Naucoridae Leach, 1815 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Tanzania
Author
Mbogho, Aaron Y.
Author
Sites, Robert W.
text
African Invertebrates
2013
2013-12-23
54
2
513
513
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.5733/afin.054.0218
journal article
10.5733/afin.054.0218
2305-2562
10830743
49744D2F-F3D6-43C7-982D-F0A8FF70B15C
Laccocoris spurcus congoensis
Poisson, 1949
Figs 19
,
30
Laccocoris spurcus congoensis
: Poisson 1949: 67–69
.
Diagnosis:
Laccocoris spurcus congoensis
can be distinguished from its two known congeners in
Tanzania
by the longer body length of>
10 mm
and the labrum half as long as wide and not reaching the distal labial segment. This subspecies has sharp posterolateral corners of the pronotum (
Fig. 19
) and all of our specimens have brachypterous hindwings. However, if a different wing morph is discovered as is known to occur in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the posterolateral corners of the pronotum probably will be of a different shape.
Material
examined:
TANZANIA
:
Mbeya Region
:
Maboo
stream at
Mbeya
Peak village
,
8°50.432'S
33°25.060'E
,
2433 m
,
4.viii.2010
,
R.W. Sites
&
A. Mbogho
, vegetated pool of small high elevation stream, L-1207 (
NMSA
,
UMC
;
12♂
,
10♀
, 19 nymphs)
.
Distribution:
Laccocoris spurcus congoensis
was known from the
Democratic Republic of Congo
(Poisson 1949, 1951
b
), whereas the nominate subspecies is known only from
Cape Province
in
South Africa
. In
Tanzania
,
L. s. congoensis
was found in only one locality at high elevation at
Mbeya
Peak in
Mbeya Region
.
Discussion:
Laccocoris spurcus
is one of the largest species of
Laccocoris
in Africa. The nominotypical subspecies is known from
South Africa
(Stål 1865). Poisson (1949) described a subspecies from
Democratic Republic of the Congo
which is known to have wing polymorphism with which are associated differences in pronotum shape. Poisson (1949) reported that approximately 90 % of the individuals from
Democratic Republic of the Congo
were brachypterous and 10 % macropterous. We collected only hindwing brachypterous individuals of this species from a single location in
Tanzania
.