Laccophilus caiaricus Guignot, 1956

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 163-164

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus caiaricus Guignot, 1956 Figs 134, 466, 562

Laccophilus caiaricus Guignot 1956f: 792 (original description, faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 241 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Senegal: Cayar.

Type material studied

(2 exx.). Holotype: female: "IFAN 1954 Kayar Senegal / IFAN 1954 No 3254 Abonnene / Type / F. Guignot det., 1954 Laccophilus caiaricus sp. n. Type female" (MNHN). - Paratype: Almost same data but labelled: “Paratype” (1 ex. MNHN; habitus in Fig. 466).

Diagnosis.

Most probably to be regarded a distinct species although only female is known. It is distinguished by its peculiar colour pattern, different from all other recognized Laccophilus species in Africa. From species placed in this species group Laccophilus caiaricus is distinguished by being the smallest species with maximum length of body 3.5 mm (minimum length of body in other species included is 3.6 mm). [Comment: location of Laccophilus caiaricus in this species group is uncertain.]

Description.

Body length 3.5 mm, width 1.9-2.0 mm. Dorsal colour pattern of body rather distinct, slightly variable (Fig. 466).

Head: Pale ferrugineous; posteriorly at eyes with vague, dark ferrugineous areas. At eyes with fine, scattered punctures; punctures extend towards middle of head-disc (puncture-areas still clearly separated medially). Submat, distinctly microsculptured. Reticulation double. Coarse meshes fine, in part hardly discernible. Coarse meshes may contain 2-6 finer meshes.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. Frontally in middle with distinct darkened areas. Basally in middle with vague darker area. Frontally with fine, irregular, in part indistinct punctures. Submat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double. Coarse meshes contain 2-6 fine meshes. Fine meshes in part indistinct and hardly discernible.

Elytra: Ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous, with slightly variable, pale ferrugineous markings; in part dark colour forms vague undulations (Fig. 466). Almost impunctate; very fine, sparse punctures may be discerned discally, dorsolaterally and laterally. Submat, very finely microsculptured. Reticulation indistinctly double; coarse meshes weakly developed, in part obliterated.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous. Almost impunctate. Rather shiny although with very fine microsculpture. Metacoxal plate with about 10 transverse, shallow furrows. Abdomen with fine curved striae. Female apical ventrite (Fig. 134). Prosternal process slender, apex extended and pointed.

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus slender, somewhat extended.

Male: Unknown.

Distribution.

Senegal (Fig. 562).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.