Laccophilus fasciatus fasciatus Aubé 1838

Laccophilus fasciatus fasciatus Aube Laccophilus fasciatus Aube, 1938, p. 423. Type: Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, number 2842, female: type locality here restricted to Cuitlahuac, Vera Cruz, Mexico.
Laccophilus apicalis Sharp, 1873, p. 53; Sharp, 1882a, p. 291; Sharp, 1882b, p. 10; Darlington, 1936, p. 153; Leech, 1948a, p. 65.
DIAGNOSIS. — The dark blotch across the posterior part of the elytra will separate this race from all other irrorated species in Mexico and Central America except salvini. It is black beneath, however, while fasciatus is reddishbrown to brown. L. salvini also lacks subbasal finger-like projections on the elytral pattern.
NOMENCLATURAL NOTES. — This race has long been recognized as L. apicalis Sharp, and fasciatus has been ascribed to the populations in the eastern United States; but, unfortunately, Aube described fasciatus from mixed material from the United States and Mexico. The only known specimen used in the original description is a female from Mexico; thus, the name fasciatus must be used for the southern subspecies. The species name remains the same, since both are members of one polytypic species.
VARIATION. — Individual variation in color and pattern seems as great as any geographic variation except for intergrade influence from terminalis. There are some important sexual and geographic variations in quantitative characters, however. L. /. fasciatus males are about 0.1 mm longer and 0.05 mm wider than females (Table 2). The PW/EL ratio, which is the same for both sexes, shows an increase in Honduras and Costa Rica. From Nicaragua north, the PW/EL value is about 0.583 with no value exceeding 0.587; but south of Nicaragua, the averages are 0.587 to 0.596. This means
LACCOPHILUS f. FASCIATUS that the southern Central American populations are relatively wider than the ones to the north. There does not appear to be any significant difference in length, however, between the two areas.
But specimens from the Yucatan Peninsula are larger. A sample (N = 46 for each sex) from Chenchoyi, Campeche, was larger in all measurements than any other locality except Autlan, which might be reflecting influence from terminalis. The closest samples to Chenchoyi (Catemaco, Vera Cruz and Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas) are smaller for all measurements, although the WP/EL ratios are the same.
The heterogenity of L. /. fasciatus is also reflected in a plot of the frequency distribution for length (Fig. 6). The curve for females has two peaks — one at about 4.75 mm and the other at 4.60 mm. crosshatched; females, stippled.
The number of specimens is too large to assume sampling error in this case. There is only one peak for males (also at about 4.75 mm), but there is a bulge on the left slope which suggests another peak might be hidden in the curve. In contrast, the curves for terminalis and rufus have single definite peaks and even slopes. The larger population from the Yucatan Peninsula might account for these irregularities. — The northern boundary of L. /. fasciatus forms a U-curve lying on the separation of the Nearctic and Neotropical Realms. It intergrades with terminalis in coastal Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico and in several states in northwestern Mexico. Both races occur in Jalisco, but evidence of intergradation is slight. L. f. fasciatus appears to be continuously distributed in the lowlands all the way into South America and is generally absent from the volcanic highlands of Puebla, Morelos, Mexico, and Guerrero.
It is usually found below 3000 feet. It is most common in roadside ditches, pools of streams, sloughs, and stock ponds. The race is most abundant in shallow water in marginal vegetation and debris. COSTA RICA. — Bagaces, Guanacaste, 6 $, 5 2, vii. 12.57; Guanacaste, 1 6, 2 2, vii.17.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). La Cruz, 16 m. S., 100 +, vii.25.65; Liberia, 8 m. SE., 10 6, 12 2, vii. 24. 65; Pacuare, 2 2, vii.2.67; Punta Arenas, 2 6,4 2, vii.22.65; Rivas, 22 m. S., 2 2, vii.26.65, P. J. Spangler (USNM). San Jose, 2 3,2 2, vii. 16.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). Taboga, Agr. Exp. Sta., 34 6, 40 2, vi.27.67; 14 6, 7 2, vi.28.67; Turrialba, 50+, vii.15.65, P. J. Spangler (USNM).
EL SALVADOR. — Acajutl a, 19 m. S., 3 6 , 2 2 , vii.8.65; Acajutla, 7 6,7 2, viii.4.64; Cd. Arce, 7 m. SE., 1 6, viii.3.65; La Union, 15 m. SE., 14 6, 10 2, vii.31.65, P. J. Spangler (USNM). La Union, Santa Rosa, 1 2, vii.23.57; 2 6 , vii.24.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM).
GUATEMALA. — Aldea Jesus Maria, 49 6, 54 2, viii.15.65; El Progreso, 5 m. S., 2 2, viii. 11.65; Escuintla, 17 m. E., 2 6, vii.8.65; Guatemala City, 20 m. S., 1 6, 1 2, vii. 7.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). Mazatenengo, 1 2, viii.1.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). Morales, 1 m. N., 1 6, viii.16-18.65; Pijije, 2 6,2 2, vii.8.65; 15 m. W., 4 6 , 10 2, viii.5.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). Suchit, Rio Sis, 22 km. S. La Maquina, 1 6, vi. 11.65, O. S. Flint (USNM).
HONDURAS. — Choluteca, 10 m. W., 25+, vii.29.65; Jicaro Galan Jet., 2 2, vii.29.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). Morazan, 5 6,4 2, vii.22.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). Pespire, 2 6,2 2, vii.29.65; Sabana Grande, 10 m. N., 4 6, 10 2, vii.29.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM).
MEXICO. — CAMPECHE. Champoton, 11 m. SW., 7 6,3 2, xi.27.63; Chencholli, 100 6, 122 2, xi.28.63: Hopelchen, 18 m. NE., 6 6, 11 2, xi.28.63, JRZ (NMSU). CHIAPAS. Chiapa de Corzo, 4 m. E., 27 3, 26 9, ix.1.63; Cin
talapa, 5 m. W., 2 5, 4 2, ix.1.63; Comitan, 8 5, 13 2, viii.30.63; 13 m. W., 15,2 5, viii.30.63; Cuahtemoc, 5 6,6?, viii.30.63; 4 m. W., 16 5, 18 2, viii.30.63, JRZ (NMSU). Las Cruces, 5 m. S., 12 5, 17 2, viii.23.65; P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM); Near Pichucalco, 3 6,22, xi.26.63; Ocozucuatla, 6 m. W., 4 6, 3 2, ix.1.63; Ixtapa, 1 6, viii.31.63; Tuxtla Guttierrez, 2 5, 2 2, ix.1.63; 10 m. W., 5 5, 3 2, ix.1.63; JRZ (NMSU). COAHUILA. Torreon,
1 5, M. Embury (CAS) (Intergrade?). COLIMA. Colima, 7 m. NE., 6 5,
2 2, xii.3.48, H. B. Leech (CAS). Manzanillo, 5 m. S., 4 5, 3 2, vii.29.62; Trapechi, 9 5,4 2, vii.30.62, JRZ (NMSU). JALISCO. Atenquique, 1 2, xii.5.48, H. B. Leech (CAS). Autlan, 9 m. SW., 34 5, 55 2, x.24.66; Autlan,
17 6, 18 2, x.26.66, A. H. Smith & JRZ (NMSU). Barra de Navidad, 1 5, 6 2, iii.18.61, C. O. Morse (CAS); 2 5,2 2, vi.6.63, K. L. McWilliams; 5 8, 8 2 , x.25.66; La Heurta, 6 m. S., 1 8,1 2 , x.24.66; 5 m. N., 7 8 , 7 2 , x.25.65, A. H. Smith & JRZ (NMSU). Mazamitla, 1 m. N., 1 8, 2 2, ii.8.53, I. J. Cantrell (UMMZ). Between Union de Tula and Autlan at Rio de San Pedro, 22 8, 34 2, iii.28.64, JRZ (NMSU). Near Atenquique (29 m. NE. of Colima by road), 7 8 , 23 2, xii.3.48, H. B. Leech; this locality is given as Colima, but must be in Jalisco (CAS). Tehetlican, Rd. 10, 2 8, vii.28.62; 10 m. S., 2 8,
3 2, JRZ (NMSU). MICHOACAN. Urupan, 10 m. S., 1 8 , iii.26.64, JRZ (NMSU). OAXACA. Juchitan, 3 m. E., 27 8 , 17 2 , ix.7.64; 20 km. E., 2 8,
4 2, ix.7.64; 15 m. of Juchitan on Rd. 185, 2 3,4 2, ix.2.63, JRZ (NMSU). La Ventosa, 50 m. N., 18, xii. 14.55, J. C. Schaffner (UMMZ). Matias Romero, 5 m. S., 1 2, ix.7.64, JRZ (NMSU). Oaxaca, 4 6,4 2, vii.20.37, H. B. Leech (CAS). Salina Cruz, 5 5, 5 2, ix.6.64; Tapanatepec, 17 8,
18 2, ix.1.63, JRZ (NMSU). Tehuantepec, 17 8, 25 2, ix.2.63; 4 8, ix.6.64; Texquisixtlan (Rd. 190), 5 6, 8 2, JRZ (NMSU). Temascal, 13, 12, v.25.64 (CAS). PUEBLA. Near Maria Andrea, 3 5, 12, ix.10.64, JRZ (NMSU). TABASCO. Teapa, 5 m. N., 1 2, ix.2.63, JRZ (NMSU). VERACRUZ. Acayucan, 1 2, viii.6.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM): 20 m. S., 4 5, 2 2, ix.7.64; 10 m. E., 2 2, ix.7.64; Catemaco, 5 6,5 2, viii.26.62; Cuitlahuac, 17 6, 13 2, viii.25.62, JRZ (NMSU); 300 +, viii. 10-12.64, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). Huatusco, 25 km. E., 3 6, ix.9.64, JRZ (NMSU). Jalapa, 10 m. R, 2 2, viii.27.62; J. D. Covarrubia, 1 m. N., 4 6 , viii.26.62; Martinez de la Torre, 19 5,9 2, ix.9.64; Near La Tinaja, 8 5, 28 2, viii.25.62; Near Garro, 2 5, ix.8.64; Papantla, 18 km. E., 3 5, 4 2, ix.9.64; Paso del Toro, 3 2, viii.25.62; 15 km. W., 1 6 , ix.8.64; Paso de Ovejas, 3 5,8 2, viii.27.62, JRZ (NMSU). Poza Rica, 9 m. W., 5 6, 3 2, viii.27.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM.) Puenta Jula. 3 6, 13 2, xii.18.48, H. B. Leech (CAS). Santiago Tuxtla, 10 km. S., 2 5, ix.8.64; Tecolutla, 15 km. S., 12, ix.10.64, JRZ (NMSU). Veracruz, 1 5, Hoge (AMNH); 2 2, vii. — .59, N. Krauss (CAS). YUCATAN. Uxmal, 2 5, 1 2, xi.25.63, JRZ (NMSU).
NICARAGUA. — Belen Rivas, 4 6, 5 2, vii.18.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). Esteli, 3 6,2 2, vii.31.67, O. S. Flint (USNM); 9 m. N., 50 6 , 50 2 , vii.10.65; La Trinidad, 100 +, vii.27.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). Madriz, 6 5,4 2, vii.8.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). Rivas, 10 m. N.. 100 +, vii. 11.65; San Benito. 13 m. N., 34 6 , 38 2 , vii. 11.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). San Benito, Managua, 2 $, 1 5, vii. 10.57, D. R. Lauck (USNM). Somoto, 100 + , vii.28.65, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM).
PANAMA. — Algarrobos, 9 m. S., 9 c5 , 10 2, vii.5.67; Anton, 5.3 m. E., 15 <J , 17 9, vii.6.67, P. J. Spangler, Jr. (USNM). Playa San Carlos, 3 $, vii.15.67, O. S. Flint (USNM).