Laccophilus saegeri Guignot, 1958

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 126-128

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus saegeri Guignot, 1958 Figs 93, 283-284, 437, 438, 553

Laccophilus saegeri Guignot 1958: 7 (original description, faunistics); Medler 1980: 155 (faunistics, list); Nilsson 2001: 250 (catalogue, faunistics); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 40 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 217 (catalogue, faunistics).

Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 35, 38, 39 (original description, faunistics, biology, list); Reintjes 2004: 66 (faunistics, list); Nilsson 2015: 210 (catalogue, faunistics). New synonym.

Type localities.

Laccophilus saegeri : Zaire: Garamba National Park.

Laccophilus comoensis : The Ivory Coast: Comoé Nat. Park.

Type material studied

(16 exs.). Laccophilus saegeri : Holotype: male: "Holotypus / Congo Belge, P.N.G. Miss. H. De Saeger II/hd/14s, 17-X-1951 Réc. De Saeger, 2644 / Coll. Mus. Congo (ex. coll. I.P.N.C.B.) / Guignot det., 1957 Laccophilus saegeri sp. n. Holotype" (MRAC; habitus in Fig. 437). - Paratypes: "Congo Belge, P.N.G. Miss. H. De Saeger II/hd/14s, 17-X-1951 Réc. De Saeger, 2644 / Paratype" (3 exs. IRSNB, 3 exs. MNHN, 2 exs. NHMB); "Congo Belge, P.N.G. Miss. H. De Saeger II/fc/14, 4-VII-1952 H. De Saeger, 3736 / Paratype" (2 exs. IRSNB; one paratype belongs to Laccophilus remex species complex); "PNG Miss. H. De Saeger II/gc/13s, 3.9. 1951 H. De Saeger, 2359" (1 ex. MNHN, 1 ex. NHMB).

Laccophilus comoensis : Holotype, male: "Cote d’Ivoire Comoé N.P. N8,5, W3,5, leg et det. N. Reintjes / 4.2. 1999 CB6A Comoé River / Holotypus in Quad. Studi Nat. Romagna 16 suppl.: 35-41 / Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani & Reintjes, 2002 / Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani & Reintjes Holotype" (NMW; habitus in Fig. 438). - Paratypes: "Cote d’Ivoire Comoé N.P. N8,5, W3,5, leg et det. N. Reintjes / 3.1. 1999 ABIA Temporary pond / Paratypus in Quad. Studi Nat. Romagna 16 suppl.: 35-41 / Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani & Reintjes, 2002 / Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani & Reintjes Paratype" (1 ex. NMW); "Cote d’Ivoire Comoé N.P. N8,5, W3,5, leg et det. N. Reintjes / 26.12. 1998 TBIA Temporary pond/Paratypus in Quad. Studi Nat. Romagna 16 suppl.: 35-41 / Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani & Reintjes, 2002 / Laccophilus comoensis Pederzani & Reintjes Paratype" (1 ex. NMW).

Additional material studied

(2 exs.): Zaire: "Katanga, Kansenia -6. 1925 de Witte" (1 ex. CGW); "Jadotville 9. 52" (1 ex. NHMB).

Specimen with uncertain determination

(1 ex.). Tanzania: "16 km W Iringa, Isimilia-Schlucht 14.8. 1998 M. Wewalka leg." (1 female ex. CGW).

Records which need re-confirmation

(specimens now, not available) (4 exs.). Nigeria: "Kontagora 3.IV. 1963 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS). - Zambia: "N. Rhodesia Lusaka" (2 exs. AMGS).

Comments on synonymy.

Holotypes, males, of Laccophilus saegeri and Laccophilus comoensis have been studied and compared. The shape of penis is almost identical. Some minor variation in appearance of elytral colour pattern exists. The difference is, however, superficial and equally great differences are found between the specimens constituting the type series of Laccophilus saegeri . Accordingly, it seems clear that the two species are conspecific. Valid name of the species is Laccophilus saegeri , being the older available name.

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus saegeri is characterized by quite large body; quite uniform elytral colour pattern in combination with shape of penis, which exhibits only minor variation. Penis in lateral aspect distinctly curved, extreme apex pointing forwards and not distinctly hooked. Resembles much Laccophilus epinephes but penis is less broad and quite slender. Laccophilus saegeri resembles in part also of Laccophilus pulcher , here located in specgies group 11 ( deceptor ). Similarity between Laccophilus saegeri and Laccophilus pulcher is especially confined to shape of penis. Colour pattern of elytra is however completely different ( Laccophilus pulcher has extensive, dark colour on elytra). Similarity in penis shape indicates possibility of closer relationship between these two species - this question needs further study.

Description.

Body: Length 4.1-4.7 mm, width 2.2-2.6 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body exhibits some variation (Figs 437-438).

Head: Pale ferrugineous. Post-medially, sometimes with two minor, ferrugineous spots. Slightly mat. Finely microsculptured. Double reticulation discernible but rather indistinct; only in part visible. Large meshes, when discernible may contain 3-7 small meshes. Impunctate, except at eyes; with fine, irregular punctures. Areas of fine punctures extend towards middle of head.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous. Anteriorly between eyes often narrowly darkened; with a ferrugineous to dark ferrugneous marking. Mediobasally sometimes with two minute, narrow darkened markings. Pronotum sometimes almost unicoloured pale. Rather shiny, although finely microsculptured. Reticulation fine, double and extensively discernible. Large meshes contain 3-7 small meshes. Impunctate, except anteriorly and laterally; with very fine to fine, irregular punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous. Colour pattern variable but specimens exhibit same ground-plan; consists of irregular, dark ferrugineous irrorations, which are sparser subbasally and slightly posterior to mid of elytra where two transverse, pale, areas are discernible (Figs 437-438). Rather shiny, finely reticulated. Double reticulation discernible, but large meshes of reticulation often rather indistinct. When discernible, large meshes may contain 3-7 small meshes. Impunctate, except for discal row of punctures, formed by fine, irregular punctures. Dorsolateral and lateral rows indicated by a few scattered punctures. Lateral, pre-apical furrow fine, pubescent.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous, apically on abdomen and metacoxal processes ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous. Submat to rather shiny, finely reticulated; in part reticulation obliterated. Basal ventrites with fine, curved striae. Almost impunctate. Prosternal process slender, apex slightly extended, pointed. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 92. Metacoxal plates, especially in anterior half with fine, almost transversely located, shallow furrows.

Legs: Protarsus slender; claws slightly curved, equally long. Pro- and mesotarsus with suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect quite long, distinctly bended and extreme apex expanding forwards, not distinctly hooked (Figs 283-284).

Female: Not studied. No females have been available for study.

Distribution.

Ivory Coast, Zaire (Fig. 553). Specimen from Tanzania is a female, the determination of which is uncertain. Specimens from Nigeria and Zambia need to be re-examined but are not now available.

Collecting circumstances.

Collected from temporary ponds. See also Reintjes (2002).