Laccophilus remex Guignot, 1952

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 109-114

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus remex Guignot, 1952 Possibly a species complex Figs 81-82, 270-274, 426-429, 549

Laccophilus remex Guignot 1952e: 167 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1953e: 4 (discussion); Guignot 1954: 25 (discussion); Guignot 1956b: 219 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 37, 47 (discussion, description, faunistics); Guignot 1958: 7 (discussion); Guignot 1959a: 535, 557, 560, 562 (description, discussion, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 77, 85 (description, faunistics); Medler 1980: 155 (faunistics, list); Pederzani and Rocchi 1982: 72 (faunistics); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 80, 94 (faunistics); Nilsson, Persson and Cuppen 1995: 505 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 1999: 232, 234 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 250 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 174 (list, faunistics); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 38, 40 (discussion, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 200a: 291 (faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2006 a: 130 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 217 (catalogue, faunistics).

Laccophilus concisus Guignot 1953e: 4 (original description, faunistics); Guignot 1954: 24 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1958: 7 (discussion); Guignot 1959a: 558, 562, 563 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1961b: 238 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1962: 295 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 77, 86 (description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1967: 60 (discussion, synonym Laccophilus praeteritus O-C. = Laccophilus concisus Guig.); Bilardo 1982: 447 (description, faunistics; given as Laccophylus concisus ); Bilardo and Rocchi 1987: 104 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson et al. 1995: 505 (faunistics); Rocchi 2000: 23 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 38 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics). New synonym.

Laccophilus turneri Omer-Cooper 1956: 21 (no description, faunistics, biology); Omer-Cooper 1957: 17, 90 (original description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 47 (discussion); Omer-Cooper 1965: 86 (synonym Laccophilus remex Guignot); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 80 (list, synonymy); Nilsson et al. 1995: 505 (list, synonymy); Nilsson 2001: 250 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 40 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 217 (catalogue, list, synonymy). Confirmed synonym.

Laccophilus praeteritus Omer-Cooper 1957: 18, 90 (original description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1958b: 37, 47, 48, 49 (discussion, description, faunistics, biology); Omer-Cooper 1965: 86 (list synonymy, Laccophilus concisus Guignot); 1967: 60 (discussion, synonymy); Nilsson 2001: 242 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 40 (faunistics, list, synonymy); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, list, synonymy). New synonym of Laccophilus remex .

Type localities:

Laccophilus remex : Ivory Coast: Duékoué.

Laccophilus concisus : Zaire: PNU, Lusinga.

Laccophilus turneri : South Africa: Boekenhout, Nylstroom (River Nyl at Num Num).

Laccophilus praeteritus : South Africa: Transvaal, Ermelo.

Type material studied

(26 exs.) Laccophilus remex . Holotype: male: "Cote d’Ivoire Duékoué / Museum Paris 12-1930-IV-1931 Ch. Alluaud et P.A. Chappuis / Det. Dr. Guignot Laccophilus tschoffeni Rég. / Type / F. Guignot det. 1952 Laccophilus remex Guign. Type, male symbol" (MNHN). - Paratypes: females: "Cote d’Ivoire Duékoué / female symbol / Museum Paris 12-1930-IV-1931 Ch. Alluaud et P.A. Chappuis / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN); same data but labelled “Allotype” (1 ex. MNHN).

Laccophilus concisus : Holotype: male: "Holotypus / Congo Belge: PNU, Lusinga ( Galerié) 22-25-V-1945 G. F de Witte: 29 / Coll. Mus. Congo (ex. coll. I.P.N.C.B.) / Laccophilus concisus Guign. sp. n. Type male / F. Guignot det., 1952 Laccophilus concisus sp. n. Type male" (MRAC; habitus in Fig. 427). - Paratypes: "Congo Belge: PNU, Lusinga ( Galerié) 22-25-V-1945 G. F de Witte: 29 / Paratype / F. Guignot det., 1952 Laccophilus concisus sp. n. / R.I.Sc.N.B. I.G. 24.054" (1 ex. IRSNB); same but “7-20-VI-1945” and “191” (2 exs. IRSNB); same, but "Kabwekanono (1.815 m) 18-III-1947" and “64a” (1 ex. IRSNB).

Laccophilus praeteritus : Holotype: male: "Male / Type / Transvaal Ermelo / Dec. 1948 J. Omer-Cooper / Laccophilus praeteritus Omer-Cooper/Brit. Mus. 1957-660 / Laccophilus concisus Guign. J. Balfour-Browne det. 1960" (BMNH). - Paratypes: "Female / Type / Transvaal Belfast 30.XI. 1948 J.O.C. / Female allotype / Brit. Mus. 1957-660 / Laccophilus praeteritus " (1 ex. BMNH); "Paratype / Transvaal pond W. Belfast 23.11. 1948 JOC. / Laccophilus praeteritus O-C. det. J. Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS); "Paratype / Duivels Kloof Merenskydam 24.11. 1948 Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS); "Transvaal sluggish stream / nr Ermelo 1.12. 1948 J.O.C. / Laccophilus praeteritus O-C. / Paratype" (1 ex. TMSA).

Laccophilus turneri : Holotype: male: "Type / Transvaal Nylstroom R. Nyl at Num Num 23. Aug. 1948 J. Omer-Cooper / Type, male / Laccophilus turneri O-C." (BMNH). - Paratypes: female: Principally with same data as holotype, but labelled as "female allotype" (1 ex. BMNH); Almost labelled as holotype but “paratype” (6 exs. AMGS, 1 ex. TMSA); "Paratype / Transvaal Waterberg distr. Deel Kraal 20.8. 1948 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Paratype / Transvaal Nylstroom 19 Aug. 1948 JOC. / Laccophilus adspersus Boh. J. Balfour-Browne det." (1 ex. AMGS); "Paratype / Transvaal Duivels Kloof 24. N. 1948 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); “Paratype” (1 ex. AMGS; status uncertain, because locality information absent).

Additional material, studied (278 exs.): Sudan: "Dahr el Ghazal M’Boloko 23.2. 1963 Linnavuori" (1ex. MZH); "Equatoria, Nzara 22.4. 1986 Wewalka" (1 ex. CGW); "O. Sudan Adjuba I.U. Neumann" (1 ex. ZMHB). - Sierra Leone: "Musaia 16.1. 1946 / Hippo mud pan" (1 ex, BMNH). - Liberia: "Suakoko 19.12, 1951/6-9 pm light trap Blickenstaff" (9 exs. USNM, 2 exs. MZH); "Suakoko 11.12. 1951 Blickenstaff" (1 ex. USNM, 1 ex. MZH); "Suakoko 1.1. 1952 Blickenstaff" (6 exs. USNM). - Ivory Coast: "Divo 28.11. 1963 Decelle" (2 exs. MRAC). - Ghana: "Ashanti Kumasi 330 m, N6.43 - W 1.36 / 15.9. 1967 at light Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex, TMSA); "Kumasi 3.6. 67 Endrödy-Younga / Laccophilus remex Guignot det. Wewalka 76" (1 ex. MHNG); same data but "6.7. 67" (1 ex. MHNG); same data but "16.7. 67" (3 exs. MHNG); same data but "24.6. 67" (2 exs. MHNG). - Nigeria: "Stream 64 mi. from Bida on Jebba rd. 15.IV. 1963 JOC." (3 exs. AMGS); "EC St. Norcap nr Abakaliki 29.6. 1973" (1 ex. MZH); same and "ad lucem / Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH). - Gabon: "Makoukou Riv. Oua (Ivindo) 16-19.1. 2001 Bilardo / Laccophilus remex det. Rocchi 02" (2 exs. CSR); "Belinga 5.2.-4.4. 1963 Coiffat" (62 exs. NHMB). - Congo: "Parc Nat. d’Odzala Mboko-Lango 21.8. 2002 Bilardo" (1 ex. CSR); "Odzala NP, 400 m, 10.2. 1997 Murzin leg." (4 exs. NMPC). - Zaire: "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/fd/14, 18.6. 1951, 1946" (1 ex. NHMB); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/hd/17, 13.10. 1951, 2595" (1 ex. NHMB); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/fd/14s, 3.4. 1952, 3278" (9 exs. MRAC, 2 exs. MZH); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/fd/12, 10.3. 1952, 3180" (13 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. MZH); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger Pali/8, 22.3. 1952, 3217" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/fd/13, 5.5. 1952, 3421" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/fc/14, 17.7. 1952, 3806" (1 ex. MRAC); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger I/a/M 7.6. 1950 Rec. G. Demoulin 584 / Laccophilus remex Guignot det. Guignot 1957" (1 ex. AMGS); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/fc/14, 4.7. 1952, 3736 / Paratype of Laccophilus saegeri Guignot" (1 ex. IRSNB); "PNU Mukana, 1810 m, 24.3. 1947 / Dr. F. Guignot det., 1953 Laccophilus concisus Guign."(2 exs. IRSNB, 2 exs. MRAC; labelled as paratypes but not mentioned in original description); "PNU Kabwekanono p.t.s. Lufwa affl. dr. Lufira (1.815 m) 12.1. 1948, 1199a" (1 ex. MRAC; labelled as paratype but not mentioned in original description); "PNU Kaswabilenga (700 m) 17.10. 1947, 845a" (1 ex. MAC; labelled as paratype but not mentioned in original description); "PNU Mubale - 1480 m, 10-13.5. 1947, 352a" (2 exs. MRAC; labelled as paratypes but not mentioned in original description); "de Luebo à Luluabourg N. 1921 Ghesquière / Laccophilus remex Guignot det. Wewalka 1979" (1 ex. OLML). - Tanzania: "Kondoa 300 m 10. 1938" (1 ex. MNHN; habitus in Fig. 426); "Mlowa R. Tunduma-Mbeya rd. 16.10. 1948" (1 ex. AMGS); "Rukwa 26.12. 1961 C. Carnegie" (3 exs. AMGS); "T.T. Rukwa Tumba 12.1. 1991 T. river Backlund / Laccophilus remex Guignot det. Nilsson -96" (1 ex. MZLU); "Ukerewe VIII., 2 / 1294 B / Laccophilus remex Guign. det. Wewalka 79" (4 exs. OLML); "Zansibar Küste Hildebr." (1 ex. ZMHB). - Zambia: "Katambora 40 ml W Victoria Falls, April, 1962" (1 ex. BMNH); "Kapiri Mpushi env. 13.12. 2002 Kantner" (2 exs. NHMB). - Malawi: "Nyasal. Bua R. 2.10. 1948 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS). - Mozambique: "Mandambuzi, Manda Wilderness Res. S12°17.679', E34°46.260', Watson 16.2. 2008" (2 exs. CGF); "Umbeluzi R. Dec. 4. 1948 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS). - Namibia: "E Caprivi 10 km SE Katima Mulilo 17°31'S / 24°25'E, Zambesi Altwasserarm, lux 6.3. 1992 Uhlig" (5 exs. ZMHB); "Kavango Popa Falls, lux 18°07'S / 21°35'E, 26.2.-3.3. 1992 Uhlig leg." (1 ex. ZMHB). - Botswana: "Kabulabula Chobe River 11-24.7. 1930" (1 ex. OLML); "Maun Thamalakane R. 10.10. 1982 Bilardo / Laccophilus concisus G. det. Bilardo" (2 exs. MSNM). - Zimbabwe: "Kyle Recr. Pk at Lake Mutirikwi 1-5.12. 1993, lux Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB); "Stream Rusapi 13.11. 1948" (3 exs. AMGS); "Pool Lundi 22. N. 1948 JOC." (5 exs. AMGS); "Stream between Salisbury-Bromley 12.11. 1948" (6 exs. AMGS); "Small stream Halfway Hotel-Gatooma, Salisbury 14.9. 1948 / Laccophilus turneri O-C. det. J. Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS); "Pool Lundi 22. N. 1948 JOC." (11 exs. AMGS); "Kariba env. 20.12. 1998 Kantner" (1 ex. NHMB). - South Africa: "Transvaal Ermelo stream 7. Dec. 1948 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "Transvaal Ermelo Dec. 1946" (1 ex. AMGS); "Kruger Nat. Pk. Skukuza Res. camp 24.59S- 31.35E /3.3. 1996 UV-light Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex. TMSA); "Kruger Nat. Pk. Skukuza Res. camp 25.00S- 31.35E /19.2. 1995 UV-light & trap Endrödy-Younga” (1 ex. TMSA); "Trsvl Bundu Inn 25.28S- 28.55E /24.3. 1974 at merc. vap. light, Endrödy-Younga” (2 exs. TMSA); "Natal Lions R. 30.3. 1960" (2 exs. AMS); "Natal Zululand Hlui-Hlui 15.9. 1947" (1 ex. AMGS); "Zululd Ndumu Nyamithi, saline pan 26.54S- 32.16E /12.6. 1989 shorewashing Endrödy-Klimaszew” (1 ex. TMSA); "Kwazulu-Natal Ndumu 25.55S- 32.18E / 21.11. 2002 light trap Harrison & Müller” (1 ex. TMSA; habitus in Fig. 428); "Zululd Ndumu Banzi, fresh wat. pan 26.53S- 32.16E / 16.2. 1989 shorewashing Endrödy & Klimaszew" (7 exs. TMSA, 1 ex. MZH); "Blinkwater Reserve, Greytown Natal, first stream from entrance, 1100 m mist belt grassland 4.2. 1997 Turner" (2 exs. AMGS, 1 ex. CCT); "Kwazulu Natal" (1 ex. AMGS); "Gen. 766G 3.7. 1962 (= Insese River near Empangeni station 6, Tugela River)" (1 ex. AMGS); "W. C. Prov., pond on Plettenberg rd, Knysna Distr. 14.2. 1947 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS); "WCP, Knysna 34°04.28'S, 23°04.11'E 9 m Hotový & Mateju leg." (2 exs. NMPC); "E. C. Prov. Uitenhage 5.12. 1954 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Mount Currie 6.5. 1956 JOC." (6 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Mount Currie 13.11. 1957 JOC." (6 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Hogsback 2. 1942 O.C." (3 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. E. London pond nr. Mooiplaats 8.3. 1955" (1 ex. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Maclear 9.5. 1956 JOC." (10 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. nr. Zwatrberg 1960 Chutter" (3 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Krom R. 1960" (2 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Albany stream Storm May 1939" (3 exs. AMGS); "E. C. Prov. Albany Distr. Grahamstown 10.3. 1946 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "E. C. Pr. Albany distr. Grahamstown Teafontein stream (33 26 AA) 3.V8. 1939 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "CPr. Knysna Main Forest Buffelsnek 18.I. 1951 / Brinck-Rudebeck / Laccophilus concisus Guig. = Laccophilus praeteritus O-C. det. JOC" (3 exs. MZLU; habitus in Fig. 429); "CP., Pond NO Knysna on Hwy R340 8.3. 1997 Challet" (4 exs. CGC, 1 ex. MZH); "Cape, Gatberg R, vlei, N-31.250, E28.120, 26.3. 1993 De Moor & al." (1 ex. AMGS).

Specimen with uncertain determination.

South Africa: "Blinkwater Reserve, Greytown Natal, bog on summit, 1100 m nist belt grassland 4.2. 1997 Turner" (1 ex. CCT).

Comments on synonymy and species status.

Male holotypes of Laccophilus remex , Laccophilus concisus , Laccophilus turneri and Laccophilus praeteritus have been examined and compared. Shape of penis is almost identical in the four taxa. Considering all examined male genitalia there is variation in shape between extremes, which makes a separation of different species difficult or almost impossible. Colour pattern of elytra is quite variable but exhibit similar ground-plan with transitional morphs between extremes. Accordingly, the four taxa are for the time being regarded, conspecific and synonymies are introduced as follows: Earlier synonymy of Laccophilus remex and Laccophilus turneri is confirmed as well as earlier synonymy of Laccophilus concisus and Laccophilus praeteritus . Laccophilus concisus is a new synonymy of Laccophilus remex . Laccophilus remex , being the oldest available name is the valid name of the species. An alternative, plausible, interpretation is that Laccophilus remex is in fact a complex of very closely related species. With present knowledge, the delimitation of the different species remains, however, an open question. Further study is definitely needed.

Diagnosis.

Although Laccophilus remex , as delimited here, exhibits considerable variation in appearance of elytral colour pattern this feature can often be used for recognition of the species. The species is also characterized by the robust penis, which often exhibits some variation. Laccophilus remex resembles very much of Laccophilus turbatus but Laccophilus remex is almost always larger (body length exceeds in most cases 4 mm). Additionally external outline of penis is rounded when it is angled in Laccophilus turbatus .

Description.

Body length 4.0-4.7 mm; width 2.2-2.6 mm. Elytral colour pattern variable; elytra covered with dense irrorations, which basally often are to a variable degree reduced. Basally often with quite extensive pale areas where irrorations are absent. Additionally, elytra sometimes with irrorations being sparser posterior to middle (Figs 426-429).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Posteriorly sometimes with dark area. Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double; large meshes contain 2-7 smaller meshes. At eyes with fine and irregular punctures, which extend towards middle of head.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous. At frontal margin and medially at posterior margin with a distinct dark to blackish ferrugineous area. Basal dark area sometimes reduced. Frontal, dark marking sometimes totally absent. Submat, finely microsculptured; reticulation double: larger meshes contain 2-7 smaller meshes. Frontally and laterally with scattered, fine punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with dense, dark ferrugineous to blackish irrorations. At base, irrorations often sparser, in part reduced, sometimes forming variable pale areas lacking irroration (Figs 426-429). Submat, finely microsculptured; reticulation double: large meshes contain 2-6 smaller meshes. Posteriorly two kinds of microsculpture become mixed and difficult to separate. Laterally and posteriorly double reticulation becomes obscure and indistinct. Elytron with discal, dorsolateral and lateral rows of fine and irregular punctures. Pre-apical, lateral furrow with fine hairs.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. Almost impunctate. Rather shiny, with very fine microsculpture. Metacoxal plates with a few, rather vague, transverse furrows. Ventrites with fine, somewhat curved striae. Apical ventrite of male with fine knob on one side (Fig. 81). Apex of prosternal process narrow, pointed.

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

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect quite broad, medially distinctly bended and extreme apex hooked, outline of it, however, rounded (Figs 270-274).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus rather slender. Apical ventrite symmetric (Fig. 82).

Distribution.

Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland (Fig. 549). Unverified country records are Senegal and Guinea ( Guignot 1956b), Mozambique ( Omer-Cooper 1965), Ethiopia ( Nilsson and Persson 1993) and Guinea Bissau ( Nilsson et al. 1995). Additionally, under the name Laccophilus concisus , Bilardo (1982) gives Cameroon.

Collecting circumstances.

Information in literature is superficial and sparse. Omer-Cooper (1958b) reports the species from a river with clear water and with water lilies, reed beds and patches of swamp. Also collected from pools e.g. in a tributary. Label data indicate that the species is often caught with light traps or at light. Moreover the species has been collected in various kinds of pools and ponds but also from running water as streams.