Ceylonosticta mirifica Bedjanič, 2016

Tol, Van, 2016, Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of the Platystictidae of Sri Lanka (Insecta: Odonata), Zootaxa 4182 (1), pp. 1-80 : 21-23

6. Ceylonosticta mirifica Bedjanič sp. nov.

Figs 28−33 , 140−141 ; Map 3.

Drepanosticta sp. nov. A—Bedjanič et al. (2014): 138 [partim —note on morphologically distinct southern population fom the surroundings of Balangoda; southernmost dot on the distribution map].

SPECIES DIAGNOSIS IN THE KEY → 18b; NUMBER OF KNOWN LOCALITIES: 1.

Type material. Holotype: 1Ƌ (mature male), Uwella, primary forest on the road Uwella-Ratnapura, 11.5km NW of Balangoda; Ratnapura District , Sabaragamuwa Province; N6.6968, E80.6059; alt. 760m; 16-vii-2012; M. Bedjanič leg (to be deposited in CNMS).

Etymology. The species epithet, a Latin adjective, refers to the author’s enchantment at the species’ unexpected discovery and its remarkable prothorax processes and anal appendages of the male.

Differential diagnosis. Medium-sized Ceylonosticta , belonging to C. mojca group of species. Closely related to C. inferioreducta sp. nov., with which it shares remarkable long dorsal processes on the anterior lobe of prothorax, bluish-white middle lobe of prothorax and totally reduced inferior anal appendages of males. In C. mirifica sp. nov., however, the prothorax processes are curved upwards and do not markedly exceed posterior margin of prothorax. Superior anal appendages of males have broad base, reaching posterodorsal prolongation of the last abdominal segment medially and tuft of long caudally directed setae limited to the broad base of the appendages. From C. mojca and C. tropica it is distinguished by the brown middle lobe of the prothorax and much shorter prothorax processes of those species. The prothoracic processes are also useful for separation from C. subtropica , in which the inferior anal appendages of males are not reduced.

Description of holotype male [dried specimen, ex alcohol]. Head.—Labium light brown, bases of mandibles dark brown, with light grey dorsolateral portions towards labrum and anteclypeus. Labrum and anteclypeus blue, anterior part of labrum broadly blackish brown, with rather long brown setae. Genae and postclypeus black. Frons flattened, black, below antennae near postclypeus with some long light setae, which are also present on anterior border of postclypeus. Vertex, occiput and epicranium shiny black, with small light ochreous patch lateral of each posterior ocellus. Occiput behind ocelli with row of few setae. Bases of antennae and scapus blackish brown, pedicellus ochreous, flagellum blackish brown ( Fig. 28 ). Rear of head shiny black. Transverse occipital carina black, bluntly angulated. Eyes in preserved specimen brownish grey.

Thorax. —Prothorax light ochreous ( Figs. 28–29 ). Anterior lobe with elevated, upturned anterior margin, which is laterally strongly prolonged and erected in pair of flat, rather broad and slightly concave processes. These are very long, curved upwards, and not exceeding posterior margin of prothorax when seen in lateral view. Median lobe slightly bluish on dorsum. Posterior lobe of prothorax brown, blue on anterior portion of dorsum. Its posterior margin upturned, medially deflected towards apex, not evenly rounded, with marked rounded dorsolateral expansions. Dorsum of synthorax dark brown. Mesepimeron brown, metepisternum lighter brown towards hind coxae and metepimeron. Sky blue stripe along obsolete mesometapleural suture, starting from thickened dark brown upper margin of metepisternum and ending conically just beyond spiracle ( Fig. 28 ). Under surface of thorax light brown. Legs light brown, with dark brown rings around femur and tibia joints.

Wings. —Wings clear, venation dark brown ( Fig. 33 ). Forewings and hindwings with 13½ Px (1 additional vein between C and Sc in left forewing). Arculus distal to Ax2, R4+5 slightly proximal to subnodus. IR3 separates from R4+5 at level of first crossvein distal to arculus in forewings, in hindwings at level of first crossvein distal to arculus. Y vein with very short stalk. CuP reaching hind margin of forewing at level between Px 3 − 4, in hindwing approximately at level of Px 4. Number of cells between Arc and place where CuP meets hind margin of hindwing 7 − 8. Pterostigma brown, encircled by narrow lighter line and surrounded by thick dark brown veins, proximal side oblique, distal side slightly convex, wider than high.

Abdomen. —Slender, dark brown dorsally and light brown ventrally, ground colour of S8–10 black. S3–7 basally with narrow light brown rings that are not connected dorsally and are narrowly prolonged ventrally almost to end of segments. S7 with light markings reduced. Dorsum of S9–10 light blue, S8 with semicircular dorsal blue marking, occupying slightly more than distal third of segment ( Fig. 74 ). S10 with trapezoidal distal prolongation of last tergite, measuring slightly less than third of segment, with tip bordered narrowly brown ( Fig. 30 ) and with small but conspicuous protuberance on its ventral side. Anal appendages dark brown. Superiors long, slightly less than 1.8 of S10 median length, laterally flattened and with dilated apices curved downwards and inwards ( Figs. 30−31 ). Their broad bases reach posterodorsal prolongation of last abdominal segment medially on each side. Tuft of long posteriorly directed setae limited to broad base of superior anal appendages. Inferiors not visible from dorsal view, light brown, extremely reduced, shifted strongly proximally towards base of segment as seen in Fig. 31 . Their basal portions expanded, with tuft of setae in middle, each with vestigial small downwards and caudal directed spine, which does not reach bases of superiors when seen in lateral view.

Measurements [in mm]. Ƌ—head width: 4.03; abdomen length: 35.8; fore- and hindwing length: 23, 22.3; fore- and hindwing pterostigma length: 1.05, 1.07; prothorax projections: 1.15; superior appendages: 1.34.

Description of female [photographs of juvenile animal in life]. Coloration in life similar to male ( Figs. 32 , 141 ) but coloration lighter and not fully developed. Labrum and anteclypeus sky blue, anterior part of labrum brown. Eyes grey dorsally and light grey ventrally, with rusty brown circular belt in-between. Prothorax white, anterior lobe up-turned, with pair of long processes as in male ( Fig. 32 ). Posterior lobe of prothorax brown. Vertex of synthorax brown, rest of thorax of lighter brown colour laterally and ventrally. Blue thoracic band starts from upper margin of metepisternum and reaches beyond spiracle. Legs ochreous. Abdomen coloration similar to male. Dorsum of S9–10 sky blue, dorsum of S8 of same colour, with dorsal blue part rounded proximally, with tip almost reaching segment base.

Remarks. Coloration in life.—Eyes of males in life bluish grey dorsally, with broad median rusty brown band and yellowish ventral portions ( Fig. 140 ). Middle lobe of prothorax bluish in mature males, elevated margin of anterior lobe with processes brownish grey. Sky-blue lateral stripe on metepisternum stretches well beyond spiracle. Molecular analysis.—The holotype male was collected and stored in alcohol, and two legs in alcohol were deposited at RMNH where molecular analyses were performed. Habitat.—Animals were found and photographed in a small seepage on a densely wooded slope, just above the local road from Uwella to Ratnapura in Sabaragamuwa Province. A fragment of primary forest still exists at the spot; however, the wider surroundings are under heavy agricultural pressure, and almost all forest has been converted to tea plantations. Conservation.—The species is known only from type locality and is probably quite rare. Due to the paucity of appropriate habitats in wider surroundings of Balangoda , the species is highly threatened and should be considered as a high priority for conservation monitoring and action.

Faunistic records [known only from the type locality]. —(1) Uwella, primary forest on the road Uwella- Ratnapura , 11.5km NW of Balangoda; Ratnapura District , Sabaragamuwa Province; N6.6968, E80.6059; alt. 760m; 16-vii-2012; M. Bedjanič; 1♀ juv., 1Ƌ.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 33. Ceylonosticta mirifica sp. nov. — (28) thorax and head, lateral view [male holotype]; (29) prothorax, lateral view [male holotype]; (30) anal appendages, dorsal view [male holotype]; (31) anal appendages, ventral view [male holotype]; (32) thorax and head, dorsolateral view [female, field photograph]; (33) wings [male holotype]. [Material origin: male holotype - Uwella; Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka]

FIGURES 138 – 143. Coloration in life: Ceylonosticta inferioreducta sp. nov. — (138) male, (139) female; Ceylonosticta mirifica sp. nov. — (140) male, (141) female; Ceylonosticta adami — (142) male; (143) female [photos: M. Bedjanič, fig. 138, photo: K. Conniff].

FIGURES 70 – 74. Ceylonosticta hilaris — (70) thorax and head, lateral view [male]; (71) prothorax, lateral view [male]; (72) anal appendages, lateral view [male]; (73) thorax and head, lateral view [female]; (74) prothorax, lateral view [female]. [Material origin: male—Laxapana, Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka; female—Deniyaya, Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka]