Laccophilus ferrugo, Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 19-20

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus ferrugo sp. n. Figs 20-21, 222-223, 384, 522

Type locality.

Mozambique: Prov. Inhambane, 15 km SE Save.

Type material

(5 exs.): Holotype, male: "Mocambique Prov. Inhambane 15 km SE Save, 18-21.12. 2005 A. Kurdna Jr. lgt." (CFP; habitus in Fig. 384). - Paratypes, female: Same data as holotype (2 exs. CFP, 1 ex. MZH, 1 ex. NHRS).

Diagnosis.

Absence of dorsal colour pattern (or sometimes presence of indistinct vague darker areas on body) in combination with peculiar, abrupt end of penis-apex, distinguishes Laccophilus ferrugo from the other species in this species group.

Description.

Body length 4.2-4.7 mm, breadth 2.2-2.4 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern lacking or very indistinct and vaguely delimited (Fig. 384).

Head: Ferrugineous; frontally often narrowly and slightly paler; with a vague, pale ferrugineous border at foremargin. Impunctate, except at eyes; with scattered, irregular punctures. Slightly matt, reticulation, simple, meshes small and of equal size.

Pronotum: Ferrugineous, no distinct colour pattern. Impunctate, except at margins; with fine, irregular punctures, which are lacking medially at base. Slightly matt, with fine, simple reticulation; meshes small and of equal size.

Elytra: Ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous; sometimes with vague, dark ferrugineous to blackish areas (one at scutellar region, one extensive on medial part, and one apically). Dark areas, when present a very diffuse and their delimitation vague (Fig. 384). Submat, finely and equally microsculptured; meshes small and of equal size. Discally with a fine, irregular row of punctures. Dorsolateral row and lateral row of punctures sparse, irregular and especially lateral one is fragmentary. Apically with sparse and irregularly distributed punctures of variable size.

Ventral aspect: Ferrugineous, abdomen in part darker; ferrugineous to dark ferrugineous. Almost impunctate. Scattered punctures on apical ventrite which lacks small knob on one side (Fig. 20). Rather shiny, with very fine, in part, indistinct microsculpture. Apex of prosternal process quite slender, posteriorly moderately extended, apex narrows quite abruptly (approx. as Fig. 1). Metacoxal plates in frontal half provided with, fine, almost transversely located, shallow furrows. Abdomen with fine, curved striae. Metacoxal process ends abruptly; no posterior extensions (Fig. 6).

Legs: Pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous. Pro- and mesotarsus slightly enlarged, provided with suckers. Apex of metatibial spines bifid, although very finely so.

Male genitalia: Penis, lateral aspect, from approximately middle to apex evenly curved; tip somewhat enlarged, ends abruptly (Figs 222-223).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender. Apical sternite (Fig. 21).

Etymology.

The species name “ferrugo” is a Latin noun meaning rust (of iron) and relates to the body colour of the new species.

Distribution.

Mozambique (Fig. 522).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.