Lauromacromia melanica, Pinto, Ângelo Parise & Carvalho, Alcimar Do Lago, 2010

Pinto, Ângelo Parise & Carvalho, Alcimar Do Lago, 2010, A new species of Lauromacromia (Odonata: Corduliidae) from Southeastern Brazil, with a cladistic analysis of the genus and comments on Neotropical dragonfly biogeography, Zootaxa 2425, pp. 45-68 : 48-53

Lauromacromia melanica sp. nov.

Figures 1 ; 5; 7; 12; 13a–c; 14; 17a–b; 21; 22

Type specimens: Holotype (1 3), [ BRAZIL]. E[spírito] Santo [State]: Conceição da Barra, Sítio de José Campista (mata), 1–6.XII.1969, Elias leg. ( MNRJ nº135); Paratype (1 3), same data as holotype ( MNRJ nº135) [recently emerged specimen].

Male holotype description (variations present in the paratype in parentheses).

Head. Labium ochreous; body of palpi darkened on distal margins of internal and distal borders (uniformly ochre), covered by dark brown, sparsely distributed setae, those at posterior margins longer and yellowish. Labrum orange-ochre, with dark brown, sparsely distributed setae, which become longer and yellowish posteriorly. Clypeus olive-ochreous; anteclypeus with two dark subtriangular spots linked at their bases near limit with postclypeus; central area between spots lighter, without setae. Frons dark olive-ochreous, deeply bilobed, with median ocellus completely exposed in anterior view; anterior surface irregular, covered with anteriorly directed long dark hair-like setae, and with numerous setae laterally. Vertex brown, slightly bilobed dorsally; apex of lobes rounded; setae more numerous on anterior region (setae equally distributed). Occipital triangle brown, chordate; latero-dorsal borders higher than eyes; setae similar to those of vertex, lighter and numerous on posterior border; rear of head black. Posterior margin of eye with a reduced yellow stripe restricted to ommatidia of ocular lobe (yellow stripe wider, occupying at least eleven rows of ommatidia beyond ocular lobe).

Thorax. Pronotum yellowish, lateral extremities black; posterior lobe enlarged basally, brown, bearing on superior border short dark setae and on anterior surface long and yellowish setae. Pterothorax ( Fig. 1 ) brown with iridescent metallic green and blue and purple reflections, mainly laterally, covered uniformly with long brown and yellowish setae (most setae yellowish); metepisternal stripe whitish-yellow, ellipsoid, wider at level of metathoracic spiracle; upper portion of that stripe longer, not reaching dorsal limit of sclerite and inferior portion limited by interpleural suture including spiracle ( Fig. 1 ); mesinfraepisternum close to mesepisternum and mesepimeron pale brown; posterior border of interalar sclerite and adjacent membranes brown; metepimeral pale stripe narrow in lateral view, extending from ventral anterior limit of sclerite to level of anterior portion of metapostepimeron; posterior region of metepimeron above metapostepimeron with a pale spot ( Fig. 5 ); metapostepimeron pale ( Fig. 1 ), darker on its external borders. Legs black, coxa and trochanters lighter (legs almost entirely brown, darker on articulations between femur/tibia and tibia/tarsi); coxa, trochanter and femur of first pair with a pale postero-dorsal stripe; claws black to brown towards apex; tibial keels ochreous, occupying 0.46 (0.48) of first, 0.50 (0.43) of second and 0.80 (0.83) of third pairs; apex of keels acutely projected but not exceeding distal limit of respective tibiae.

Wings. Membrane almost hyaline (slightly yellowish); base darkened at maximum 0.25 of space to first Ax in Fw and 0.50 in Hw; venation black (brown); pt brown (ochreous), with sides not parallel, distal most oblique; membranula enlarged, whitish-ochreous (ochreous), lighter basally. Venation as follows: Ax in Fw 11 (10-12), some not perfectly aligned, in Hw 7; costal row of Px in Fw 6 (7), in Hw 7-8; subcostal row of Px in Fw 4-5 (4), in Hw 5 (4); bridge crossvein rising on RP 2, beyond of subnodus and closer of oblique vein; RP 3– 4 undulate in Fw under costal nodus level; Rspl weakly distinct, with one cell row; arculus between Ax1 and Ax2, but closer to Ax 2 in four wings; sectors of arculus in Hw stalked (not stalked), origin located on basal 0.25 of arculus. Discoidal triangles, supratriangles and subtriangles not crossed in four wings; Hw triangle distally of arculus; space between CuP-crossing and proximal side of discoidal triangle, not crossed in Fw and, with one crossvein in Hw; MA in Fw undulated under costal nodus following that one of RP 3–4; MP in Fw regularly curved; discoidal field in Fw slightly narrowed from base to level of costal nodus, with one cell row at level of costal nodus, widening posteriorly in four cells (six cells), with Mspl indistinct; anal loop saclike, not surpassing level of distal angle of discoidal triangle, with 7 cells, without a central cell; anal triangle with two cells, crossed near anal angle; space between proximal vein of anal loop and anal triangle with one cell at base; space between anal loop and posterior border of wing with 2 cell rows; PsA reaching proximal angle of triangle (near proximal angle).

Abdomen. Cylindrical; S7–10 expanded Ground color black, lighter on S1 and basal half of S2; ventral border of S1–8 with a discontinuous pale yellowish stripe, on S3 wider basally; on S7–8 very narrowed at base and enlarged on distal half; S9–10 almost completely black. Pattern of pale yellowish spots: S1 with a transversal small spot at postero-lateral border; S2 with four pairs of following spots, 1) the most dorsal on second half, not reaching superior limit of auricle; 2) a lateral just above auricle, elongated downwards, bordering auricle; 3) a larger and wider subtriangular between auricle and border of genital fossae; 4) a rounded on posterior limit of tergite at base of genital lobe; S7 with a small rounded dorso-lateral spot posterior to transverse carina; ventral border of S7 and S8 with yellow stripe over posterior 0.50 and 0.75, respectively. Sternum of S1 with a transversal fold, with setae directed posteriorly. S2 with anterior ventral angles poorly projected, with a tuft of rigid short dark setae (pale setae). Auricles ca 0.33 of segment’s height in lateral view, enlarged basally and inflated in upper portion; internal surface with numerous medially directed denticles, partially visible in lateral view. S1–3 with long yellowish setae concentrated on pale spots, scattered setae on S4–6; area between TC of S7 and posterior limit of S9 covered with numerous setae, yellowish on pale spot of S7 (all setae yellowish). S8 with keel-shaped sternal process on basal half, posteriorly acute, ca. 0.40 of segment’s length ( Fig. 7 ). Dorsal keel of S10 with a triangular mesal expansion on rectangular base, in lateral view specially projected on middle of segment ( Figs. 12 ; 13c). Cerci ( Figs. 13 a– c; 14) conical, horn-shaped, slightly longer than segments 9 + 10 in lateral view, covered with elongate scattered setae, longer ventrally; apexes acutely pointed, directed posteriorly and weakly convergent in dorsal view; basal carina forming a poorly developed latero-basal expansion delimited ventrally by a depressed and smooth area; an oblique granulose crest near 0.33 basal of appendage length continuous with latero-basal expansion, positioned ventrally, resembling a tubercle in lateral view. Epiproct inflated, with numerous setae ventrally; apex obtuse curved upwards; lateral borders flattened close to base; length ca 0.66 of cercus.

Genital fossa. Anterior lamina furrowed longitudinally, with inflated lateral portions bearing scattered setae. A weakly distinct simple laminar projection with inflated portions projected intero-posteriorly. Posterior hamules globose, with internal and external lobes poorly defined; apically with ventral keel raised and forming a nipple-like apex; apexes of pair converging in ventral view; internal and apex surfaces with numerous interlacing setae. Genital lobes triangular well developed and robust, posteriorly extending half of length of posterior field of S 2 in lateral view; apex rounded, nipple-like, converging ventrally; distal borders and internal surface with numerous strong interlacing setae between the branches. Vesica spermalis (based on paratype, Figs. 17 a–b) with first two segments similar to other libelluloids; presumed articulation between V2 and V3 (J v2–v3?) distal to filling-pore of sperm-reservoir (P1) and partially enclosed by V2 due to slight compression in that area; ventral area of V3 membranous with distal portion with a distinct proximal pumpsclerite (p-ps); dorso-distal portion of V3 with a pair of strong proximal horns (ph); V4 with a strong distoventral sclerotized plate followed by ventral membranes and two distal long flagella (d-fl); sclerotized plate projected distally into approximate parallel blades with membranes and flagella inserted at their tips; ventrally the sclerite is connected forming a ring-like process around inflatable membranes and laterally into two triangular blades; membranes folded in layers and corresponding to distal balloon (dba); basal portion of pair of long flagella seemingly forming channels that narrow distally forming a thin twisted filament. Complex of structures of V4 probably movable dorsally, with membrane unfolded into a distinct balloon when completely inflated, as observed in L. luismoojeni ( Fig. 16 ).

Measurements (holotype / paratype; in mm). Total length (incl. caudal appendages) 51.9 / 50.2; maximum width of head 7.5 / 7.6; eyes seam length 1.2 / 1.2; length of metepisternal stripe 4.4 / 4.0; width of superior end of metepisternal stripe 0.3 / 0.3; width of medial portion of metepisternal stripe (just upper of spiracle) 0.6 / 0.6; width of inferior end of metepisternal stripe 0.1 / 0.3; length of left Fw 33.2 / 32.7; maximum width of left Fw 9.5 / 9.5; Fw postnodal space ratio 0.45 / 0.47 (sensu May 1991); length of left Fw pt 2.5 / 2.5; length of left Hw 32.2 / 30.3; maximum width of left Hw 10.7 / 10.2; length of left Hw pt 2.4 / 2.2; length of hind femur 7.5 / 8.0; length of hind tibia 7.9 / 7.7; total length of abdomen (excl. caudal appendages) 34.6 / 33.8; ventral projection of genital lobe 1.5 / 1.4; width of base of genital lobe 1.3 / 1.4; length of cercus 3.8 / 3.5; length of epiproct 2.4 / 2.6.

Female and larva unknown.

Etymology. Specific epithet from the Greek word melaina (f., adjective melanica , black colored), referring to almost entirely black color pattern of abdominal segments S4–10. The name was written on one collection label by the late Brazilian odonatologist Dr. Newton Dias dos Santos for a potential melanic subspecies of L. luismojeni (see remarks).

Remarks. Holotype with abdomen broken between S5–6, posterior fragment (S6–10) separated into glassine envelope, right cercus partially detached; detached portions of right Fw discoidal field broken, and in separate glassine envelope. Paratype with some parts of exoskeleton crushed, and sternum of S3 removed with vesica spermalis separated.

The types of L. melanica were within a cellophane envelope containing a card printed with same collecting data as the holotype of L. luismoojeni in the Odonata type collection of MNRJ. The back of this card was pasted the following handwritten field collection data: “Conceição da Barra, E. Santo, Sítio de José Campista ( Mata) Elias col. 1 a 6.XII.1969 ”. Two other notations handwritten by Dr. Newton Dias dos Santos, according to Dr Janira M. Costa (pers. comm.), state “ Neocordulia luizmoojeni 3, pênis extraído”. After our description was completed, we studied the vesica spermalis of the paratype specimen in the MNRJ. Unlike Santos’ pasted label in the cellophane envelope containing the two specimens of L. melanica , the vial with glycerin alcohol had a label with the following determination “ Neocordulia luiz-moojeni melanica paratypus 3 - pênis”, in Santos’ handwriting.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Male caudal appendages and S 10 of Lauromacromia melanica sp. nov. (holotype). (a) dorsal view; (b) ventral view; (c) lateral view.

FIGURES 1 – 6. 1 – 4, Color pattern of pterothorax of males of Lauromacromia species in lateral view. (1) L. melanica sp. nov. (holotype); (2) L. picinguaba (holotype); (3) L. luismoojeni (holotype); (4) L. luismoojeni (Brazil. MS: Três Lagoas). 5 – 6, Color pattern of metepimeron of males of Lauromacromia species in ventral view. (5) L. melanica sp. nov. (holotype); (6) L. luismoojeni (Brazil. MS: Três Lagoas).

FIGURES 7 – 9. Sternal process of S 8 of males of Lauromacromia species in lateral view. (7) L. melanica sp. nov. (holotype); (8) L. luismoojeni (holotype); (9) L. luismoojeni (Brazil. MS: Três Lagoas).

FIGURES 10 – 12. Male caudal appendages (above) and detail of mesal process on S 10 (below) of Lauromacromia species in lateral view. (10) L. luismoojeni (holotype); (11) L. luismoojeni (Brazil. MS: Três Lagoas); (12) L. melanica sp. nov. (holotype).

FIGURES 16 – 18. Vesica spermalis of Lauromacromia species; (16) L. luismoojeni (Brazil. MS: Três Lagoas), partially inflated in lateral view; (17) L. melanica sp. nov. (paratype), (a) lateral view, (b) dorsal view; (18) L. dubitalis (Venezuela. Terr. Amazonas: Culebra; MIZA n ° 14798), (a) lateral view, (b) dorsal view. Ap 1 – Ap 2, apodemma; dba, distal balloon; d-fl, distal flagellum; d-m, dorsal membrane of V 1; H, dorso-apical hump of V 2; J st 3 – v 1, joint of sternum of S 3 and V 1; Jv 2 – v 3 and Jv 3 – v 4, joints between segments of vesica spermalis; m, caudal V 1 - membrane; P 1, filling-pore of the sperm-reservoir; ph, proximal horn; p-ps, proximal pump-sclerite; V 1 – V 2, segments of vesica spermalis.