Protosticta samtsensis Gurung & Phan, 2023

Joshi, Shantanu, Sarkar, Vivek, Sawant, Dattaprasad, Pawar, Ujwala & Kunte, Krushnamegh, 2024, Description of Protosticta khasia sp. nov. and Yunnanosticta siangi sp. nov., with new records of P. samtsensis Gurung & Phan, 2023 from Northeast India (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae), Zootaxa 5448 (3), pp. 348-370 : 352-355

Protosticta samtsensis Gurung & Phan

( Figs.3 , 5 )

Material examined

1 ♂ (IBC-AN708), Near Ramalingam Camp (27.10395 N 92.3980 E, 1393 ASL), Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, India; 15.vi.2015; Deepa Agashe leg.

2 ♂♂ (IBC-BR349: IBC-BR350), RCC Bridge (28.4373 N 94.8878 E, 571 m ASL), Yingku, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India; 27.v.2022; Shantanu Joshi leg.

1 ♂ (IBC-BR443), Ramsing (28.6359 N 94.9876 E, 541 m ASL), Upper Siang District , Arunachal Pradesh, India; 29.v.2022; Shantanu Joshi leg.

3 ♂♂ (IBC-BR502: IBC-BR504), Migging (28.8564 N 94.7809 E, 1102 m ASL), Upper Siang District , Arunachal Pradesh, India; 2.vi.2022; Shantanu Joshi leg.

2 ♂♂ (IBC-BS875: IBC-BS876), Simong (28.6224 N 95.0459 E, 541 ASL), Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India; 22.v.2023; Viraj Nawge leg.

1 ♀ (IBC-BR444), same location, date, and collector as IBC-BR443.

Comments

Recently, P. samtsensis was described from Bhutan ( Gurung & Phan 2023). Based on specimens collected during May–June 2022 from East Siang & Upper Siang districts, Arunachal Pradesh, India we report the first records of this species from India.

The caudal appendages of this species are complex and very similar to P. himalaiaca ( Fig. 3 ). No microscopic images of the caudal appendages or genital ligula are provided in the original description. We provide detailed close-up images of the caudal appendages for comparison ( Fig.3d–e, i–j, n–o ). Laterally, the thorax of this species is yellow. This yellow marking is interrupted by a black stripe at the interpleural suture. The width of this black stripe seems variable. It is thicker in specimens described by Gurung & Phan (2023) and in some of the males collected by us (especially AN708). In most males we collected and observed this stripe is reduced.

Variation in males

Px 13–15 in FW, 13 in HW. Pt pale brown to dark brown. Shape of the lateral thoracic yellow stripe variable (e.g., more extended and rounded at posterior margin in IBC-BR503). In younger males (e.g. IBC-BS875), the black markings on thorax are less pronounced and the reddish-brown abdominal markings on apical segments are reduced.

Measurements

Male. Abdomen + caudal appendages = 38–41.2, FW = 23–24, HW = 23–25.

Female. Abdomen + caudal appendages = 30–32, FW = 24–26, HW = 24–25.6.

Habitat and behavior. This species was exclusively observed in shaded areas of small (<2 m), fast flowing streams in hilly areas (usually 500–800 m ASL except Migging which is at ~ 1100 m ASL) of the Siang River valley ( Fig. 4 ). Several males and females were observed in suitable habitats ( Fig. 5 ). Individuals preferred occupying shaded areas of streams with low sunlight penetration and were active during both sunny and overcast weather conditions.A single male was caught from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh (1393 m ASL); but this species was not observed in subsequent surveys.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Protosticta samtsensis, all scale bars 0.5 mm. Male (IBC-BR443): (a) anterior view of head; (b) dorsal view of prothorax; (c) lateral view of thorax; (d–e) caudal appendages: (d) dorsal view; (e) lateral view; male (IBC-BR502): (f) anterior view of head; (g) dorsal view of prothorax; (h) lateral view of thorax; (i–j) caudal appendages: (i) dorsal view; (j) lateral view; male (IBC-BR503): (k) anterior view of head; (l) dorsal view of prothorax; (m) lateral view of thorax; (n–o) caudal appendages: (n) dorsal view; (o) lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of East Himalayan Protosticta spp. and Yunnanosticta spp.

FIGURE 5. Protosticta samtsensis in situ: (a) male- Ramsing, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India; 29.v.2022; (b) female- Migging, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India; 1.vi.2022.