccophilus vermiculosus and Laccophilus mocquerysi was suggested the first time by Zimmermann (1926), when he placed Laccophilus mocquerysi as an aberration of Laccophilus vermiculosus . Examination of type material of both taxa confirms earlier synonymization.

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus vermiculosus is especially characterized by comparatively large body size, peculiar, slightly variable, elytral colour pattern and shape of penis; curved and apex with a peculiar, bifid projection. Not to be confused with any recognized African Laccophilus species.

Description.

Body length 4.6-5.1 mm, width 2.4-2.8 mm. Dorsal colour pattern generally quite stable, exhibiting only minor variation Elytral irroration sometimes somewhat reduced but exhibits still original, ground-plan pattern (Figs 449-451). Dark area on head and pronotum may rarely be reduced.

Head: Pale ferrugineous, posteriorly close to pronotum with blackish to dark ferrugineous, well-delimited area. Dark area rarely somewhat vague or in part hidden under foremargin of pronotum. Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double, but difference between size-categories slight; in part large meshes indistinct or non-discernible. Large meshes, when discernible, contain 2-5 small meshes. Impunctate, except close to eyes; with some, scattered, fine punctures. Punctate areas extend towards middle of head-discussion

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous; at foremargin and basally in middle with narrow blackish ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous marking. Discally, often with a more or less well-delimited, dark spot, which is often bilobed. Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double but size-categories often difficult to distinguish. Large meshes, when discernible, contain 3-7 small meshes. Frontally and laterally with fine, slightly indistinct, scattered punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with distinct, slightly variable, blackish ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous irrorations (Figs 449-451). Irrorations may sometimes be somewhat reduced but colour pattern still exhibits same, basic organization. Submat, finely but rather distinctly microsculptured. Reticulation extensively double; laterally and posteriorly separation of size-categories difficult. Large meshes, when discernible, contain 3-5 small meshes. Fine, slightly irregular punctures form a discal row. Dorsolateral and lateral rows only indicated by a few, scattered punctures. Pre-apically, fine, haired punctures form a short, shallow, lateral furrow.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous; no distinct colour pattern formed. Rather shiny, with very fine, in part indistinct microsculpture. Abdomen with curved fine striae. Almost impunctate. Metacoxal plates with about ten transversely located shallow furrows. Prosternal process rather slender, apex somewhat extended, pointed. Metacoxal process area does not exhibit any modifications. Apical ventrite asymmetric, with distinct lateral knob (Fig. 110).

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

Male genitalia: Shape of penis characteristic; somewhat curved and apex with a peculiar, bifid projection (Figs 299-300).

Female: Apical ventrite almost symmetric; lacks lateral knob (Fig. 111). Pro- and mesotarsus slender, slightly extended.

Distribution.

Senegal, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Benin, Gabon, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa (Fig. 559). Omer-Cooper (1958b) gives Uganda and Ghana and Legros (1958) Guinea. Finally Omer-Cooper (1965) adds Somalia, and Pederzani and Rocchi (1982) former French Congo.

Collecting circumstances.

Rather insufficiently documented. According to label data the species is collected in rice fields and various kinds of ponds, dams and pools. In Angola collected from a waterhole with clay and gravel bottom. Sometimes sampled at light collection (e.g. UV). Literature records are scarce; Omer-Cooper (1958b) superficially describes some sampling sites at streams, ponds, pools in river banks etc.