Erythemis vesiculosa ( Fabricius, 1775 )

Rodríguez, Fredy Palacino, Sarmiento, Carlos E. & González-Soriano, Enrique, 2015, Morphological variability and evaluation of taxonomic characters in the genus Erythemis Hagen, 1861 (Odonata: Libellulidae: Sympetrinae), Insecta Mundi 2015 (428), pp. 1-68 : 28-31

Erythemis vesiculosa ( Fabricius, 1775)

( Fig. 1a , 2a,c , 8 , 14, 16 , 20 , 28, 38)

Libellula vesiculosa Fabricius, 1775: 421 .

Libellula acuta Say, 1840: 24

Lepthemis vesiculosa Hagen, 1861: 161 .

Type Material. Not examined.

Diagnosis. Thorax green, dorsum abdomen green with dark brown (sexually immature male) or black (mature male), S8-10 with spots or all black or dark brown, and thebasal area on HW is yellow or brown. Radial planate with double cells (Fig. 28). Dark basal spot on HW does not reach the first antenodal vein, the MP crossvein, the AA (Fig. 26) or the last rows of cells to anal angle. Ventral teeth on male cercus is beyond the apex of epiproct ( Fig. 12 ). Posterior lobe of vesica spermalis absent. Hook bilobed ( Fig. 18 ), triangular or trapezoidal, and not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of vesica spermalis ( Fig. 20 ). Cornua parallel to transversal axis of vesica spermalis, with lobes fused to apex, and not covered by lateral lobes in lateral view ( Fig. 20 ). Lab> 30mm.

Morphometric ratios of males. LHW/Lab>1.20; Lab/LclS3>1.50.

Morphometric ratios of females. LHW/Lab<1.20; Lab/Las<2.50; LclS3/LcaS3<3.00; Lab/ LclS3>1.40; Lnpt/Anb>1.20.

Head. Ll: 0.013 –0.017 mm (M); 0.014 –0.017 mm (F). Lw: 0.035 –0.043 mm (M); 0.038 – 0.041 mm (F). Hwd: 0.070 –0.079 mm (M); 0.072 –0.076 mm (F). Hl: 0.036 –0.050 mm (M); 0.040 –0.046 mm (F).

Legs. Nsmf: 8–16 (M); 5–9 (F). Nshf: 11–42 (M); 8–17 (F). Hfl: 0.053 –0.092 mm (M); 0.067 –0.086 mm (F). Fbsd: 0.024 –0.035 mm (M); 0.030 –0.035 mm (F). Mfl: 0.042 –0.054 mm (M); 0.046 –0.052 mm (F). Dshf (the conditions separated by commas are present in different specimens): short spines-1 to 3 median spines-3 long spines, short spines-3 to 5 long spines.

Wings. LoptFW: 0.039 –0.050 mm (M); 0.043 –0.048 mm (F). AnptFW: 0.005 –0.010 mm (M); 0.008 – 0.010 mm (F). LoptHW: 0.038 –0.046 mm (M); 0.041 –0.046 mm (F). AnptHW: 0.006 –0.010 mm (M); 0.008 –0.010 mm (F). DfwHW: 0.068 –0.081 mm (M); 0.071 –0.082 mm (F). LbanFW: 17.23–21.23mm (M); 18.81–20.91mm (F). LbanHW: 15.18–18.41mm (M); 14.91–17.76mm (F). AndFW: 7.74–9.34mm (M); 8.43– 9.46mm (F). Wb: 9.28–11.57mm (M); 10.90–11.02mm (F). LFW: 36.44–41.34mm (M); 40.26–42.17mm (F). LHW: 36.78–41.52mm (M); 36.52–40.72mm (F). AnsbtFW: 0.020 –0.031 mm (M); 0.021 –0.026 mm (F). AntrFW: 0.005 –0.010 mm (M); 0.007 –0.010 mm (F). LarFW: 0.0018 –0.0056 mm (M); 0.002 –0.005 mm (F). LarHW: 0.000 – 0.006 mm (M); 0.0019 –0.0062 mm (F). LnptFW: 12.33–14.45mm (M); 12.90–14.53mm (F). LnptHW: 12.28–16.79mm (M); 14.42–16.21mm (F). At-MP: 0.0021 –0.0050 mm (M); 0.0028 –0.0043 mm (F). LbaFW: 0.029 –0.038 mm (M); 0.031 –0.035 mm (F). LbaHW: 0.028 –0.038 mm (M); 0.032 –0.037 mm (F). RP2-loptFW: 0.00– 0.09mm (M); 0.018 –0.093 mm (F). RP2-loptHW: 0.0006 –0.0062 mm (M); 0.0006 – 0.0110 (F). Dat-lsbt: 0.0006 –0.0025 mm (M); 0.0009 –0.0031 mm (F). Lasa-ca: 0.0021 –0.0081 mm (M); 0.003 –0.009 mm (F). Crp: 9–11 (FW), 10–13 (HW). Cal: 3–7. pC-RA-RP1: 2–3. CdfFW: only 3 rows of cells. Vt: 1. Csub: 3.

Abdomen. Lab: 35.70–43.09mm (M); 37.86–42.47mm (F). LcaS3: 0.006 –0.021 mm (M); 0.008 – 0.017 mm (F). LclS3: 0.015 –0.023 mm (M); 0.021 –0.028 mm (F). Lecv-clS3: 0.012 –0.017 mm (M); 0.014 – 0.019 mm (F).

Caudal appendages. Las : 0.021 –0.027 mm (M) ; 0.018 –0.022 mm (F). Poas: 0.0006 –0.0056 mm (M); 0.001 –0.004 mm (F). Anas: 0.004 –0.008 mm (M); 0.003 –0.006 mm (F). Ddas : 0.003 –0.010 mm (M). Epl: 0.011 –0.023 mm (M) ; 0.005 –0.008 mm (F).

Larva. The following characters were found by Klots (1932): Total length 18.5 mm, Hfl 7 mm, head width 5.2 mm, abdomen width 6 mm. Head widest across the front, and narrowed behind the eyes. Ocellar region paler, with a black spot at the anterior end of each side lateral ocellus, diffuse at the base of the antennae. Rear of head has 8 paler bands. Labium with 15–16 mental setae and 11–12 lateral setae. Wing pads reach to the 8 th segment. Tarsi with an apical ring. Dorsal hooks with long hair on the apex 7–9. Larvae additional characters are provided by Needham and Westfall (1955) as follows: minute lateral spine on S9, several more setae on the labium than other species. According to Costa and Pujol-Luz (1993) E. vesiculosa larvae is the longest of the genus, and shows 16 premental setae, 12 palpal setae, the lateral spine on ninth segment is reduced, cercus exceeds 2/3 the length of the epiproct. Paulson (1966) found Anax junius and Ischnura ramburi larvae simultaneously with E. vesiculosa larvae in a temporary ditch with vegetation and about 8 inches deep in Marco Island (Collier Co., Florida).

Material examined. ARGENTINA, Formosa Prov., Banado La Estrella , 42 km N of Las Lomitas on road 28, 24°27’32” 60°23’17”, 0 m, 18.ii.2008, R. W. Garrison and N von Ellenrieder leg., 1 male ( RWG) ; same, but Parque Nacional Pilcomayo, Laguna Blanca marshes by pond, 25°10’29”S 58°7’44”N, 74 m, 16.ii.2008, N. von Ellenrieder and R. W. Garrison leg., 1 female ( RWG) . BOLIVIA, Dept. Beni, Ciudad Reyes , 02-20.xii.1956, 1 male ( MNRJ) . BRAZIL, Amapá, Porto Santana , ICOMI, 26-27.ii.1963, Roppa, Mielke leg., 2 females ( MNRJ) ; Amazonas, Barreiras da Ribeira , 18.viii.1936, 1 male, 2 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but B. Constant, Río Itecoahy , v.1942, Parko leg., 1 male, 3 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but 17.v.1950, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Lagadiço de baixo, 22.iv.1942, ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 2 M, 20.ii.1942, 1 male, 1 female ; 22.ii.1942, 1 male ; same, but Manaus , Parko leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Rio Negro , 20.vii.1941, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 22.vii.1941, 1 male ; 11.vii.1941, 1 male ; 12.vii.1941, 1 male; 23.vii.1941 1 female, 1 male; 25.vii.1941, 3 males, 3 females; 25.vii.1942, 1 female, same, but Xiborene , 02.xii.1960, E. Ferreira leg., 1 male, 2 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but Manicoré, Rio Madeira, Parko leg., x.1941, 1 male, 2 females ( MNRJ) ; Bahia, Açenda da Bambo do Serrinha , 05.vii.1951, N. Santos leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Camarajipe, Salvador ( Mata ), 18.vii.1951, N. Santos leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Itamaraju, monte Pascoal km. 5, 10-15.i.1972, Elias, leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Lençois (atraído por luz, noite), 24.iv.2002, J. Glauber leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Mucuri ( Mata ), ii.1971, Elias, leg., 2 males ( MNRJ) ; Periperi, Baerour , 19.vii.1951, N. Santos leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Brasilia D.F., Coquinho, Reserva Ecológica do IBGE, 06.ii.1981, N. Santos, L.F. Netto, H. Mezquita leg., 1 female, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; Espírito Santo, Baixo Guandu, Estr. B. Guandu á Hituba km. 13, 01-07.xi.1970, Elias, Paulo leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Cariacica , iii.1981, Bento leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Conceição da Barra , 15-20.iv.1968, Paulo, Elias leg., 2 males ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 18-23.iii.1968, 1 male ; 17.ii.1968, 1 female ; 25-30.i.1971, 2 females; Goitacazes , 22.i.1973, N Santos leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Jacareípe , 11-28.ii.1967, Paulo Elias leg., 3 males, 5 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but Linhares , 10-15.iii.1972, Elias leg., 1 male, 2 females ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 01-07.ii.1972, 2 females, 17-22.iii.1972, 2 males ; 08-14.ii.1972, 1 male ; same, but Estr. Linhares-Regência km. 4, iii.1944, Elias leg., 8 males, 6 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but Linhares , v.1973, Elias, Paulo leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Parque Sooretama , 20.i.1973, N. Santos, Sandim, Vicente leg., 2 males ( MNRJ) ; same, but Parque Sooretama , xii.1981, Bento leg., 1 male, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but São Mateus , 15-20.iv.1968, Paulo, Elias leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Vitória, Morro Moscoso , iii.1981, Bento leg., 2 males ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on: i.1981, 2 females ; same, but Santa Tereza , xii.1967, Elias leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on: 08.ii.1967, 1 male ; 02.i.1967, 1 female ; 11.i.1968, 1 female; 8-13.vi.1968, 2 males; Goiás, Itumbiara , 11.xii.1975, Inácio leg., 1 male, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Mineiros , xi.1994, P.R. Magno leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Maranhão, Imperatriz , 20.vii.1974, O. Mielke leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Mato Grosso, Judiavai, Km. 3 de Rodonia Judiavai, 01.iii.2002, O.I. Souza leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Porto Estrela , 06.ii.2002, O.I. Souza leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Río Salobra , 26.i.2002, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 21-23.i.1955, 5 males, 6 females ; 21.i.1955, 1 male ; 01.ii.1941, 2 females; same, but Afluente do Río Casca , cerca de 20 km., 13.iv.1963, N. Santos, Machado leg., 1 male, 2 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but Bodoquena , xii.1941, C.I.O. Cruz leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on: 15-17.1941, 1 female ; same, but entre Cuiabá e Guia , 15.iv.1963, N. Santos, Machado leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but entre Cuiabá e Jaciara , 08.iv.1963, N. Santos, Machado leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Buriti Chapada dos Guimarães , 21.ii.1967, Nestor leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on: 20.i.1970, N. Tangerini leg., 2 males ; same, but Urucum , 28-30.i.1955, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Minas Gerais, Estr. B. Horizonte-Serra do Cipó, Río Cipó , Km. 02, 01.xii.1963, N Santos, Machado, Borjes leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Lagoa Santa, Lagoa Vermelha , 21.iv.1949, M.G. Machado, N. Dias dos Santos leg., 3 females ( MNRJ) ; same, but ii.1947, Santos, Berla, Machado, leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Lagoa do Palmital, Governador, Valadares , 9.ii.1955, N. Santos, Machado leg., 3 males, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Rio Claro , 22.ii.1958, D. Lacombe leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but São João del Rey, Cascata na Serra do Tiradentes , 03.iii.1957, Santos, A.C. Pires leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; Pará, Belém, Jardim do M. Goeldi, 21.i.1956, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Utinga , 12.ii.1963, Roppa, Mielke leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but 23.viii.1936, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Japérica , 06.02.1959, C. Simón, O. Fontana leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Santarém , v.1920, Garbe leg., 1 male, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Paraná, Curitiba , 01.xii.1972, O. Mielke leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Guaíra , 13.ii.1957, D. Lacombe leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Salto das Sete Quedas , 09.ii.1957, D. Lacombe leg., 1 male ( MNRJ) ; Pernambuco, Recife, Dois irmãos, 11.vii.1944, Berla leg., 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Rio Grande do Norte, Natal , 20.vi.1941, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; Rio de Janeiro, iii.1975, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Horto da quinta da Boavista, 25.i.1983, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 20.x.1994, 1 male ; same, but Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (lago azul) perto do Museu. E.F. Ramos, 30.iii.1997, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; same, but Lagoa das Tachas , i.1961, 2 males ( MNRJ) ; same data as before except collected on: 19.ix.1964, 1 male 2 females, ( MNRJ) ; 12.xii.1965, N. Santos leg., 8 males; 21.ii.1966, N. Santos e Martins leg., 1 male; 25.i.1969, N. Santos leg., 1 male, 1 female; same, but Ilhada Marambaia, Poça heliponto, J. M. C, 25.ix.2003, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Represa São Pedro, Machado , 09.ii.1943, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Rio das Flores, Fazenda da Forquilha , B. Mascarenhas, 10.vii.1997, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; same, but Valença, Faz. Sta. Rosa ( Faz. Pau-D’Alho) Represa da Usina. B. Mascarenhas , 24.x.1997, 1 male ( MNRJ) ; Roraima, Ariquemes , viii.1980, Bento leg., 1 male, 1 female ( MNRJ) ; São Paulo, Caraguatatuba , 16.ii.1980, 1 female ( MNRJ) . COLOMBIA, Amazonas, Leticia , 2.v.1946, 1 female ( ICN) ; Antioquia, Caucasia, Hacienda la Candelaria , 80 m, 13.vii.2002 – 2-3.ix.2004 – 1-2. ix.2006 – 23.xi.2007, Grupo Entomología leg., 10 males, 1 female ( CEUA) ; same, but Universidad de Antioquia , 1450 m, 16.i.2008, D. Osorio leg., 1 male ( CEUA) ; same, but Puerto Berrío, Casco urbano, Barrio La Malena , xii.2008, A. Bustamante leg., 1 female ( CEUA) ; same Puerto Berrío , 6.5°-74°, 17. xi.2007, G. Ochoa leg., 1 male ( MEFLG) ; same, but 6.5° -74.4°, 20.xi.2007, J. Alvarez leg., 1 female ( MEFLG) ; same, but Turbo , 8.0000000° -76.5833000°, 4.iii.2005, M. Pérez leg., 1 male ( MEFLG) ; same, but Yolombó , Vereda El Bosque, 7.00110° 75.9636000°, 1475 m, G. Ochoa leg., 1 male ( MEFLG) ; Atlántico, Barranquilla , 9.v.1970, G. Zambrano leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Ciénaga La Larga, Palmar de Varela , 6.vii.2006 - 15.x.2007, M. Lobo y M. Moreno leg., 1 male, 1 female ( UARC) ; same, but Piojó, Guaibaná , 6.vii.2006, 1 male ( UARC) ; Bolívar, Regidor, Finca Las Brisas, Corredor de vegetación alrededor de caño, 8º 45’ 39.5”N 73º 52’ 02.2” W, i.2009, M. Moreno leg., 1 male ( UARC) ; same, but Las Pavas ó Labrador, Cuerpos de agua, 8º 46’ 43.7 N 73º 54’ 53.8” W, i.2009, M. Moreno leg., 1 male ( UARC) ; same, but Santa Catalina, 5-7.x.1999, 2 males ( ICN) ; Caldas, La Dorada, 13.ix.1980, L. Cruz leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but 19.iv.1974, A.B. Lotero leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but 11.iv.1974, L. Agudelo leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; Casanare, Agua Azul , 12.x.1976 - 11.x.1978, P. Franco leg., 1 male, 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but Finca San Luís , 4°59’18”N 72°23’59”W, 200 m, 21.iii.2005, V. Sánchez leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; Cesar, Chimichagua , 22.x. 2006 - iv.2007, N.C. Rojas leg., 1 male, 2 females ( ICN) ; same, but El Paso , 25.x.2006, N.C. Rojas leg., 3 males ( ICN) ; Chocó, Acandí , Camino El Aguacate-Pinorroa, 24.vi.2007, C. Bota leg., 1 male ( CEUA) ; same, but Vereda Rufino , 8°34’46.7”N 77°18’47.5”W, 34 m, 2-5.vi.2005, C. Botero leg., 2 males ( ANDES) ; same, but Vereda Rufino , Finca El Paraiso, 8°35’14.6”N 77°18’38.7”W, 13 m, 24.vi.2005, C. Botero leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; same, but Quibdó , 10.xii.1985 J.M. Idrobo leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; Córdoba, Pueblo Nuevo , 15- 21.vii-15.viii.2006, N.C. Rojas leg., 4 males, 2 females ( ICN) ; same, but Santa Cruz de Lorica , 15.vii.2006, N.C. Rojas leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; Cundinamarca, Fusagasugá , iv.1969, Arias leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; Huila, Villa Vieja , 1.iv.1982, 1 male ( ICN) ; Magdalena, La Gaira, 20 msnm, xii.1975, 1 male (MUSENUV) ; same, but Santa Ana , 4.i.1978, A. Jiménez leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; Meta, Acacías , 25-26.iv.2004, 1 male, 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but 17.iv.2004, G. Flórez y estudiantes leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but Sector Brisas de Ortoy , 555 m, 1.iv.2004, L. Pérez y E. Realpe leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; same, but Cumaral , 3.ix.1981, R. Restrepo leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Macarena , i-ii.1950, L. Richter leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but PNN La Macarena , 21.xii.1986, X. Martínez leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but 27.xii.1986, Estudiantes UN leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Puerto Gaitán , 3. ix.2005, N. Rojas leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but Puerto López , 13.x.1984, R. Restrepo leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but 6.vi.1970, M.A. Santoyo leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Puerto López , 6.vi.1970, O.M. Santo leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but Puerto Lleras , 22.x.2005, D. Gaitán leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but Restrepo , 11.ix.1976, A. Bernal leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but San Juan de Arama , 21-22.ix.2005, N.C. Rojas leg., 2 males, 1 female ( ICN) ; Villavicencio , 20.iv.2005, 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Bosque Bavaria , 525 m, 5.xi.2006, J. Dumar leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; same, but Corpoica , estación “La Libertad”, 4°3’43”N 73°28’9”W, 445 m, 11.xii.2004, L. Pérez y E. Realpe leg., 3 males ( ANDES) ; same, but 385 m, 11.xii.2006, T. Ramírez leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; same, but 385 m, 1.iii.2008, E. Realpe leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, San Andrés, Laguna “Big Pond”, 100 m, 1.iv.2004, E. Realpe leg., 1 male ( ANDES) ; same data as before except collected on: x.2006, L. Pérez y E. Realpe leg., 3 males ; San Andrés, El Cove, 5.xii.1980, C. Bohórquez leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but San Andrés, 5-15.xii.1980, 10.iv.1984, C. Bohórquez leg., 2 males ( ICN) ; Sucre, Coveñas , vii.2008, J. Vélez leg., 1 female ( CEUA) ; same, but San Marcos , 16-18.x.2004, Sist. Animal UN leg., 2 males, 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but San Onofre, Reserva Sanguaré , 0 m, 17.x.2003, Grupo Entomología leg., 1 male ( CEUA) ; Tolima, Ambalema , 22.viii.1977, H. Aristizabal leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Guamo , 28.xi.1970, F. Torres leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Espinal , vii.1984, L.P. Moreno leg., 1 female ( ICN) ; same, but Melgar , 28.iv., L.E. Aguirre leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; Valle del Cauca , Buenaventura, 7.vii.1980, C. Bohórquez leg., 1 male ( ICN) ; same, but Bajo Calima , 600msnm, 02.xii.2001, Curso Ecología leg., 1 male (MUSENUV) ; same, but 70msnm, 08.vi.2002, M. Cadavid leg., 1 male (MUSENUV); same, but Palmira , CIAT, 13.ix.2003, C. Bermúdez leg., 1 male (MUSENUV) ; same, but ii.2004, 1 male, 1 female (MUSENUV); same, but 1000 msnm, 30.x.1986, J. Zapata, leg., 1 female (MUSENUV); same data as before except collected on: 05.x.1986, G. Banquero leg., 1 female ; no data, 2 males ( UARC) ; same, but colectado en arroz, 980msnm, 23.ii.2001, A. Morales leg., 1 female (MUSENUV); same, but 980msnm, 23.ii.2001, J.M. Bueno leg., 1 female (MUSENUV); same, but Cali, Univalle , 1000 msnm, 22.x.1982, E. Valencia leg., 1 female (MUSENUV) ; same data as before except collected on: 30.iii.2000, M. Barrera leg., 1 male ; same, but Tuluá, Jardín Botánico Mateguadua , 4º1’42”N 76º10’0,7”W, 1200msnm, 13.viii.2003, C. Bermúdez leg., 1 female (MUSENUV) . MEXICO, Jalisco, La Huerta, Estación de Biología Chamela , 12.vii-19.x.1988, E. Ramírez y R. Ayala leg., 1 female ( CNIN) ; Veracruz, Playa Escondida , 18.viii.1979, G. Jiménez leg., 1 male ( CNIN) . PUERTO RICO, Mun. Cavey, pond and river at milepost o.6, 0.6 km. from jct Hwy 175, NE of Cayey, 18°7’59” 66°10’6”, 386 m, J. A. and R. W. Garrison leg., 1 male, 1 female ( RWG) .

Biology. Erythemis vesiculosa exhibit large and unidirectional flights (Rácenis 1953; Paulson 1966), showing his abundance peak in late fall and early winter (Florida, Paulson, 1966). This species inhabit lakes, ponds, swamps, backwaters in streams, and rice field canals, where his peak activity is from 9:00 to 16:00 hrs and include aspects as the aggressive defense of territories by males against other males of their own species or from other Libellulidae such as Orthemis discolor (Burmeister) , Erythemis peruviana (Rambur) and Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linnaeus) (Palacino-Rodríguez and Millán 2010) . Males visit various perches, especially in the lower branches of vegetation or on the ground and it is common to see them with their wings inclined forward to counteract the heat while watching females lay eggs in the water. E. vesiculosa individuals are voracious predators, show cannibalism, and may feed on butterflies ( Needham and Westfall 1955) and Libellulidae such as Dasythemis esmeralda Ris (information of collection labels). Females lay eggs by giving quick taps with the apex of the abdomen on the water surface (Taber and Fleenor 2005). E. vesiculosa is parasitized by Forcipomyia incubans Mcfie ( Diptera : Ceratopogonidae ), which feeds on hemolymph taken from wing veins ( Johannsen 1951), and in adults of this species from an agricultural field in Puerto Rico, was discovered the first mastrevirus probably transmitted by some of their diverse insect prey (Rosario et al. 2013).

Distribution. From U.S.A. to Argentina ( Fig. 38 ), between 0–1870 m.asl.

Figures

Figure 1. a) Plot showing continuous variation for the character distance between lateral and ventral carinae (dlvc), opposite to meeting point of lateral and medial transverse carinae on S3 (lmt). Numbers represent the following species: 1) E. attala, 2) E. carmelita, 3) E. collocata, 4) E. credula, 5) E. haematogastra, 6) E. mithroides, 7) E. peruviana, 8) E. plebeja, 9) E. simplicicollis, 10) E. vesiculosa. b) S1-3 E. carmelita males showing the measures from Williamson (1923): distance between lateral and ventral carinae (dlvc), divided by the measure of distance between meeting point of lateral and medial transverse carinae and ventral carinae (lmt).

Figure 2. Plots of the first two discriminant functions of the discriminant analysis. a) The first two discriminant functions explain 72.5% in males, the cases in where species are overlapped were analyzed by separated in b. b) The first two discriminant functions explain 88.3% in males, and c) The first two discriminant functions explain 83.7% in F. Polygons define the limits of proposed groups.

Figure 38. Erythemis vesiculosa distribution map.

Figures 4–9. Morphometric characters. 4) S1-3 of E. carmelita male, 5-6) E. simplicicollis male; 7) E. peruviana female; 8) FW of E. vesiculosa male; 9) E. simplicicollis male. Abbreviations indicate the following characters, LFW, LHW: FW or HW length; Lnpt: Nodus-pterostigma length; Antr: Triangle width; Lar: Arculus-second antenodal length; Lba: wing base-arculus length; Lban: Wing base-nodus length; Anpt: Pterostigma width; Lopt: Pterostigma length; Ansbt: Subtriangle width; Acd: HW discoidal field posterior border width; Anb: HW base width; Lasa-ca: Supplementary anal vein-Cu-A crossvein, Lab: Abdomen length; Las: Cercus length; Ddas: reach of teeth on ventral region of cercus; Anas: Anterolateral width of cercus; S: Abdominal segment 3; LclS3: Lateral carina length; LcaS3: 3 Apical carina length; Lecv: Ventral carina length; Lecv-clS3: Basal area between ventral-lateral carinae on S3; Wm: Width medial region of the abdominal segment; S 8: Abdominal segment 8; S 9: Abdominal segment 9; Lal: Female lamina length from base of basal lobe to apex.

Figures 10–17. Discrete characters of vulvar lamina, abdominal appendages, thorax, and femur.Numbers represent the following species: 10) E. peruviana female; 11) E. plebeja female; 12) E. simplicicollis male; 13) E. mithroides male; 14) E. vesiculosa male; 15) E. peruviana female; 16) E. vesiculosa female, 17) E. attala male. Abbreviations indicate the following characters, S 8 -S 9: Abdominal segments 8-9; LV: Vulvar lamina; Pb: Posterior border; Vt: Teeth ventral; Ai: Inferior appendage; As: Antehumeral stripe.

Figures 18–25. Discrete characters of vesica spermalis. Numbers represent the following species:18) E. mithroides, dorsal view; 19) E. carmelita, left side view; 20) E. vesiculosa, left side view; 21) E. peruviana, left side view; 22) E. credula, dorsal wiew; 23) E. haematogastra, right side view; 24) E. credula, finger-shaped structures, dorsal view; 25) E. plebeja, dorsal view. Abbreviations indicate the following characters, C: Cornua; L: Lateral lobe; H: Hook; Pb: Posterior border; M: Medial lobe; P: Posterior lobe; NH: Hook not bilobed.