Laccophilus restrictus Sharp, 1882

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 130-133

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus restrictus Sharp, 1882 Figs 96-97, 286-287, 440-441, 556

Laccophilus restrictus Sharp 1882: 315 (original description, faunistics); v. d. Branden 1885: 23 (catalogue, faunistics); Régimbart 1895: 135 (description, faunistics); Sharp 1904: 3 (faunistics, discussion); Zimmermann 1920a: 25 (catalogue, faunistics); Zimmermann 1930: 21, 23 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 282 (description, faunistics); Guignot 1959a: 536 (list, synonymy, Laccophilus pictipennis Sharp); Alfieri 1976: 31 (faunistics); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 79 (list, synonymy, Laccophilus pictipennis Sharp); Nilsson 2001: 249 (catalogue, faunistics, list, synonymy, Laccophilus pictipennis Sharp); Nilsson 2015: 216 (catalogue, faunistics, list synonym Laccophilus pictipennis Sharp). Restored species.

Laccophilus evanescens Severin 1892: 472 (nomen nudum); Régimbart 1895: 134 (original description, faunistics); Zimmermann 1920a:18 (catalogue, faunistics); Guignot 1946c: 270, 273, 278, 312 (description, faunistics, discussion); Legros 1953: 1562 (faunistics); Guignot 1955g: 865 (faunistics); Guignot 1956a: 88 (faunistics); Guignot 1956b: 219 (faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1956: 21, 23 (faunistics, biology); Guignot 1959a: 562, 568 (description, faunistics); Omer-Cooper 1965: 77, 87 (description, faunistics); Legros 1972: 466 (faunistics); Bilardo 1976: 190 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Pederzani 1978: 119 (faunistics, description); Bilardo and Rocchi 1987: 104 (faunistics, biology); Pederzani 1988: 107 (faunistics, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 1990: 161, 177 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson and Persson 1993: 81, 94 (faunistics, biology); Nilsson et al.1995: 505 (faunistics); Rocchi 2000: 24 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 243 (catalogue, faunistics); Bilardo and Rocchi 2002: 156, 161, 174 (faunistics, list); Pederzani and Reintjes 2002: 40 (faunistics); Reintjes 2004: 67 (faunistics); van Vondel 2005: 130 (faun, biology); Bilardo and Rocchi 2013: 141 (faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 211 (catalogue, faunistics). New synonym.

Type localities.

Laccophilus restrictus : Egypt.

Laccophilus evanescens : Zaire: Matadi.

Type material studied

(2 exs.). Laccophilus restrictus : Lectotype (by present designation): male: "Type / Egypt / Sharp Coll. 1905-313 / Type 588 Laccophilus restrictus sp. n. Egypt" (BMNH).

Laccophilus evanescens : Cotype: female: "Matadi Congo / Museum Paris coll. Maurice Régimbart 1908 / evanescens Régb.” (MNHN). [Comments: the label data fits perfectly with what is given in the original description and accordingly we consider it as belonging to the type material despite it lacks type label. Previous authors have stated that the type material is deposited in IRSNB. We have examined two specimens from IRSNB (see below) with sampling locality Banana-Boma, located very closely to Matadi, which is given as type locality in the original description. One of the specimens from Boma is additionally provided with a type label. Status of these two specimens as type material of Laccophilus evanescens is, however, considered improbable. No lectotype designation is done here because an additional specimen from Matadi may still exist. It could be a male and in that case it is more suitable to be the lectotype.]

Additional material studied

(73 exs,). Ethiopia: "Eth. Merid., Delta de l’Omo Lac Rodolphe 570 m" (1 ex. MNHN). - Sudan: "R. Yei at Amadi 28.1. 1954 JJOC." (9 exs. AMGS); "Nimule Ferry 4.XI. 1954 J. & J. Omer-Cooper" (1 ex. AMGS); "Chartum coll. Baum" (1 ex. CGW); "Bahr el Abiad / Laccophilus evanescens Régb. det. Brancucci 1982" (1 ex. ZMHB); "Equatoria Nzara 22.4. 1986 Wewalka" (2 exs. CGW, 1 ex. MZH); "Wad Medani am Bl. Nil 20.10. 1979 lux Hieke" (1 ex. ZMHB); same but "26.10. 1979" (1 ex. ZMHB). - Mali: “Bamako” (1 ex. MNHN); "Kogoni X. 1966 Schmitz" (1 ex. MRAC; habitus in Fig. 440). - Chad: "Lake Chad nr Abide 23.5. 1973 Linnavuori" (7 exs. MZH); "Bebedja 28-31.5. 1973 Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH). - Guinea: "Faranah, Sidakoro, base-vie N10°14'27", W10°27'41", 6-27.5. 1994 Mei / Laccophilus evanescens Régb. det. Rocchi 1996" (1 ex. CSR). - Burkina Faso: "Ob. Volta Pundu Olsifiev" (1 ex. NHRS). - Ivory Coast: "Riv. Leraraba" (1 ex. MNHN); Ferkessédougou 10-20.5. 1964 Decelle" (1 ex. MRAC; habitus in Fig. 441). - Benin: "Dep. Littoral, Toho nr Pahou (village) 2.2. 2006 Goergen, Homarek & Hounguè leg./ 06°23'11.3"N 02°12'30,2" E, lake with rich riparian vegetation" (1 ex. NMW). - Nigeria: "R Jos-Bauchi rd. 9.IV. 1963 JOC." (1 ex. AMGS); "R. St. nr Mbiama 4-5.7. 1973 Linnavuori" (2 exs. MZH); "NW St. Badeggi, rice fields 8-9.8. 1973 Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "BPl. St. Wamba-Gudi 7.8. 1973 Linnavuori" (1 ex. MZH); "K. State N. Bussa 12.1. 1970 Medler" (1 ex. USNM). - Gabon: “Ogové Riv. Good / Laccophilus evanescens Régb. det. Rocchi 1991 " (1 ex. CSR); “Lambarènè 7.8. 1973 Bilardo & Pederzani" (3 exs. CFP). - Zaire: “Banana–Boma M. Tschoffen 91 Det. Régimb. / 11170/ Régimbart det. 1895 / Type (type label only pinned to female specimen) / Régimbart det. 1895 Laccophilus evanescens Rég”. (2 exs. IRSNB); PNG 17.7.1952/Miss. H. De Saeger II/fc/14 3806" (1 ex. MNHN); "Tshuapa-Mbandaka ca. 0°03'N- 18°28'E, a.l. 1964 Stam leg." (1 ex. RMNH, 1 ex. MZH); "Coquilhatville 3-4.4. 1963 Stam leg. / at light"(1 ex. RMNH). - Kenya: "Br.O.A., Fort Hall" (1 ex. ZMHB). - Zambia: "27.3.1993, 15°02'35"S /26°00'09E, Kafue NP Chunga Camp lux, Uhlig leg." (1 ex. MZH); "29.3. 1993, 15°02'35"S /26°00'09E, Kafue NP Chunga Camp lux, Uhlig leg." (1 ex. ZMHB). - Mozambique: "Beira 7.IX. 1955 JOC." (5 exs. AMGS); "Umbuluzi R. Nr Goba 4.12. 1948 JOC." (2 exs. AMGS). - Namibia: "Kavango: Gelukkie Kavango Ufer 18°03'S / 21°08'E, 1.3. 1992 Uhlig leg." (5 exs. ZMHB, 2 exs. MZH, 1 ex. NMNW); "Kavango, Popa Falls 18°07'S / 21°35' E Kavango Ufer, Schilf- Papyrus -Ufer-Vegetation, gesiebt 2.3. 1992 leg. M. Uhlig" (2 exs. ZMHB); "E Capriwi, Mudumu NP Nakatwa 18°10 ’/23°26’, 8-13.3. 1992 lux. Uhlig leg." (1 ex. ZMHB); "30.3.1999, 18°07'16S/21°34'51 Popa Falls NP. Banks of Okawango, floating Uhlig" (1 ex. ZMHB). - Botswana: "6.4. 1998 Shakawe Fishing Camp 18°27'S, 21°56'E Deckert leg."(1 ex. ZHMB). - South Africa: "Natal Sodwana Bay Nat.P. 20.12. 1992 Koch leg." (1 ex. ZHMB).

Comments on synonymy.

Type material of the two involved species, Laccophilus restrictus and Laccophilus evanescens , have been compared together with study of some additional specimens. No male type material of Laccophilus evanescens have, however, been available but external similarity between type material of the two species together with additional studies strongly indicate that they are synonymous. Laccophilus restrictus , being the older name is the valid name of the species. Laccophilus restrictus was earlier considered synonymous with Laccophilus pictipennis Sharp. Examination of the type material of Laccophilus pictipennis , however, clearly shows that the two species are not synonyms and accordingly Laccophilus restrictus deserves rank as a good species.

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus restrictus is characterized by vague and weak dorsal colour pattern in combination with penis, which in lateral view has a somewhat angled outline close to base of penis; from angle forwards penis evenly curved to extreme apex. Penis apex is extended to a small tip.

Description.

Body length 3.3-3.8 mm, width 1.8-2.0 mm. Oval to oblong; dorsal aspect pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. With somewhat irregular and weakly developed, dense irroration on elytra. Irroration rarely quite distinct (Figs 440-441).

Head: Pale ferrugineous; posteriorly slightly darker but dark area lacks clear delimitation. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured. Reticulation double, of two kinds; difference between fine and larger reticulation in part indistinct. Large meshes include 2-5 small meshes. At eyes, with fine, irregular punctures.

Pronotum: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous; without distinct darker markings. Submat, finely microsculptured; microsculpture in part indistinct. Reticulation double but in part distinction of different kinds of reticulation difficult. Larger meshes (when distinguishable) include 2-5 small meshes. Laterally and anteriorly, with sparse, irregular, fine punctures.

Elytra: Pale ferrugineous, with dense, vague, ferrugineous irrorations; rarely elytral colour pattern comparatively distinct (Figs 440-441). Rather shiny, very finely microsculptured. Reticulation in part double; posteriorly this feature indistinct or weakly developed; anteriorly slightly more distinct. Discal row of punctures fine, slightly irregular but still clearly discernible. Additional punctation very fine, irregular and hardly visible.

Ventral aspect: Pale ferrugineous, metacoxal process-area slightly darker; ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous. Slightly mat, finely microsculptured. Striae and furrows on metacoxal plates and abdomen fine and vague. Almost impunctate. Prosternal process apex slender, extended and pointed. Apical ventrite, with fine knob on one side (Fig. 96).

Legs: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. Protarsal claws slightly extended; and moderately curved. Protarsus and mesotarsus slightly enlarged, somewhat extended and provided with distinct suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis in lateral aspect anterior to base distinctly angled and from there forwards, curved to apex, which is extended to a small tip (Figs 286-287).

Female: Externally almost as male. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 97. Pro- and mesotarsus slender.

Distribution.

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Chad, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Benin, Nigeria, Gabon, Zaire, Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa (Fig. 556). Additional, unverified records are Mauretania ( Guignot 1955g), Senegal ( Guignot 1956b), Niger ( Omer-Cooper 1965), Tanzania ( Bilardo 1976) and Guinea Bissau ( Nilsson et al.1995).

Collecting circumstances.

In Mozambique Laccophilus restrictus has been collected in a small, grassy stream and in a marsh with lily pools and weeds ( Omer-Cooper 1956). Van Vondel (2005) reports that the species has been sampled e.g. in stagnant remain of brooklet, in pool with loamy bottom, and at light. In Tanzania collected with UV-light ( Bilardo 1976). Additional information on sampling localities where Laccophilus restrictus has been collected is available in Bilardo and Rocchi (1987, 1990), Pederzani (1988) and Nilsson and Persson (1993).