Leptagrion andromache Hagen

Muzón, Javier, Muñoz, Soledad Weigel & Campos, Raúl, 2009, Description of the bromeliad-dwelling final instar larva of Leptagrion andromache Hagen in Selys (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), Zootaxa 2089 (1), pp. 65-68 : 65-67

Leptagrion andromache Hagen in Selys

Description of last instar larva

Figures 1–10

Head. Almost two times as wide as long, brown, frontoclypeal area and labrum darkish. Antennae 7-segmented, the third antennomere the longest. Left mandible ( Fig. 2 ) with two molars, five incisors, and two additional teeth, one next to incisor 5 (y sensu Watson 1956) and the other one on anterior margin below molars (k). Right mandible ( Fig. 1 ) without molars, with five incisors and two additional teeth, a large one on posterior margin (y) and a small one on anterior margin below level of left molars (k); mandibular formula: L 1+2 3 4 5 y k a b, R 1+2 3 4 5 y k 0. Labium ( Figs. 3-4 ) reaching first coxa, prementum almost as long as wide, with one long seta on each side (0.4 mm) and 3–5 spines at articulation with palp; anterior margin strongly convex and crenulated, with one spine on each concavity; lateral margins with 16–20 setae at widest portion. Labial palp ( Fig. 3 ) with 7 (30%), 8 (40%), or 9 (30%) long setae (0.9 mm the longest); distal margin bilobate, both lobes acute and straight, the internal one 1.53 times longer than the external.

Thorax. Prothorax dorsally brown, dorsal 0.5 of sides darkish brown. Meso- and metathorax blackish with pale areas on metathoracic margins. Legs pale with following dark pattern: a basal dorsal spot on meso- and metacoxae, a basal and subapical band on all femora, and an apical band on all tibiae. Wing pads reaching S3.

Abdomen. Dorsally pale brown; S1–8 with paired lateral dark spots as follows: confluent at posterior 0.5 on S1; almost complete on S2; on the anterior 0.5 and decreasing posteriorly in intensity on S3–8. S10 apical 0.5 darkened. Male opercular apophyses acute ( Fig. 8 ), as long as 1.3 times S10 length. Valves of ovipositor ( Fig. 10 ) pale brown, not reaching apex of S10. Male cercus 0.55 ± 0.05 times as long as S10 length ( Figs. 7–8 ), blackish; female cercus 0.45 ± 0.05 times as long as abdominal S10 length, blackish, apex pale ( Figs. 9–10 ). Caudal lamellae nodate (type D sensu Corbet 1999), color pattern as in Figs. 5–6 . Dorsal margin of lateral caudal lamella with 40–60 stiff setae, extending along 0.4 its length; ventral margin with 5–10 setae, extending along about 0.5 its length. Dorsal margin of medial caudal lamella with 4 stiff setae, extending along about 0.4 of its length; ventral margin with 17 setae, extending along about 0.5 of its length. Remainder of caudal lamellae margins with longer thin hairs.

Measurements (mm, n = 5). Total body length (without caudal lamella): 30.67 ± 0.94. Head: max. width: 4.25 ± 0.06, max. length: 2.2 ± 0.08. Antenna: total length: 2.3, the third antennomere the longest. Prementum: max. width: 2.7 ± 0.07, max. length: 2.66 ± 0.05. Movable hook: 1.04 ± 0.05. Femur: 1: 2.22 ± 0.04, 2: 2.74 ± 0.05, 3: 3.48 ± 0.08. Tibia: 1: 2.94 ± 0.05, 2: 3.28 ± 0.08, 3: 3.64 ± 0.05. Wing pads: internal: 4.26 ± 0.09, external: 4.36 ± 0.11. Abdomen max. length: 23.14 ± 1.25, S10 length: 0.78 ± 0.04. Caudal lamella: max. width: lateral: 1.5 ± 0.11, medial: 1.5 ± 0.29, max. length: lateral:4.27 ± 0.52, medial 3.42 ± 0.25. Cercus length: male: 0.43 ± 0.06, female: 0.35 ± 0.07. Ovipositor ventral length: 1.3–1.5. Male opercular apophyses ventral length: 0.86 ± 0.13.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Leptagrion andromache, last larval instar. 1. Right mandible, inner view; 2. Left mandible, inner view; 3. Prementum, dorsal view; 4. Labial palp, dorsal view; 5. Median caudal lamella, lateral view; 6. Lateral caudal lamella, lateral view; 7. Male S9–10, dorsal view; 8. Male S9–10, lateral view; 9. Female S9–10, dorsal view; 10. Female S9–10, lateral view. Scales: Figs. 1–2 = 0.1 mm; Figs. 3, 7–8 = 0.22 mm; Fig. 4 = 0.076 mm; Figs. 5–6 = 0.08 mm; Figs. 9–10 = 0.25 mm.