Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842

Mendoza-Penagos, Cristian Camilo, Pérez-Gutiérrez, León A. & Muzón, Javier, 2024, A revision of Lestidae Calvert, 1901 (Odonata: Zygoptera) from Colombia, with the first record of Lestes dichrostigma Calvert, 1909, Zootaxa 5415 (2), pp. 201-240 : 228-231

Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842

Fig. 5A–B (♁ and ♀ head), Fig. 7J–L (♁ pterothorax), Fig. 9K–L (♁ genital ligula), Fig.11G–H (♁ caudal appendages), Fig. 13 D-F (♀ pterothorax), Fig. 14F (♀ ovipositor), Fig. 18 (distribution), Fig. 24 A–B (♁ and couple in tandem field photos).

Etymology: forficűla diminutive of latin forfex, small scissors.

Type locality: not referenced in the original description (Amérique meridional).

Distribution: Argentina, Barbados, Belize; Brazil; Colombia (Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Huila, Magdalena, Meta, Quindío, Santander, Sucre, Vichada, Valle del Cauca); Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Panama; Peru; Puerto Rico; Trinidad and Tobago; United States.

Female described: Yes Larva described: Yes—by supposition in Calvert (1928)

Altitudinal range: 23–1735 m IUCN status: LC— Paulson (2018b)

Records in previous references: De Marmels (2006), Pérez-Gutiérrez & Palacino-Rodríguez (2011), Lara (2016), Bota-Sierra et al. (2019), Álvarez-Álvarez et al. (2023)

Material examined: (81♁♁, 8♀♀). Colombia, Cundinamarca, Cáqueza , 4.4040N, 73.9510W, 1735 m, 9♁♁, 1♀ ( UARC) ; Chaguaní , vereda La veja , 4.9630N, 74.6160W, 1027 m, C. Mendoza, leg., 2♁♁ ( UARC) ; La Mesa, vereda La Doima , 4.6700N, 74.4430W, 950 m, L. Pérez leg., ( UARC) ; Guajira, Albania, 11.1021N, 72.6834W, 221 m, 1-11-2021, J. Montes leg., 2♁♁, 1♀ ( UARC 1398 , 1399 , 1405 ) ; Magdalena , Santa Marta , 11.2260N, 74.1860W, 23 m, 14-10-2001, L. Pérez leg., 1♁ ( UARC 1040 ) ; Antioquia, Remedios, vereda La Cruz , 6.8922N, 74.5723W, 500 m, 30-08-2011, C. Moreno, C. Bota leg., 1♁ ( CEUA 70366 ) ; Cundinamarca , Agua de Dios, Reserva Mana Dulce, 4.3487N, 74.6483W, 350 m, 23-11-2014, M. A. Loaiza, C. Bota leg., 2♁♁ ( CEUA 99981 ) ; Meta , Villavicencio, vereda Barcelona , 4.0731N, 73.5805W, 389 m, 18-01-2020, K. Alvarez leg., 1♁, 1♀ ( CEUA) ; as the previous but, Restrepo, Reserva Natural La Cosmopolitana , 4.2238N, 73.4931W, 375 m, 12-10- 2014, K. Tennessen, C. Bota leg., 1♁ ( CEUA 81731 ) ; Quindío , Salento, vereda Canaan , 4.6333N, 75.5666W, 1700 m, 28-04-2009, A. Montoya leg., 2♁♁ ( CEUA 81488 ) ; Sucre , San Onofre, Reserva Natural Sanguaré , 9.7139N, 75.6786W, 0 m, 21-10-2003, C. Rivera, P. Duque leg., 1♁, 1♀ ( CEUA 42388 , 99289 ) ; Cundinamarca , Anolaima, 4.7852N, 74.4783, 1130 m, 23-02-2013, M. I. Velásquez leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 22298 ) ; Cáqueza , Brisas de Cáqueza, 4.4350N, 73.9208W, 1990 m, 12-03-2005, 3♁♁ ( ANDES-E 3806–3808 ) ; as the previous but, 02-04-2006, C. Garzón leg., 4♁♁ ( ANDES-E 3830–3832 , 16942 ) ; as the previous but, 01-06-2006, L. Pérez, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 17160 ) ; as the previous but, 12-11-2006, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 151681 ) ; La Mesa, vereda La Doima , 4.6705N, 74.4433W, 1500 m, 16-10-2007, E. Realpe leg., 4♁ ♁ ( ANDES-E 22826–22829 ) ; San Francisco de Sales , vereda San Miguel , 5.0013N, 74.2583W, 1600 m, 01-11-2004, S. Cardona leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 3809 ) ; as the previous but, 01-07-2006, L. Pérez leg., 5♁♁ ( ANDES-E 9507–9511 ) ; as the previous but, 26-10-2012, E. Realpe leg., 1 ♁ ( ANDES-E 22417 ) ; as the previous but, 15-02-2013, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 22285 ) ; Huila , El Pital , 2.2651N, 75.7948W, 889 m, 14-06-2016, Y. Cano, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 22912 ) ; Rivera , 2.8060N, 75.2294W, 751 m, 13-06-2016, Y. Cano, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 22397 ) ; San Agustin , 1.9043N, 76.2814W, 751 m, 06-09-2021, Y. Cano leg., 3♁♁ ( ANDES-E 27998 , 28000 , 28005 ) ; Villavieja , Desierto de la Tatacoa , 3.2200N, 75.1365W, 751 m, 04-05-2014, E. Realpe leg., 2♁ ♁ ( ANDES-E 22420 , 22421 ) ; Meta , Puerto López , 4.0896N, 72.9573W, 467 m, 15-09-2007, C. Garzón leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 22413 ) ; San Martin de los Llanos, 3.5278N, 73.5428W, 405 m, D. Gómez leg., 2♁♁ ( ANDES-E 22409 , 22410 ) ; Villavicencio , vereda Buena Vista , 4.1659N, 73.6826W, 445 m, 06-11-2005, 4♁♁ ( ANDES-E 3820 , 3821 , 3823 , 3824 ) ; as the previous but, 06-11-2006, 1♁ ( ANDES-E 3822 ) ; Villavicencio , via Acacías , 3.9368N, 73.7645W, 550 m, 10-12-2006, 1♁ ( ANDES-E 9504 ) ; Santander , Piedecuesta, 6.9911N, 73.0541W, 1005 m, 06-07-2013, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 22414 ) ; Vichada , Puerto Carreño, 6.1922N, 67.4735W, 46 m, 25-8-2015, M. Sánchez, E. Realpe leg., 1♁ ( ANDES-E 16124 ) ; as the previous but, 6.1717N, 67.5004W, 52 m, 1♁ ( ANDES-E 16128 ) ; Valle del Cauca , Cali , Jardín botánico Juan María Céspedes , 3.4490N, 76.5721W, 1100 m, 1♁ ( PUJ) ; Meta , San Juan de Arama, Sabana baja, 3.2261N, 73.8631W, 304 m, 2♁♁ ( ICN) ; as the previous but, Finca Caño Limón , 3.3671N, 73.8921W, 451 m, 1♁ ( ICN) ; San Martín , Bellavista , Km 103 a Villavicencio, 3.6761N, 73.7111W, 416 m, 1♁ ( ICN) ; Vista Hermosa , PNN La Macarena , 2.9511N, 73.8541W, 758 m, 1♁ ( ICN) ; Valle del Cauca , Palmira, CIAT, 3.5021N, 76.3551W, 973 m, 2♁♁, 1♀ ( MUSENUV) ; Tuluá , Jardín Botánico Monteguadua , 4.0291N, 76.1671W, 1124 m, 2♁♁ ( MUSENUV) ; Cali , Univalle, 3.3731N, 76.5311W, 982 m, 1♁ ( MUSENUV) ; Buenaventura , Bajo Anchicayá, 3.6091N, 76.9171W, 166 m, 1♀ ( MUSENUV) ; Canca , Vijes, 3.6961N, 76.4301W, 948 m, 4♁♁, 2♀♀ ( MUSENUV) ; Pradera , 3.4311N, 76.2441W, 1041 m, 2♁♁ ( MUSENUV) ; Ansermanuevo , 4.7851N, 75.9731W, 903 m, 1♁ ( MUSENUV) ; Florida , corregimiento El Pedregal , 3.3331N, 76.2161W, 1073 m, 4♁♁ ( MUSENUV) .

Morphological characteristics: male and female head pale blue except epicranium, base of antennae and vertex black ( Figs. 5A–B ); antehumeral stripe and a central narrow stripe on mesepimeron black ( Figs. 7J–L , 13DF , 24 ); pectum pale, metepimeron with two small black spots, females anterior of metapostepimeron black ( Figs. 7L, 13F ). Genital ligula rectangular, internal fold width more than 1/3 of S2 ( Fig. 9K ), surface divided, reaching anterior fold of S2 ( Fig. 9L ). Male cerci long, strong tooth in basal portion projected distally at 45°; edge of medial portion convex with a row of denticles; primary curvature type III ( Fig. 11G ); secondary curvature type I ( Fig. 11H ). Apophyses of paraprocts almost as long as cerci, straight apices ( Fig. 11H ). Lateral valves of the ovipositor with a row of small denticles increasing in size to the apex; basal plate dorsal margin ends in an acute spine ( Fig. 14F ).

Remarks: This species occurs continuously throughout the Americas from southern United States to northern Argentina ( Paulson 2018b), being the most widespread species within the genus in the Americas. In Colombia, it occurs along the Andean and the Orinoco regions; here, we report its occurrence in Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Santander, and Vichada departments ( Fig. 18 ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Head pattern coloration. Lestes forficula: (A) male, (B) female; L. minutus: (C) male, (D) female; L. tenuatus: (E) male, (F) female; L. helix: (G) male; L. jerrelli: (H) male.

FIGURE 7. Male pterothorax pattern coloration. Lestes apollinaris: (A) dorsal view, (B) lateral view (C) ventral view; L. curvatus: (D) dorsal view, (E) lateral view (F) ventral view; L. dicrhostigma: (G) dorsal view, (H) lateral view (I) ventral view; L. forficula: (J) dorsal view, (K) lateral view (L) ventral view.

FIGURE 9. Shape of genital ligula. Archilestes chocoanus: (A) ectal view, (B) lateral view; A. grandis: (C) ectal view, (D) lateral view; Lestes apollinaris: (E) ectal view, (F) lateral view; L. curvatus: (G) ectal view, (H) lateral view; L. dicrhostigma: (I) ectal view, (J) lateral view; L. forficula: (K) dorsal view, (L) lateral view; Lestes helix: (M) ectal view, (N) lateral view; L. minutus: (O) ectal view, (P) lateral view; L. tenuatus: (Q) ectal view, (R) lateral view.

FIGURE 11. Male cerci. Lestes apollinaris: (A) dorsal view, (B) lateral view; L. curvatus: (C) dorsal view, (D) lateral view; L. dicrhostigma: (E) dorsal view, (F) lateral view; L. forficula: (G) dorsal view, (H) lateral view; Lestes helix: (I) dorsal view, (J) lateral view; L. jerrelli: (K) dorsal view, (L) lateral view; L. minutus: (M) dorsal view, (N) lateral view; L. tenuatus: (O) dorsal view, (P) lateral view.

FIGURE 13. Female pterothorax coloration. Lestes dichrostigma: (A) dorsal view, (B) lateral view (C) ventral view; L. forficula: (D) dorsal view, (E) lateral view (F) ventral view; L. minutus: (G) dorsal view, (H) lateral view (I) ventral view; L. tenuatus: (J) dorsal view, (K) lateral view (L) ventral view.

FIGURE 14. Femaleovipositor. Archilestesgrandis (A); A.grandis (B); Lestes apollinaris (C); L.curvatus (D); L.dichrostigma (E); L. forficula (F); L. minutus (G); L. tenuatus (H).

FIGURE 18. Distribution of Lestes forficula, L. jerrelli, and L.minutus.

FIGURE 24. Lestes forficula: A) male; B) tandem. (Photos: Cornelio Bota-Sierra).