Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842

Belle, J., 1997, The genus Lestes (Odonata: Lestidae) Leach, 1815, in Surinam, Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (11), pp. 89-103 : 96-97

Remarks on Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842

( figs 3 , 20-21 , 25 , 31-31 )

Lestes forficula Rambur is known from the surrounding countries French Guiana ( Selys, 1862; Machet, 1989 as Lestes forficulus ), Brazil ( Selys, 1862) and Venezuela ( Racenis, 1958; De Marmels, 1990). A male of this species has also been collected by me during a trip through Brazil (State of Bahia, Santo Amoro, 31.vii.1992,1 ♂) . It is highly probable that the species occurs in Surinam.

Lestes forficula is somewhat similar to the newly described species Lestes basidens , but the former is characterized by having the inner side of the male superior caudal appendages with a median dilatation and in having the pectoral colour pattern only with a pair of metepimeral spots. In this respect the pectoral colour pattern of Lestes forficula resembles that of Lestes bipupillatus Calvert, 1909 , which seems to be its nearest ally. Some specimens of Lestes forficula have a weakly developed mid-ventral posterior metasternal spot (fig. 3).

I add illustrations of some specifically important details of the male and female of Lestes forficula . The dimensions of the specimens studied by me are: Male.— Total length ca. 37; abdomen 29-31; hind wing 19-20; costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.2­ 1.4. Female.— Total length ca. 37; abdomen 29-30; hind wing 21-22; costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.3-1.5.

Figures

Fig. 1, Lestes basidens spec, nov.; 2, Lestes mediorufus Calvert; 3, Lestesforficula Rambur; 4, Lestes curvatus spec, nov.; 5, Lestes tenuatus Rambur; 6, Lestes tenuatus Rambur, lectotype; 7, Lestes edentatus spec, nov.; 8, Lestes trichonus spec, nov.; 9, Lestes sublatus Hagen in Selys. 1-9, pectoral colour pattern [12.5 X 0.63],

Figs 18-19, Lestes tenuatus Rambur; 20-21, Lestesforficula Rambur. 18,20, tenth abdominal segment and caudal appendages of male, dorsal aspect [12.5 X 2.5]; 19,21, the same, left lateral aspect [12.5 X 2.5].

Fig. 22, Lestes tenuatus Rambur; 23, Lestes mediorufus Calvert; 24, Lestes edentatus spec, nov.; 25, Lestes forficula Rambur; 26, Lestes curvatus spec, nov.; 27. Lestes trichonus spec. nov. 22-27, terminal segments of female abdomen, left lateral aspect [6.3 x 2.5].

Fig. 28-30, Lestes sublatus Hagen in Selys; 31-32, Lestes forficula Rambur; 33, Lestes curvatus spec. nov. 28, terminal segments of female abdomen, left lateral aspect [6.3 X 2.5]; 29, 31, stigma of right fore wing [6.3 X 2.5]; 30, 32, stigma of right hind wing [6.3 X 2.5]. 33, caudal appendages of female, dorsal aspect [6.3 X 2.5].