Laccocoris limicola ( Stål, 1855 )

Mbogho, Aaron Y. & Sites, Robert W., 2013, Naucoridae Leach, 1815 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Tanzania, African Invertebrates 54 (2), pp. 513-513 : 523

Laccocoris limicola ( Stål, 1855)

Figs 17 , 30

Naucoris limicola Stål, 1855: 46 .

Laccocoris limicola: Stål 1865: 178 .

Diagnosis: Laccocoris limicola can be distinguished from its two known congeners in Tanzania by the triangular or acuminate labrum nearly as long as wide and the produced, bluntly acute mesosternal tubercle. This species also has a body length of 8.5–9.3 mm and sharp posterolateral corners of the pronotum ( Fig. 17 ). It is known in Tanzania only from specimens with micropterous hindwings; however, if a different wing morph is discovered the posterolateral corners of the pronotum probably will be of a different shape.

Material examined: TANZANIA: Kagera Region: Kagera / Kigoma regional border, Muvozi River , 3°11.331'S 31°02.129'E, 27.vii.2010, 1156 m, R.W. Sites & A. Mbogho, rocky stream with dense filamentous vegetation, L-1158 ( UMC; 5♂, 2♀). Kigoma Region: 40 km N of Kigoma, 4°53.201'S 29°52.190'E, 952 m, 27.vii.2010, R.W. Sites & A. Mbogho, rapid stream with slab rocks, gravel, marginal vegetation, L-1165 ( UMC; 1♂, 1♀) .

Distribution: Laccocoris limicola was originally described from Gariep (Northern Cape Province) and Limpopo, South Africa ( Stål 1855). During our collections, the species was found in Kagera and Kigoma regions of western Tanzania. In each of the collections, it was taken syntopically with L. limigenus Stål in association with rocks and submerged vegetation in moderate current.

Discussion: The African species of Laccocoris were apportioned into two groups by Poisson (1949): the spurcus group and the limigenus group. Laccocoris limicola is in the spurcus group, which is characterized as having slightly shortened membranes of the hemelytra and brachypterous or micropterous hindwings, and the posterolateral angles of the pronotum are more or less acute and recurved caudad (Poisson 1949; Linnavuori 1987). Linnavuori (1987) added that the membranes of the hemelytra are acuminate apically.

Figures

Figs 17–19. (17) Laccocoris limicola female from L-1158, (16) Laccocoris limigenus male from L-1225, (19) Laccocoris spurcus congoensis female from L-1207. Sizes are proportionate among figures.

Fig.30.Distribution maps of13 speciesof Naucoridae known from Tanzania.Notincluded is Neomacrocoris usambaricus, which was recorded from West Usambara. (Map for N. bondelaufa and N. vuga is reproduced from Sites & Mbogho (2012), with permission by Magnolia Press.)