Nephepeltia leonardina Rácenis, 1953

Ellenrieder, Natalia Von, 2014, A synopsis of the Neotropical genus Nephepeltia (Odonata: Libellulidae), including description of a new species, synonymies, and a key to males, Zootaxa 3796 (1), pp. 121-146 : 131-134

Nephepeltia leonardina Rácenis, 1953

Figures 2 f; 3f; 6d; 9e; 10g; 11e; 13h; 16

Nephepeltia leonardina Rácenis, 1953: 136 –139, fig. 1 (description based on 4 ♂ from Venezuela, Aragua, San Sebastián, 5 vii 1952, J. Rácenis leg., deposited in MIZA; illustrations of wings, genital fossa, vesica spermalis, and S10);— Donnelly (1992: 88, record from Panama).

Specimens examined. Total 103 ♂, 8 ♀: ARGENTINA, Salta Prov.: 1 ♂, 30 km N Orán, Río Pescado, pond on margin S near highway 22 (22°57'52''S, 64°22'16''W, 352 m), 10 v 2009, C. Molineri [FML]. BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz Dep., Ichilo Prov.: 1 ♀, Buena Vista {17°27'S, 63°40'W, 400 m}, 14 v 1960, R. Steinbach leg. [FSCA]. BRAZIL, Rondônia State: 2 ♂, Governador Jorge Teixeira Municipality, Fazenda Rancho Grande, farm of Harald Schmitz and environs within about 15 km radius {10°31'48''S, 62°48'00''W, 165 m}, 16–24 iii 1989, S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 3 ♂, 16 km W of Fazenda Rancho Grande on C-20 Rio Pardo x Linea C-20 (10°20'30''S, 62°54'00''W, 500 m), 14 xi 1991, M.J. Westfall, Jr. leg. [FSCA]. PERU, Madre de Dios Dep.: 4 ♂, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (in tandem), Hotel Amazonia, across from Atalaya, exposed pond (12°52'13''S, 71°22'34''W, 414 m), 27 vi 1993, R.W. Garrison leg. [RWG]; 7 ♂, 1 ♀, same data but [USNM]; 1 ♂, Explorer's Inn on Río Tambopata, 30 km SW Puerto Maldonado, Katicocha (12°50'12''S, 69°17'36''W, 300 m), 9 vii 2002, D.R. Paulson & N. Smith leg. [DRP]; Huanuco Dep.: 1 ♂, Campamiento Colonia del Perené {10°58'S, 75°13''W, 827 m}, 7 vi 1920, J.H. Williamson [UMMZ]; 1 ♂, Tingo María, grassy irrigation ditch {08°58'S, 75°50'W, 659 m}, 8 viii 1972, D.L. Pearson leg. [DRP]; 2 ♂, same data but 440 m, 12–13 v 1974, M.L. Paulson leg. [DRP]; Loreto Dep.: 1 ♂, Aguaitia {09°01'S, 75°31'W, 170 m}, 30 ix 1946, F. Woytkowski leg. [RWG]; 1 ♂, ExplorNapo Camp, ACEER (03°16'33''S, 72°56'18''W, 97 m), 28 ii 1993, P. Donahue leg. [DRP]. ECUADOR, Napo Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 km S of Tena {01°03'S, 77°47'W, 450 m}, 28 v 1977, P.J.

Spangler & D.R. Givens [RWG]; 1 ♂, same data but 3.2 km E Tena road on Jatun Sacha Biological road, ponds and flowing marsh, 23 vii 1996, B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 2 ♂, same data but sloughs along Napo River S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 3 ♂, same data but ponds nearby Jatun Sacha Biological Station, 18 x 1988, S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 2 ♂, same data but [CSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but large pond, 12 xi 1994, A. Jaramillo leg. [DRP]; 1 ♂, Lago Anangu near Providencia {00°31'32''S, 76°26'22''W, 300 m}, 12 v 1975, T.C. Emmel leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, pond along Río Sinde, upstream, 6 km E of Puerto Napo (01°03'S, 77°47'W, 520 m), 12 xi 1997, K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but swamp and pond (01°03'S, 77°47'W, 522 m), B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but 22 vii 1996 [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but 2nd stream E of Río Sinde, 23 vii 1996, S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, Misahualli Chicta, Upper Napo {01°02'S, 77°41'W, 500 m}, 3 vi 1942, W. Clarke-Macintyre leg. [UMMZ]; 1 ♂, Río Jatun Yacu {01°01'S, 77°50'W, 700 m}, iii 1937, W. Clarke-Macintyre leg. [FSCA]; 2 ♂, same data but 24 iii 1937 [FSCA]; 3 ♂, Tena {00°59'S, 77°49'W, 512 m}, F. Campos R. leg. [FSCA]; Orellana Prov.: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Río Savaleto 2 & slough at km 31, Yasuni National Park, Permit 029-1C (00°42'S, 76°28'W, 200 m), 17 vii 1996, S.W. Dunkle leg. [RWG]; 2 ♂, same data but [CSCA]; 2 ♂, same data but [FSCA]; 1 ♂, Yasuni National Park pond, km marker 29.5 (00°38'S, 76°30'W, 180 m), 17 xi 1995, K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but 2.1 km E of Yasuni Biological Research Station, pond and swamp (236 m), 15 xi 1997, B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 2 ♂, same data but swampy pond at km 8 S of Río Napo on Yasuni Road, 12 vi 1995, S.W. Dunkle leg. [RWG]; 1 ♀, same data but pond near Río Savaleto at km marker 31, 17 vii 1996, K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, Limoncocha Ferry Crossing, south on Yasuni Road at marker 31, borrow pit just south of Río Sabaletez (00°36'00''S, 76°28'12''W, 236 m), 17 vii 1996, B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, Parque Nacional Yasuni, pond at Río Tiputini (00°36'S, 76°28'W, 200 m), 17 xi 1997, T.W. Donnelly leg. [MLP]; 2 ♂, Payamino, 11.8 km W on Loreto Rd, large pond (00°28'48'S, 77°04'48''W, 300 m), 18 xi 1997, B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; 3 ♂, pond, 12.3 km W of Payamino, junction with Coca Road on Loreto Road (00°28'30''S, 77°04'29''W, 302 m), 13 vi 1995, B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, tributary of Río Payamino, road to Loreto, 1.7 km W of junction with Coca Road, flowing shallow marsh (00°28'00''S, 77°01'14''W, 250 m), 13 vi 1995, B. Mauffray leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; Sucumbíos Prov.: 1 ♂, La Selva, Heron Lake (00°28'54''S, 76°22'24''W, 230 m) 14 iv 1992, E.M. Smith leg. [FSCA]; 2 ♂, Lake Taracoa, an oxbow lake near Limoncocha {00°24'S, 76°36'W, 300 m}, 26 viii 1980, S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 12 ♂, same data but 8–25 xi 1980, M.J. Westfall, Jr. leg. [FSCA]; 3 ♂, same data but 4–6 xi 1980, M.J. Westfall, Jr. & D.G. Robinson leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data but lake shore and nearby areas 1 ix 1978, K.W. Knopf leg. [FSCA]; 11 ♂, 1 ♀, same data but lakeshore & forest edge, 23–26 vii 1977, D.R. Paulson & S. Hills [DRP]; 1 ♂, same data but out over lake, 27 viii–3 ix 1978, K.W. Knopf leg. [RWG]; 1 ♂, swamp, stream and pond, 15.7 km S of Shushufindi on Limoncocha road (00°18'49''S, 76°39'43''W, 262 m), 19 vii 1996, S.W. Dunkle leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, pond, 3 km NW of Shushufindi (00°10'56''S, 76°41'30''W, 270 m), 14 v 2009, K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but 14 x 2009, K.J. Tennessen leg. [FSCA]; 3 ♂, brushy ponds 24 km W of Lago Agrio {00°05'07''N, 77°06'12''W, 360 m}, 20 viii 1980, S.W. Dunkle leg. [RWG]. PANAMA, Canal Zone: 1 ♀, Río Sardanilla {09°07'10''N, 79°35'27''W, 145 m}, 5 xii 1916, E.B. Williamson leg. [FSCA].

Diagnosis. Both sexes of Nephepeltia leonardina can be distinguished from congeners by radial planate consisting of four or five cells ( Fig. 3 f; three in other species, Figs. 3 a–e; g) and base of Fw discoidal field usually with two rows of cells (5% of examined specimens with one cell in one or both wings; always one row in other species). Males are also unique by venter of thorax smoothly convex ( Fig. 6 d; with a tubercle or spine in other species, Figs. 6 a–c; 7; 8), spurs of inner row of male hind tibiae closely set and peg-like at medial 0.33 ( Fig. 2 f; either of about uniform length and placement or short and more closely set at basal 0.50–0.75, and gradually increasing in length apically, Figs. 2 a–e; g), and outer branch of male hamule forming an anteriorly directed blunt hook ( Figs. 9 e; 10g; rounded in other species, Figs. 9 a–d, f; 10a–f, h). Male vesica spermalis is similar to that of N. phryne by its latero-ectal distal lobes in the shape of curved spines and the absence of a medio-ectal distal process ( Figs. 11 e–f; latero-ectal lobes triangular, rectangular or oval and medio-ectal distal process vestigial to well developed in other species; Figs. 11 a–d).

Distribution. Nephepeltia leonardina extends from Panama south to NW Argentina and Paraguay ( Fig. 16 ), where adults frequent ponds along rivers, marshes, and sloughs.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Male hind tibiae, lateral view of inner surface.

FIGURE 3. Male wings. d. f.: base of discoidal field; r. p.: radial planate; sub.: cells between subtriangle and hind margin of wing.

FIGURE 6. Male thoracic venter, lateral view.

FIGURE 9. Male genital lobe, ventral view. o. b.: outer branch of hamule.

FIGURE 11. Male vesica spermalis, lateral (above) and ventral (below) view. l. e.: latero-ectal sclerotized distal process; m. e.: medio-ectal sclerotized distal process.

FIGURE 16. Distribution of Nephepeltia species.