Epipleoneura metallica Rácenis, 1955

Pessacq, Pablo, 2014, Synopsis of Epipleoneura (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae, “ Protoneuridae ”), with emphasis on its Brazilian species, Zootaxa 3872 (3), pp. 201-234 : 223-224

Epipleoneura metallica Rácenis, 1955

( Figs. 13 , 35 , 60 )

Epipleoneura metallica Rácenis 1955: 56 –59, figs. 3a–c (new species, description of male and female, illustration of male S 10 in postero-lateral and dorsal view, female prothorax in dorsal view, type material at MIZA). Rácenis 1960: 25 –26 (included in list of species, recorded for Venezuela). Lencioni 2005: 180, figs. 110 a–c (references, type locality, distribution, described stages, reproduction of original illustrations of male S 10 in lateral and posterior view and female prothorax in dorsal view). Garrison et al. 2010: 352, 355, fig. 2348 (included in list of species, illustrations of epiproct in posterior view). Pessacq et al. 2012: 4 –5 (included in list of Brazilian Protoneuridae , new records for Goiás, Maranhão, Pará, Pernambuco, and Roraima States).

Specimens examined. 218 ♂ 43 ♀. 1 ♂, Brazil, Bahia State, Salvador (12º58’49”S, 38º29’02”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 15 vii 51. 1 ♂, Maranhão State, Igarapé, leg. H. Sandim, 13 ix 73. 4 ♀, Brazil, Pará State, Belém (01º27’24”S, 48º29’22”W), leg. A.B.M. Machado & P. Pereira, ii 57. 2 ♂, same as previous but Belém, Utinga (01º25’28”S, 48º26’43”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 3 viii 59. Same as previous but leg. Flavio, 4 viii 59. 6 ♂ 1 ♀, same as previous but leg. A.B.M. Machado & P. Pereira, ii 57. 4 males, same as previous but Benfica (01º18’15”S, 48º18’06”W), leg. Flavio, 6 iii 63. Same as previous but, leg. Helio, 24 vi 68. 1 ♂, same as previous but Itaituba (04º16’02”S, 55º59’34”W), leg. A.B.M. Machado & P. Pereira, ii 57. 4 ♂, same as previous but Fordlândia (03º47’60”S, 55º28’60”W), Machado & P. Pereira leg, ii 57. 4 ♂ 1 ♀, Brazil, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Reserva Ecologica do IBGE ( Brasilia: 15º47’31”S, 47º53’50”W), leg. N.D. Santos, L.F. Netto & H. Mesquita, 5–8ii 81. 13 ♂ 3 ♀, same as previous but Mestre d’Armas River (15º33’12”S, 47º47’15”W), leg. N.D. Santos & A.B.M. Machado, 27 ix 71. 13 ♂, same as previous but Planaltina, São Bartolomeu River (15º37’S, 47º40’W), leg. N.D. Santos & A.B.M. Machado, 7ii 65, 6 xii 65. 10 ♂, same as previous but leg. N.D. Santos, L. Borges & A.B.M. Machado, 25–27 xi 63. 22 ♂ 23 ♀, same as previous but 26 ix 71. 6 ♂, Rodeador River, leg. N.D. Santos, L. Borges & A.B.M. Machado, 28 xi 63. 2 ♂, Brazil, Goiás State, Jataí (17º52’48”S, 51º43’14”W), leg. A.B.M. Machado & P. Pereira,. 1 ♂, same as previous but Jatai, N.D. Santos, L.F. Neto & Dacio leg, 12 x 82. 9 ♂, same as previous but Formosa, Preto River (15º31’60”S, 47º19’60”W), leg. N.D. Santos & A.B.M. Machado, 23 xi 63.13 ♂ 3 ♀, same as previous but Olho d´Água Farm, near Parque Nacional das Emas (about 18º4’59”S, 47º40’00”W), leg. N.D. Santos & L.F. Netto, 14–15 x 82. 4 ♂ 1 ♀, same as previous but Rio Formosa, lago da capivara, Parque Nacional das Emas (about 18º4’59”S, 47º40’00”W), leg. N.D. Santos & L.F. Netto, 14–15 x 82. 8 ♂ 1 ♀, Brazil, Minas Gerais State, Lagoa Sancta, Januária Farm (15º37’S, 47º40’W), leg. N.D. Santos & U.S. Carvalho, 22 x 83. 2 ♂, same as previous but São João del Rey, Rio de Janeiro - Belo Horizonte Road (21º08’09”S, 44º15’43”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 2 iii 57. 1 ♂, same as previous but Tiradentes, Serra de Tiradentes (21º06’36”S, 44º10’40”W), leg. J.M. Costa & S. Marshal, 14 ii 90. 16 males, 3 ♂ 3 ♀ in tandem, same as previous but Invernada river, Barbacena – São Joao Del Rei route (Barbacena: 21º13’22”S, 43º46’13”W), leg. N.D. Santos, L. Borges & A.B.M. Machado, 2 xii 63.1 ♂, same as previous but Riacho Caldereiro, São João del Rey (São João del Rey: 21º08’01”S, 44º15’12”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 12 ii 74. 5 ♂, same as previous but Rico stream, Belo Horizonte-Brasilia route ( Brasilia: 15º47’31”S, 47º53’50”W), leg. N.D. Santos, L. Borges & A.B.M. Machado, 29 xi 63. 6 ♂, Brazil, Mato Grosso State, Cuiabá, 12 km W from Buriti (15º41’60”S, 56º42’W), leg. N.D. Santos & U.S. Carvalho, 1 x 83. 37 ♂, same as previous but Chapada dos Guimarães, Coxipozinho river (15º25’60”S, 55º45’W), leg. N.D. Santos & U.S. Carvalho, 26–29 x 83. 1 ♂, same as previous but Sinop (11º50’53”S, 55º38’57”W), leg. Braulio & O. Roppa, x 1976. 4 ♂, same as previous but Buriti, Chapada dos Guimarães (about 15º25’60”S, 55º45’W), leg. N.D. Santos & A.B.M. Machado, 13 iv 63. 8 ♂ 1 ♀, Brazil, Pernambuco State, Igarassu, Granja São Luís (Igarassu: 07º49’55”S, 34º54’03”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 16 ii 63. 6 ♂, same as previous but Igarassu, Reserva Ecológica Darwin (07º50’02”S, 34º54’21”W), leg. J.M. Costa & L. Borges, 12 ii 2001. 4 ♂, Brazil, Rondônia State, Ji - Paraná, Vila de Rondônia (10º53’07”S, 61º57’06”W), leg. A.B.M. Machado & P. Pereira, i 61. 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Venezuela, Cano Mapirito (10º00’85”N, 63º13’55”W), leg. Clanjo, 3 vii 2001. 2 ♂, same as previous but Fundo San Rafael, Rio Villacoa, (6º25’N, 67º01’W), leg. De Marmels, 6 xi 2004. 1 ♂, ♂ and ♀ in copula, same as previous but Los Pijiguajos, 3–13 vi 1992.

Diagnosis. Male cercus resembles that of E. capilliformis . The cercus possesses a well-developed inner-basal branch, with its apex directed postero-dorsally, reaching midline of S10 medially. Male cercus ( Fig. 13 ) and genital ligula ( Fig. 35 ) of E. metallica resemble those of E. capilliformis , E. demarmelsi , and E. fernandezi , from which it can be separated by the unique epiproct shape ( Fig. 13 b–c), which is bifurcated usually with long and divergent branches, but a large degree of intraspecific variation is present (see below). The female posterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 60 ) has a medial projection and two short wide lobes at the sides and the anterior margin has a deep concavity, similar to that of E. venezuelensis and E. fernandezi .

Distribution. Northern and central Brazil in the States of Bahia, Maranhão, Pará, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, Roraima, and Federal District. Northern Venezuela (Type locality Espino, Guárico, about 08º33’41”N, 66º01’35”W).

Notes. This species is widely distributed from Northern Venezuela to central Brazil; it is well represented in the collection of MNRJ (about 250 specimens), which may imply that it is also a very common species. The notable variation in the epiproct shape is shown in figs. 68 a–f. This includes epiproct branches strongly to slightly divergent and medial lobe present to absent. This variation may be due to the wide distribution of the species, but also to the large number of specimens available to address it. There is not a clear link between distribution and epiproct morphological variation; Brazilian specimens that clearly resemble drawings of the holotype ( Rácenis, 1955) were found in Pará (Belém, Bemfides) and Mato Grosso (Chapada dos Guimarães) states in northern and central Brazil respectively ( Fig. 53 b). Those specimens showing the opposite extremes of variation ( Figs. 68 e–f) were collected in Minas Gerais (route Barbacena-Sao Joao do Rei and Lagoa Sancta) and Pará (Belem, Fordlândia). The largest variation within a site was observed in Minas Gerais (Lagoa Sancta and route Belo Horizonte- Brasilia) and Goias (Rio Sao Bartolomeu). The variation observed in these sites includes almost all intermediate forms. Figure 68 a shows a specimen from Venezuela (Los Pijiguajos).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 15. Male caudal appendages, a: lateral view; b: posterior view, c: latero-posterior view. CIB: cercus inner-basal branch. CT: cercus inner-basal tooth.

FIGURES 28 – 47. Genital ligula, lateral and ectal view. Figures 29, 33, 47 modified from Garrison et al. (2010). PLP: posterolateral projection.

FIGURES 53 – 66. Female pronotum in lateral, dorsal, antero-lateral, anterior postero-lateral and posterior view. Figures 57, 64 and 65 modified from Garrison et al. (2010), Rácenis (1960) and Machado (2005) respectively.