Telosticta longigaster, Dow & Orr, 2012

Dow, R. A. & Orr, A. G., 2012, Telosticta, A New Damselfly Genus From Borneo And Palawan (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (2), pp. 361-397 : 391-393

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5348617
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DD87E5-FFF0-6172-FC31-FD97FC409F96
treatment provided by	Tatiana
scientific name	Telosticta longigaster
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Telosticta longigaster View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 9F View Fig , 10F View Fig , 11G, L View Fig , 12F View Fig , 13F View Fig , 14F View Fig , 15A, B View Fig , 19 View Fig )

Protosticta sp. A – Orr, 2003: 38, 69–70, 148–149, pl. 6c

Protosticta sp. B – Orr, 2001: 191

Protosticta species – Dow & Reels, 2008: 3

Protosticta new species – Dow & Reels, 2009: 14, 16; Dow & Ngiam, 2012: 11

Material examined. — Holotype: male (SAR07_8_PST210), Malaysia, Sarawak, Miri Division , Gunung Mulu National Park, steep tributary stream to Sungai Long Lansat, 26 Dec.2007, coll. RAD, to be deposited in RMNH.

Paratypes. Sarawak (all coll. RAD and currently in collection RAD unless otherwise noted; examples to be deposited in BMNH and ZRC): 8 males (SAR07_8_PST1–8), Sri Aman Division, Batang Ai National Park, steep tributary to Sungai Bebiong Besar , ca 300–400 m, 4 Dec.2007 ; female (SAR07_8_PST193), same national park, tributary to Sungai Bebiong Mit , 5 Dec.2007 ; male (SAR07_8_ PST110), same location, 6 Dec.2007 ; male (SAR07_8_PST103), same national park, Sungai Nanga Beredik , 8 Dec.2007 ; 2 males (SAR07_8_PST218–219), Bintulu Division, SPFP, Bukit Mina Wildlife Corridor , small forest stream on Bukit Mina , ca 90 m, 23 Jan.2008 ; 3 males (SAR07_8_PST249–251), same location, 23 Oct.2008 ; male (SAR11_12_PST27), same location, 1 May 2011, coll. L. Joseph ; 2 males (SAR11_12_PST28–29), same location, 1 May 2011 , coll. OT; 3 males (SAR09_10_PST16–17, one in ethanol), Bintulu Division, SPFP, Samarakan area , steep streams in disturbed forest in block T1F, ca 80 m, 21 Aug.2009 ; 2 males (SAR07_8_PST311–312), Bintulu Division, SPFP, Tubau area , steep trickles in unplanted steep ground in block E2N, ca 150 m, 19 Oct.2008 ; male (SAR09_10_PST93), same location, 31 Aug.2009 ; male (SAR09_10_PST398), same location, 15 Jun.2010 ; male (in coll. OT), same location and date, coll. OT; female (SAR07_8_ PST293), same area, stream in unplanted steep ground in block E2N, 19 Oct.2008 ; 4 males (SAR09_10_PST26–29), female (SAR09_10_ PST30), same area, steep streams in highly disturbed forest in block E2N, ca 60–70 m, 17 Aug.2009; male (SAR09_10_PST367), same location, 16 Jun.2010 ; 3 males, Kapit Division, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary , 18 Jun.2008 , coll. CYC and Y. F. Ng, in coll. CYC; 2 males (SAR07_8_PST41–42), Kapit Division, Kapit town area, Sebabei Recreational Park , tiny tributary to Sungai Sebabei , 7 Feb.2008 , coll. GTR; 2 males, female (SAR11_12_PST82–84), same location, 2 Apr.2011 ; male (SAR07_8_PST43), same area, Small tributary to Sungai Kapit above Rumah Bundong , 9 Feb.2008 ; 2 males (SAR07_8_PST35–36), same location and date, coll. GTR; 2 male (SAR07_8_PST216–217); same area, steep tributaries to Sungai Sbong , 10 Feb.2008 ; 4 males (SAR07_8_PST54–57), female (SAR07_8_PST58), same location, 11 Feb.2008 ; male (SAR07_8_ PST33), same location and date, coll. GTR; 2 males (SAR09_10_ PST122–123), 2 females (SAR09_10_PST124–125), same area, second and third order tributaries to Sungai Ulu Yong , 21 Oct.2009 ; 8 males (SAR09_10_PST183–190), same location, 12 May 2010 ; 4 males (SAR09_10_PST225–228), female (SAR09_10_PST229), Kapit Division, Hose Mountains , high gradient stream 920–1020 m, 17 May 2010 ; 3 males (SAR09_10_PST 197, 202–203), female (SAR09_10_PST198, in tandem with SAR09_10_PST197) same location and date, coll. GTR; 3 males (SAR09_10_PST285–287), same mountains, stream at ca 1070–1170 m, 19 May 2010 , coll. GTR; female (SAR09_10_PST288), same location and date; 3 males (SAR09_10_PST302–304), female (SAR09_10_PST305), steep stream at foot of Hose Mountains , 21 May 2010, coll. M. Budi & RAD; 2 males (SAR11_12_PST56–57), same mountains, Gunung Kajang area , small stream at foot of mountains, 7 Apr.2011, coll. L. Southwell ; male (SAR_11_12_PST54), same area, stream at ca 741 m, 6 Apr.2011, coll. MK; 2 males (SAR11_12_PST103–104), same location, 13 Apr.2011 , coll. MK; male, female (SAR11_12_ PST71–72), same area, streams between 660 and 840 m, 9 Apr.2011; 6 males (SAR06_PST43–45, 47–49), female (SAR06_PST46), Miri Division, foot of Gunung Dulit , high gradient streams in disturbed forest, 30 Mar.2006 ; male (SAR06_PST23), same area, steep tributary to Sungai Long Aton , 31 Mar.2006 ; male (in ethanol, RMNH _INS_500008), female (SAR07_8_PST299), same area, small stream in disturbed forest near Long Aton , 25 Aug.2008 ; male (SAR07_8_PST294), same location and date, coll. GTR; 3 males (SAR07_8_PST226–228), Gunung Dulit , steep stream at ca 780–850 m, 28 Aug.2008 ; male (SAR07_8_PST238), same location, coll. GTR; 2 males (SAR07_8_PST295–296), 2 females (SAR07_8_PST297–298), same area, stream ca 700–800 m, 29 Aug.2008, coll. S. Malit ; 2 males (SAR07_8_PST95–96), Miri Division, north Tinjar area, high gradient stream in disturbed forest, 22 Dec.2007 ; male (SAR07_8_PST270), Miri Division, northern mid Baram area, tributary to Sungai Suan , 11 Dec.2007 , coll. GTR; 3 males (SAR09_10_PST348–350), mid Baram area, small streams on lower slopes of Gunung Kalulong , 14 Jul.2010 ; male (SAR09_10_PST230), same mountain, stream at 700–800 m, 17 Jul.2010; 2 males (SAR09_10_PST242–243), female SAR09_10_PST244), same area, streams in disturbed forest at foot of Gunung Kalulong , 21 Jul.2010 , coll. MK; 2 males (SAR09_10_ PST252–253), female (SAR09_10_PST254), same location and date, coll. LS; male (SAR09_10_PST336), same area, steep stream on Batu Uro’ (a peak adjacent to Gunung Kalulong ), 15 Jul.2010, coll. W. Kebing ; female (SAR09_10_PST316), same location, 16 Jul.2010 ; female (SAR05_PST100), Miri Division, Gunung Mulu National Park, steep tributary stream to Sungai Long Lansat , 19 Apr.2005 ; male (SAR07_8_PST211), same location, 26 Dec.2007 ; 4 males (SAR07_8_PST183–186), female (SAR07_8_PST187), same location, 9 Jan.2008 ; male (SAR07_8_PST117), female (SAR07_8_PST118), in tandem, same location and date, coll. SB . Brunei (all from Temburong, Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre ): female, 23 Jan.1995 , coll. AGO, in collection AGO; male (from canopy fogging sample), 11 Jul.1997, coll. R.L. Kitching, in collection AGO.

Diagnosis. — The male of T. longigaster is easily distinguished from all other species of Telosticta by the distinctively expanded distal half of the superior appendages and the narrow finger-like ends of the inferior appendages. Although variable, the abdomen is always unusually long in proportion to the hindwing, and on this character could be confused only with T. gading and T. ulubaram .

Etymology. — longigaster , a noun in apposition. A common neologistic compound of Latin roots used in zoology to denote a long abdomen.

Description of holotype male. — Head: Labium pale except end hooks of labial palps, where brown. Basal 3/4 of labrum creamy white, black along free margin. Anteclypeus creamy white, postclypeus shining black. Mandible bases whitish in corner by clypeus, black below. Vertex and frons bronzy black, occiput shining black. Ratio of width of compound eye to width of vertex measured at level of lateral ocelli ca 9/10. Transverse occipital carina with lateral extremities angulated and prominent. Ocelli yellowish. Antenna scape and basal 3/4 of pedicel yellowish, flagella missing.

Thorax: Prothorax, almost entirely yellowish cream except for obscure dirty patches to the rear of the propleuron, to rear of middle pronotal lobe where dark brown, and whole posterior pronotal lobe, which is bronzy black becoming brownish grey on lateral processes, which are long. ( Fig. 9F View Fig ) with the rounded tip just above the level of the lower margin of the propleuron. Synthorax: Mesepisternum bronzy black, with a pair of long broad pale greenish blue antehumeral markings, occupying ca 7/10 of the length ( Fig. 10F View Fig ). Antealar triangles largely bluish cream. Mesepimeron bronzy black. Metepisternum largely occupied by a pale band, with a bronzy black wedge below, this extending from the wing bases to just before the spiracle. Metepimeron almost entirely pale. Venter of synthorax pale. Legs: each with coxa and trochanter cream, femur and tibia mostly the same colour, with obscure dark grey marks on the upper part of middle and posterior femur, a narrow black stripe along the extensor surface of anterior femur and black around the joint of femur and tibia, brown just above tarsus, which is mottled cream and brown. Wings: 12 Px in Fw, 11 Px in Hw. Vein ac closer to Ax2 than Ax1, ab absent. Arculus slightly distal to Ax2, sectors separating at 1/4 to 1/3 of length of quadrilateral. R 4 arising slightly distal to subnodus, IR 3 joined to it by a short stalk and arising well distal to the subnodus. Pterostigma approximately trapezoidal with costal side slightly shorter than anal side dark brown with prominent white border, covering slightly more than one underlying cell.

Abdomen: Largely brown, darkening to rear. S1 cream, dark brown behind posterior carina. S2 with a white basal annulus interrupted narrowly dorsally, laterally this extending to the posterior carina as a pale wedge, otherwise brown. S3–7 brown, becoming darker apically, with a narrow pale basal annulus interrupted dorsally, and slightly extended laterally, this more extensive and better defined on S6–7, where the mark does not extend dorsally. S8 mostly black, with a large pale blue ca rectangular marking occupying much of the dorsum ( Fig. 11G View Fig ), pale along the tergal margin, this extended upwards basally to almost meet the dorsal marking ( Fig. 11L View Fig ). S9–10 black. Anal appendages ( Figs. 12F View Fig , 13F View Fig , 14F View Fig ) black basally, becoming brown towards tips. Superior appendage ca 5/2 times the length of S10, with interior projection at ca 1/3 length directed inwards and then upwards to a sharp tip, not visible in lateral view. Dorsal projection directed upwards, and slightly inwards and forwards as a broadbased rounded spike, very prominent. Broadly expanded in distal 1/2 so broad in dorsal view ( Fig. 12F View Fig ), with the inner part folded downwards with a sinuous lower margin, the fold terminating before the rounded tip ( Fig. 13F View Fig ). Inferior appendage only slightly shorter than superior, stem narrow and in lateral view down-turned at level of the spine, which is long and directed straight inwards ( Fig. 14F View Fig ). The scoop is barely developed and no wider than the stem, so that the whole appendage after the articulation looks thin and finger like in ventral view ( Fig. 14F View Fig ).

Measurements (mm): Abdomen without anal appendages 43.5, superior anal appendages ca 1.25, Hw 20.

Description of female paratype. — Based on SAR07_8_ PST118, Gunung Mulu. As male except as noted.

Head: Pale markings on labrum, clypeus and mandible bases blue. Antenna with pale parts cream.

Thorax: Prothorax almost identical to male, including the lateral processes. Antehumeral stripes blue. Wings with ab present in left Hw. 12 Px in Fw, 11 (left) or 12 (right) Px in Hw. Pt with costal side shorter relative to anal side than in male.

Abdomen: Coloured similarly to male, but with basal pale annuli better defined and fused dorsally on S5–6 and a broad cream basal annulus on S7. S8 pale blue above except for a narrow black basal band, becoming cream laterally, dark behind posterior carina. Superior anal appendages shorter than S10, very dark brown. Ovipositor mostly dark brown and black with obscure paler areas, especially on the upper apical part, extending well beyond the tips of the superior appendages.

Measurements (mm): Abdomen without appendages or ovipositor 34.5, Hw 19.5.

Variation in paratypes. — There is considerable variation in size within this species (see the measurements below), with an apparent trend for smaller size in the more western populations (e.g., those at Batang Ai and Lanjak Entimau and some populations in Kapit and Bintulu Divisions). There is little variation in markings; apart from small variations in size and shape, in some populations a small to tiny pale mark is apparent on the extreme upper part of the mesepimeron immediately below the mesepleural suture on some individuals of either sex. As with size, there is an apparent trend for the mesepimeral marking to be present with greater frequency in the more western populations, although it is present on a male from Brunei. In one female from the Sebabai Recreational Park the antehumeral stripes are almost full length. The antehumeral markings vary from blue to green and the pale parts of the prothorax, lateral synthorax and legs in the male are more intensely yellow in some populations. It is not uncommon for individuals to have ab present in 1–2 wings, and in specimens from above 700 m in the Hose mountains in Kapit Division ab is typically present in all wings .

The most remarkable variation in T. longigaster is in the posterior pronotal lobe of the female. In some examples it is like the female described ( Fig. 15A View Fig ), with lateral processes as in the male, in others the lateral processes reduced to a tiny stump; in these individuals the free corners are typically produced into flattened finger-like processes directed rearwards and that vary from very short to longer than the body of the posterior pronotal lobe ( Fig. 15B View Fig ). On Mount Dulit females with lateral processes and females with short horns occur in the same population. There is some variation in shape in the lateral processes of the male, but they are almost invariably as long as in the holotype; the only exception is one individual with a malformed lateral process on one side.

Measurements (mm): Males: Abdomen without anal appendages 36–48, Hw 18–23. Wings with 10–14 Px in Fw, 9–13 in Hw. Females: Abdomen without appendages or ovipositor 31–38, Hw 20–23. Wings with 11–15 Px in Fw, 11–13 in Hw.

Remarks. — The variation in the posterior pronotal lobe of the female of this species is so great that, if examples of both extremes had not been taken in tandem, it would be difficult to believe that they represented the same species. In contrast, no notable variation in the male anal appendages has been detected. With this degree of variation, the role of the female posterior pronotal lobe in a ‘lock-and-key’ arrangement with the male anal appendages during tandem formation appears unlikely.

Biological notes. — It is found on small streams and seepages in steep terrain in mixed dipterocarp forest, and is tolerant of disturbance to its habitats by logging activities. It occurs from near sea level up to at least 1200 m. Females have been observed apparently ovipositing, unaccompanied by any male, into the midrib of leaves at the side of streams and seepages. The first male specimen was collected during a canopy fog in the vicinity of a marshy seepage, at least 100 m from any stream.

Distribution. — On present evidence this is the most widely distributed species of Telosticta ( Fig. 19 View Fig ), occurring from Brunei and adjacent parts of Sarawak to Batang Ai in Sri Aman Division.