Aciagrion bapepe Dijkstra

Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., Kipping, Jens & Mézière, Nicolas, 2015, Sixty new dragonfly and damselfly species from Africa (Odonata), Odonatologica 44 (4), pp. 447-678 : 495-497

Aciagrion bapepe Dijkstra sp. nov. – Congo Slim (Type Photo 11, Photos 18, 40, Fig. 7)

Taxonomy

Morphologically and ecologically nearest to A. balachowskyi Legrand, 1982 and A. nodosum (Pinhey, 1964) but genetically nearer A. gracile ( Sjöstedt, 1909) and treated as a distinct species on account of its unique male appendages by Dijkstra & Clausnitzer (2014).

Material studied

Holotype ♂. RMNH.INS.502135 , Congo-Kinshasa, Province Equateur, Lower Itimbiri, Loeka River (= Gwolo) mouth, tributary, forest and Itimbiri around mouth , 360 m a.s.l. (2.038 ° N 22.826 ° E), 16 -v- 2010, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, RMNH .

Further material. CONGO-KINSHASA (Province Equateur): 3 ♂, as holotype . 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Lower Itimbiri, 2 km downstream of Kona camp , swamp forest, 401 m a.s.l. (2.013 ° N 22.782 ° E), 17 -v- 2010, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, RMNH . 1 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.502128 ), 2 ♀ ( RMNH.INS.502153 ), Lower Itimbiri, Kona forest , swamp forest, 362 m a.s.l. (2.040 ° N 22.788 ° E), 12 -v- 2010, leg. K.-D.B. Dijkstra, RMNH .

Genetics

Two unique haplotypes (n = 3) nearest to A. gracile .

Male morphological diagnosis

Most similar to A. balachowskyi and A. nodosum by (a) the complete black middorsal stripe on the mesepisterna; (b) the cerci that are about as long as the paraprocts and bear a conspicuous ventral process in lateral view; and (c) the large tooth surpassing the base of the paraprocts ( Fig. 7). However, (1) is larger, Hw 23.0–25.0 mm (n= 5) rather than 19.0–21.0 mm; (2) Pt are reddish brown with maturity, instead of blackish; (3) S 10 is largely blue and not at least dorsally extensively black; and (4) the cerci have a distinctly pointed apex that is abruptly separated from the triangular ventral process, rather than being more or less continuous with it ( Fig. 7).

Etymology Name is derived from a local word meaning dragonfly or damselfly (noun in apposition). Range and ecology

Discovered in forest understory around 360 and 400 m a.s.l. close to the large blackwater Itimbiri River ( Photo 18) in central Congo-Kinshasa, probably breeding in floodwater pools. Found with Pseudagrion malagasoides Pinhey, 1973 that, while not closely related, has a similar habitat and general appearance.