Lestes sponsa, (Hansemann)

Pinhey, E., 1980, A revision of African Lestidae (Odonata) (excerpt), Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. & Mon. Rhodesia B 6, pp. 327-479 : 364-367

LESTES (LESTES) SPONSA (Hansemann)

Text fig. 1, 15-20 , pp. 341, 366

Agrion sponsa Hansemann, 1823: 159

Lestes sponsa Selys, 1840: 140 ; Selys, 1862: 301 (17 sep.); Kirby, 1890: 160 ; Schmidt, 1928: 247 (fig. only); May, 1933: 33, 92 (adult and larva); Cowley, 1935: 56; Cowley, 1940: 174 ; Longfield, 1949: 177, pis.; Conci & Nielsen, 1956: 66, 69, figs.; Robert, 1958: 85, figs.; Loibl, 1958: 55-80; Corbet, 1962: 12, 24, 37, 120 etc.; Pinhey, 1966b: 284; Belyshev, 1973: 504, fig. 211

Lestes sponsus Martin, 1910: 102

Agrion forcipula Charpentier, 1825: 6 (syn. Kirby, 1890 )

Lestes nympha Stephens (Kirby MS) 1829: 26 (nom. nov.); Stephens, 1836: 77 (syn. Kirby, 1890 )

Type described from Germany.

This species is the generally accepted type species of Lestes Leach.

The word sponsa, in Latin, means a bride, sponsus , a promise or a bridegroom. The usual form of the name, sponsa , will be retained here. Characters: Sectors of arculus well forward, like viridis and all Ethiopian species. A metallic green species, with strong dorsal crest on segment 10. Inferior anal appendage very long, its distal portion with arm inturned. Vulvar scale with distal angular extension.

General description.

Mature ♂ pruinosed white laterally and ventrally. Small.

Mature ♂ ( Germany). Labrum and face green or blue-green. Postclypeus and head above black or metallic green. Orbits below black.

Synthorax metallic green to first lateral suture, and below this at dorsal end. Black stripe at dorsal carina, black stripe enclosing an ochreous line at humeral suture. Sternite strongly white pruinosed, faintly showing a thick black U-shaped mark. Femora 2-3 mainly black, with narrow ochreous stripes.

Wings hyaline or slightly fumose. Venation dark brown to black. Pterostigma shortish, broad or narrow, the posterior edge straight; above about two cells; black, with pale anterior or anterior and distal edge. Forewing with 11-12 Px. Ac at or slightly before separation of anal vein. Space R4-MA with long intercalaries starting proximally, at Px 2 to Px 3, and short distal ones.

Abdomen broadly metallic green on most segments; segment 1 all pruinose (juveniles with squarish distal spot); 9-10 black; segment 10 with pronounced dorsal crest and with denticles on distal margin.

Anal appendages mainly black. Superior appendage gradually forcipate, with numerous outer denticles. Sub-basal tooth sharply acute, well connected with flange. Flange serrated and straight, abruptly inturned before the end. Inferior appendage extending about threequarters as far as superior in side-view; conical at base, with long straight but inturned distal arm. Head of prophallus with broad, rounded distal hood, surmounted anteriorly by a long narrow lip. Terminal shelf simple.

Abd. 29-30 mm; hw. 20-21 mm; pt. 1,25-1,5 mm. ( Selys, 1862, gives abd. ♂ 25-30, ♀ 25-29; hw. 18-21 mm). Pruinose ♂ ( Japan) essentially similar. Pterostigma paler, browner. Thoracic dorsal carina and humeral suture all black.

Mature ♀ ( Japan). Labrum greenish yellow, postclypeus and head above dark metallic green or bronze. '

Prothoracic hind lobe narrow. Mesostigmal lamina narrow, black, with straight black posterior ridge. Synthorax metallic green, as in <?. Sternite with trace of a lateral brown bar and small medial spot at distal end.

Pterostigma brown. Forewing with 13-14 Px.

Abdomen with metallic band on all segments, but only on distal end of segment 1 and restricted on 10. Segment 10 with slight crest, Cerci thick, mainly black. Ovipositor sheath black on lower half; scarcely curved ventrally, slightly more so on denticulate distal half.

Vulvar scale produced to an acute apical point at upper distal angle.

Abdomen 29-30 mm; hindwing 22,5 mm.

Distribution. Widespread in Europe; North and NW Asia. Martin (1910) gives Algeria: common at lake margins. A Kenya record must be discounted (see Pinhey 1966b: 284): 3 ♂ in RSM, Edinburgh are labelled: “ Laikipia, Brit. East Africa, 6/1905, F. J. Jackson”. These specimens were from the G. T. Bethune-Baker Collection. This is a most unlikely record and, as I remarked in 1966, the specimens were probably collected when Sir Frederick Jackson (former Governor of Uganda) was on leave in Europe. Laikinia is in northern Kenya.

Material examined.

NMB: W. Germany: Karlsruhe Weingarten , July 1964. Japan: Hokkaido, Aug. 1935 .

An Algerian record of Martin’s has been reported to me (USSRL): Algeria (Martin Colln).

Figures

Venation. Forewings of 1. Lestes sponsa; 2. L. amicus; 3. L. auripennis; 4. L. plagiatus; 5. L. ictericus; 6. L. palliaus; 7. L, ochraceus; 8. Sytnpecma fusca.

Subgenus Lestes (15-28). L. sponsa: 15. Left side of head of ♂ showing ridge behind antennal cavity; 16. pterostigma of right forewing; 17-18. anal appendages dorsally and from left; 19. prophallus; 20. terminal segments and ovipositor sheath and vulvar scale at its base (all Germany except prophallus from Japan). L. barbarus (Morocco): 21. right anal appendages from above; 22. prophallus. L. dryas (California): 23. anal appendages dorsally, 24. prophallus. L. macrostigma (Turkey): 25, 26. the same. L. virens (Germany): 27, 28. the same. f = flange, hd = hood, li = ligula, sc = scoop, sh = shelf.