Laccophilus Leach is undoubtedly one of the most species-rich and widely distributed dytiscid genus. It contains 263 described species worldwide (Nilsson, 2014) and 37 species in the Palaearctic region (Nilsson and Hájek, 2014). In East Asia, eight species have been recorded in Korea, 21 species in China, 10 species in Japan and three species in the Far East of Russia (Nilsson and Hájek, 2014).
They are characterized by the combination of the following characters: head short and broad; median part of prosternum and prosternal process on same plane; prosternal process very small, slender and apex acute; metatibial spines bifid apically; pro- and mesotarsi with 5 tarsomeres; postero-lateral angle of metatarsomere strongly lobed (Kamiya, 1938a; Roughley and Larson, 2001).
In this paper we recognized five species, three of which [L. hyalinus (DeGeer), L. lewisius Sharp, and L. minutus (Linné)] previously recorded in the Korean fauna were incorrect identification of L. vagelineatus Zimmermann, L. lewisioides Brancucci, and L. difficilis Sharp, respectively. Habitus and SEM photographs, key and diagnoses of the species are provided.
Materials and Methods
To identify Korean Laccophilus Leach more reliably, we compared them with type series and voucher specimens in the National History Museum (NHM, London, United Kingdom). The specimens used in this study are deposited in Chungnam National University Insect Collection (CNUIC), Daejeon, Korea and Ehime University Museum (EUMJ), Matsuyama, Japan. Habitus photographs were prepared from single or multi-layered shots taken with Olympus DP71 camera with several images amalgamated using Helicon Focus 5.3 (Helicon Soft, Kharkov, Ukraine) and edited by Adobe Photoshop CS4 (Adobe, San Jose, USA). Dry specimens for scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs were sputter coated with platinum (SPUTTER COATER: CRESSINGTON 208 AUTO) and examined under SEM (S-4800, HITACHI). The terminology of taxonomic characters and measurements of specimens mainly followed Brancucci (1983) and Balke (2005).
Taxonomic accounts
Family Dytiscidae Leach, 1815
Subfamily Laccophilinae Gistel, 1856
Genus LaccophilusLeach, 1815 깨알물방개속LaccophilusLeach, 1815: 84 (type species Dytiscus minutesLinné, 1758)
Key to the species of genus Laccophilus in Korea
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Body length more than 4.0 mm ········································ 2
- Body length less than 4.0 mm ············································ 3
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Elytra with distinct brown to black vitta ······ L. lewisioides
- Elytra with indistinct brown vitta ························ L. difficilis
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Ventral surface yellowish brown ······································ 4
- Ventral surface dark brown ·························· L. vagelineatus
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Maxillary palpomere 4 with black marking on apical part ·············································································· L. kobensis
- Maxillary palpomere 4 without black marking on apical part ·················································································· L. sharpi
Laccophilus difficilis Sharp 깨알물방개
(Figs. 1A, 2, 6A) Laccophilus difficilisSharp, 1873: 53; Kamite et al., 2005: 618.
Laccophilus minutus: Kim et al. 1994: 132; Cho and Park, 2010: 95 [misidentification].
Korean records. Laccophilus difficilis: Mori, 1932: 2; Takizawa, 1932: 22; Kusanagi, 1936: 325; Kamiya, 1938a: 6; 1938b: 26; 1940: 116; Cho, 1957: 198 (misprint); 1969: 173; Brancucci, 1983: 279; Kwon and Suh, 1986: 92; Yoon, 1988: 570; Yoon and Ahn, 1988: 192; Kim and Lee, 1991: 65; Lee et al., 1992: 49; Park and Kim, 1993: 110; Kim et al., 1994: 132; Lee, 1994: 17; Lee, 1995: 11; Nilsson, 1995: 69; Kim and Kim, 1996: 126; Kim and Kim, 1998: 169; Kim, 2000: 131; Nilsson, 2003; 76; Han et al., 2007: 271; Han et al., 2008: 213; Park et al., 2008: 210; Cho and Park, 2010: 95; Nilsson and Hájek, 2014: 47.
Diagnosis. Body length 5.0-5.5 mm. Dorsal surface yellow to yellowish brown and ventral surface yellowish brown.
Maxillary palpomere 4 dark brown at apical forth. Labial palpomere 3 dark brown at apical third. Pronotum with small polygonal meshes and few setae, mostly two or three meshes connected (Fig. 2A). Elytra yellow with irregular marking and vittae, small polygonal meshes and few setae present, meshes not connected and larger than pronotum (Fig. 2B). Metatibia with 7-9 spines on dorsal margin (Fig. 2C), largest spine as long as metatarsomere 1. Metatarsomere 1 longest, about 1.7 times as long as 2 (Fig. 2D). Postero-medial part of sternite VII slightly convex (Fig. 2E). Median lobe of aedeagus slender, curved; apex acute, subapical to middle expanded laterally; anterior third narrowed; basal part widest (Fig. 2F).
Material examined. Lectotype: 1♂ (NHM), with labels as follows: “Laccophilus diffiicilis Types D. S., Lectotype, Lectotypus, Japan., Japan. Lewis., Sharp Coll. 1905-313., Laccophilus difficilis Types D. S., Lectotype Laccophilus difficilis Sharp det. M. Brancucci”. NORTH KOREA: 8♂♂12♀♀, Pyeong Yang-City, SunAn-Airport, Light of Entrance, 17 VII 2008, Changdo Han leg; 5♂♂3♀♀, Hyangsan-Gun, Around Hyangsan-Hotel, Near Chaongchon-River, 29. VI. 2009. Changdo Han leg; SOUTH KOREA: More than 300 specimens from all area in South Korea.
Distribution. Korea, China (Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Sichuan, Shanghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan, Russia (Far East).
Remarks. This species can be distinguished from L. minutus by the apical forth of median lobe expanded laterally.
Laccophilus kobensis Sharp 동쪽깨알물방개
Laccophilus kobensisSharp, 1873: 53; Nilsson, 1995: 69; Kamite et al., 2005: 620.
Korean records.Laccophilus kobensis: Kwon and Suh, 1986: 93; Lee et al., 1992: 61; Kim et al., 1994: 132; Han et al., 2007: 271; Han et al., 2008: 215; Park et al., 2008: 211; Cho and Park, 2010: 95.
Diagnosis. Body length 3.5-4.0 mm. Dorsal surface yellowish brown and ventral surface brown. Maxillary palpomere 4 dark brown at apical third. Labial palpomere 3 dark brown at apical a third. Pronotum with small polygonal meshes and few setae, mostly two or three meshes connected (Fig. 3A). Elytra yellowish brown to brown with irregular marking and indistinct vittae, small polygonal meshes and few setae present; meshes not connected and larger than pronotum (Fig. 3B). Metatibia with 7-9 spines on dorsal margin (Fig. 3C), largest spine longer than metatarsomere 1. Metatarsomere 1 longest, about 1.5 times as long as 2 (Fig. 3D). Postero-medial part of sternite VII valvular (Fig. 3E). Median lobe of aedeagus slender, weakly curved; apex acute, subapical to middle expanded laterally; widest at middle (Fig. 3F).
Material examined. Lectotype: 1 ♂ (NHM), with labels as follows: “Laccophilus kobensis Types D. S., Lectotype, Japan. Lewis, Sharp Coll. 1905-313., Japan, Kobé, Japan. L. kobensis Type D. S., Lectotype Laccophilus kobensis Sharp det. M. Brancucci”. SOUTH KOREA: Gyeongbuk Prov.: 1♂♂3♀ ♀, Pohang-si, Nam-gu, Jigok-dong, 26 IV 1992, SH Lee; Jeju Prov.: 1♂1♀, Jeju-si, Hangyeong-myeon, Yongsu-ri, 17 VIII 1992, SH Lee, pond; 1♂1♀, Jeju-si, Jocheon-eub, Seonheul-ri, 11 VI 2005, DH Lee, pond; 1♂3♀♀, same data as former except for 12 VI 2005; 2♂♂1♀, same data as former except for 22 V 2006 (1♂1♀, on slide); 1♂, same data as former except for 2 III 2007 (1♂, on slide); 2♂♂3♀♀, same data as former except for Dongbaek-park, 25 IX 2008 (1♂, on slide); 1♂, Seogwipo-si, Galmae-pond, 25 VII 2005, SH Lee, pond (1♂, on slide); 3♂♂5♀♀, Jeju-si, Saekdal-dong, 10 V 2012, HG Min, marsh; 1♀, Jeju-si, Saekdal-dong, 1100goji, N33°21'36.45" E126°47'46.42", 1098m, 24 V 2006, DH Lee, mountain stream; 2♂♂, same data as former except for 8 XI 2006 (1♂, on slide); Distribution. Korea, China (Fujian, Guanxi, Hunan, Shangdong), Japan, Taiwan.
Laccophilus lewisioides Brancucci 줄무늬깨알물방개(신칭)
(Figs 1C, 4 6B) Laccophilus lewisioidesBrancucci, 1983: 272. Laccophilus lewisius: Cho et al., 1985: 19; Kwon and Suh, 1986: 93; Yoon, 1988: 570; Yoon and Ahn, 1988: 192; Lee et al., 1992: 50; Kim et al., 1994: 132; Lee, 1994: 17; Lee, 1995: 11; Han et al., 2007: 271; Han et al., 2008: 216; Cho and Park, 2010: 95. [misidentification].
Korean records.Laccophilus lewisioides: Brancucci, 1983: 272; Nilsson, 1995: 69; Hua, 2002: 39; Hájek, 2003: 117; Nillson, 2003; 46; Nilsson and Hájek, 2014: 47.
Diagnosis. Body length 4.0-4.5 mm. Body mostly yellowish brown. Maxillary palpomere 4 dark brown at apical third. Labial palpomere 3 brown at apical part. Pronotum with large irregular meshes and few setae (Fig. 4A). Elytra yellow with distinct dark brown vittae, large transverse meshes and few setae present; meshes larger than pronotum (Fig. 4B). Metatibia with 7-9 of spines on dorsal margin (Fig. 4C), largest spine as long as metatarsomere 1. Metatarsomere 1 longest, about 1.5 times as long as 2 (Fig. 4D). Postero-median part of sternite VII slightly convex (Fig. 4E). Median lobe of aedeagus slender, bent and widest at middle, apex acute (Fig. 4F).
Material examined. SOUTH KOREA: Gyeongbuk Prov.: 1 ♂, Euiseong-gun, Dongseong-pond, 6 VI 2010, SH Lee, pond; 1♀, same data as former except for Hwajeon-pond; 1♂1♀, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeyang-dong, Nammae-reservoir, N35°49'41.37" E128°44'40.37", 58 m, 12 IX 1984, R. Pinger, reservoir; 1♂, same data as former except for 18 IV 1985; 1♀, same data as former except for 25 IV 1985; 1♂1♀, same data as former except for 13 V 1989; 1♂1♀, Gyeongju-si, Geoncheon-eub, Sinpyeong-ri, 28 V 1993, SH Lee; 1♀, Pohang-si, Nam-gu, Daejam-dong, Daejam-reservoir, N36°00'55.79" E129°20'07.38" 38 m, 12 V 1988, SH Lee, reservoir; 1♀, same data as former except for 18 IX 1988; 4♂♂2♀, Pohang-si, Nam-gu, Yeonileub, Yugang-ri, 23 VIII 1992, SH Lee (2♂♂1♀, on slides); Gyeongnam Prov.: 2♂♂3♀♀, Milyang-si, Bubuk-myeon, Uiyang-ri, Uiyang-reservoir, N35°32'46.60" E128°42'58.68", 71 m, 14 IX 1996, SH Lee, reservoir.
Distribution. Korea, China (Hebei, Jiangsu, Inner Mongol, Shanghai), Russia (Far East).
Remarks. This species can be distinguished from L. lewisius Sharp by the median lobe bent at middle
Laccophilus sharpi Régimbart 샤아프깨알물방개
Laccophilus sharpiRégimbart, 1889: 151 Laccophilus similisRégimbart, 1889: 150. Laccophilus samosirCsiki, 1938: 125.
Korean records.Laccophilus sharpi: Takizawa, 1932: 23; Kamiya, 1938a: 8; 1938b: 28; Ishii, 1940: 42; Cho, 1957: 198; 1969: 173; Brancucci, 1983: 347; Kwon and Suh, 1986: 93; Yoon, 1988: 571; Yoon and Ahn, 1988: 193; Kim et al., 1994: 132; Nilsson, 1995: 71; Yoon, 1995: 125; Hua, 2002: 39; Nilsson, 2010: 49; Cho and Park, 2010: 95; Nilsson and Hájek, 2014: 48. Laccophilus sharpi similis: Mori, 1932: 2 [synonym of L. sharpi].
Distribution. Korea, Australia, China (Anhui, Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Guanxi, Hainan, Hebei, Hongkong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Sichuan, Shangdong, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Himachal Pradesh, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Taiwan, Vietnam, Remarks. We could not find specimens in Korea but cited this species based on Brancucci (1983).
Laccophilus vagelineatus Zimmermann 얼룩깨알물방개
(Figs. 1D, 5, 6B) Laccophilus vagelineatusZimmermann, 1922: 19; Kamite et al., 2005: 623.
Laccophilus hyalinus: Jung et al., 2011: 42 [misidentification]. Korean records.Laccophilus vagelineatus: Brancucci, 1983: 282; Lee, 1994: 17; Nilsson, 1995: 69; Hua, 2002: 39; Hájek, 2003: 120; Nillson, 2003; 46; Nilsson and Hájek , 2014: 48.
Diagnosis. Body length 3.5-4.0 mm. Dorsal surface yellow to yellowish brown and ventral surface dark brown. Maxillary palpomere 4 without dark brown marking. Labial palpomere 3 without dark brown marking. Pronotum with small transverse meshes and few setae (Fig. 5A). Elytra brown with distinct dark brown vittae; transverse yellowish brown marking present on anterior fourth; small polygonal meshes and few setae present; meshes smaller than pronotum (Fig. 5B). Metatibia with 5-6 spines on dorsal margin (Fig. 5C); largest spine longer than metatarsomere 1. Metatarsomere 1 longest, about 1.7 times as long as 2 (Fig. 5D). Postero-median part of sternite VII valvular (Fig. 5E). Median lobe of aedeagus slender, weakly curved; apex acute, anterior fifth broadly expanded laterally; basal part widest (Fig. 5F).
Material examined. SOUTH KOREA: Gyeonggi Prov.: 4♂ ♂3♀♀, Suwon-si, Paldal-gu, Hwaseo-dong, Seoho-reservoir, N37°16'38.87" E126°59'17.42", 35 m, 4 IX 1990, SH Lee, reservoir (2♂♂1♀, on slides); Gyeongnam Prov.: 1♂, Busan-si, Mulam, 24 VII 1991, SH Lee.
Distribution. Korea, China (Anhui, Fujian, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan, Russia (Far East).
Remarks. This species can be distinguished from L. hyalinus by the elytra with transverse yellow marking.Fig .6