Rhinocypha, Rambur, 1842

Jan van Tol & André Günther, 2018, The Odonata of Sulawesi and adjacent islands. Part 8. Revision of the genus Rhinocypha Rambur, 1842 (Chlorocyphidae), Odonatologica 47 (3), pp. 299-386 : 354-360

Rhinocypha phantasma Liefinck, 1935

( Figs 7, 8 , 60–65 , 86 )

Rhinocypha phantasma. — LIEFTINCK (1935): 175 (original description, type local- ity Boeton Island); LIEFTINCK (1938): 50–59 (relationships); LIEFTINCK (1971): 106 (lectotype designated).

Diagnosis

The males of R. phantasma are unmistakable by virtue of the pruinose dor- sum of the abdomen ( Fig. 7); the black mandibles without pale (blue) mark- ing are also characteristic, but R. togeanensis also has black mandibles. The latter, however, has a fully black pronotum. The pale markings on the frontal and dorsal sides of the female head of R. phantasma are extensive, more so even than in females of R. frontalis , in which also the males have a paired blue marking on the frons.

Description

Male

Head ( Fig. 61 ) — Labium black or brownish black, dirty yellow at base. Labrum swollen, glossy black. Mandibles black. Anteclypeus shining black;

postclypeus, frons, vertex, occiput and post-ocular lobe velvet black, with small paired spots behind lateral ocelli, and additionally on post-ocular lobe close to occiput; in some populations, post-ocular spot somewhat larger than spot on vertex; ventral side of ocular lobe of mature specimens with pruinose spot. Gena with sub-quadrangular to sub-triangular dirty-blue spot, not extending along the eyes.

Thorax — Pronotum ( Fig. 62 ) with a small blue marking in latero-anterior corner of anterior lobe; marking continues on median lobe, narrower ante- riorly than posteriorly, ending well before posterior margin of median lobe; lateral lobe with a tear drop-shaped pale marking, dorsally rounded, ven- trally acute; posterior lobe black except for an extremely small pale spot in lateral corners.

Synthorax ( Fig. 63 ). Mesopreepisternum dark creamy. Mesepisternum and most of mesepimeron black; large blue stripe over side of synthorax as fol- lows: mesokatepisternum with triangular marking ventro-posteriorly, more or less continuing over mesepimeron, metepisternum and metepimeron; mesepimeron blue marking in ventro-anterior corner, continuing on met- episternum and metepimeron, both dorsal and ventral side of marking ir- regular, dorsally without the conspicuous dorso-posterior projection as in R. frontalis , thus leaving the posterior half of metepisternum black, extend- ing onto dorso-posterior part of metepimeron.

Legs — Black, but inner side of mid tibia distal ³/₅ white, and of hind leg distal half; mature specimens may have pruinosity on the black parts of the mid and hind tibiae, and the inner sides of the mid and hind femora; coxae with blue longitudinal stripe, with variation between specimens.

Wings — Distal to nodus, or distal to last Ax before nodus, opaque brown- ish black patch; in some specimens inner margin wedge-shaped, extending into radial space; base of wings transparent, somewhat enfumed, especially along the veins; underside of hind wing with reddish copper metallic sheen, only tip distal to pterostigma iridescent violet; pterostigma of fore and hind wings brown.

Abdomen ( Fig. 64 ) — Dorsally black, S2–S8 with extensive pruinosity cov- ering most of dorsum, other segments at most with traces of pruinosity; sides of tergites with a series of pale marks: on S1 sub-quadrangular with small ventro-posterior projection pointing dorsad, on S2–S5 large and rec- tangular, the one on S2 with ventro-anterior emargination, on S5 somewhat tapering, especially posteriorly, on S6–S8 with progressively smaller spots, on S6 tapering posteriorly and ventro-anteriorly, on S7 strongly tapering posteriorly, not reaching posterior margin of segment, on S8 marking ob- long triangular, widest anteriorly; S9–S10 and anal appendages black.

Female [JvT 05646]

Head ( Fig. 65 ) — Labium: Base pale-coloured, cream, remainder black; dor- sal side of head velvet black, except for creamy yellow markings as follows: mandibles largely pale with only base and tip black; frons laterally with ir- regular pale spot, with bluish tint; gena with large pale spot, sub-triangular, extending dorsally along the eye; anterior side of scapus (basal antennal segment) pale, middle of scapus with dark spot; paired spot anteriorly on ver- tex against frons (in populations of Banggai peninsula), similar paired spot latero-posterior of lateral ocelli; small post-ocular spots.

Thorax — Pronotum velvet black, with pale markings as follows: sub-rec- tangular spot laterally on median lobe, ⅔ length of lobe, with narrow exten- sion on anterior lobe; lateral lobe with crescent-shaped pale marking.

Synthorax velvet black, with pale markings as follows: narrow stripe on mesepimeron in posterior half along humeral suture, tapering anteriorly, with a small oblong spot in posterior corner of mesepimeron; straight stripe over metathoracic spiracle anterior to ventro-posterior corner of mesokatepisternum continuing over metepimeron towards posterior margin of metepisternum.

Legs — Brownish black; base of mid and hind coxae posteriorly with small, oblong pale marking.

Wings — Fore wing with dark transverse band from Px10 ending well before pterostigma, pale brown; extreme tip of wing opaque white. Hind wing with transverse band from Px8 to posterior side of pterostigma, ventral side with metallic sheen, tip of wing opaque white; pterostigma of fore and hind wings basal ² /₅ pale brown, rest creamy white, but size of brown part variable.

Abdomen — Mid-dorsal ridge of S3–S7 with narrow pale stripe in middle of each segment, ca half the segments’ length; markings on sides of tergites extensive, but composed of same elements as in R. frontalis : S1 with irregu- lar sub-quadrangular spot in posterior half of segment; S2 with triangular spot anteriorly, an oval spot ventro-posteriorly and triangular spot against posterior margin, its base against S3; S3–S4 anteriorly with L-shaped mark- ing, partly against border of previous segment, and a spot posteriorly in me- dian line; ventrally just above margin of tergite a triangular spot, about 60% segment’s length and tapering anteriorly; these triangular spots continuing on S4–S7, but smaller on each successive segment; S5–S7 with a narrow pale stripe against proximal side, somewhat irregular; S8–S10 black.

Measurements

Measurements of male specimens [mm] — Hind wing length (n = 5) x= 21.5 (20.5–22.5); hind wing width (n = 5) x=5.5 (5.0–6.0); Abdomen (including appendages) (n = 5) x =18.5 (17.5–19.0).

Measurements of female specimens [mm] — Hind wing length (n = 5) x = 23.0 (22.5–24.0); hind wing width (n = 5) x =5.5 (5.5–6.0); abdomen (in- cluding appendages) (n = 5) x= 18.0 (17.0–18.5).

Material studied (93♂ 21♀)

Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi)

1♂, Kolonedale. 8 Aug 1941. Leg. J.J. van der Starre; 1♂ 1♀, Labotan. Forest rem- nant, path. jk SW14. [no day and month], 1989. Leg. J. Krikken; 5♂, 25 km NE of Luwuk: tributary of Sg Bantajan [= Bantayan]. Clear running water, shaded by disturbed primary forest (0°49’S, 123°00’E). 30 Jan 1989 (sample 89JvT05). Leg. J. van Tol; 2♂, 28 km NE of Luwuk: Sg Bantajan [Bantayan] near crossing road Kajutanju-Siuna. Muddy water over boulders, partly shaded by disturbed primary forest. c. 100 m. 30 Jan 1989 (sample 89JvT06). Leg. J. van Tol; 14♂ 1♀, 28 km NE of Luwuk. Sg Bantayan near crossing with road Kayutanyo to Siuna. Rather wide stream with boulders. Partly shaded by primary forest. 7 Oct. 1989 (sample 89JvT14). Leg. J. van Tol; 5♂, NE of Luwuk: Bantayan river near road Kayutanyo to Siuna. Medium-sized river, in slightly disturbed lowland rainforest (0°47’S, 123°00”E). Alt. 50–100 m. 7 Oct 1989 (sample Duffels Sul. 2). Leg. J. P. Duffels; 14♂ 4♀, 20 km ENE of Biak: Sg. Takilalang. Stream 2–3 m wide in somewhat dis- turbed lowland evergreen rain forest. Clear water. Bottom sand and uplifted coral reef. Mostly shaded (0°48’S, 123°00’E). 8 October 1989 (sample 89JvT015). Leg. J. van Tol.; 2♂ 1♀, NE of Luwuk, Road Kayutabyo to Siuna: Tika[la]lang river. Nar- row stream in lowland rainforest (0°48’S, 123°00’E). Alt. 50–100 m. 8 Oct. 1989 (sample Duffels Sul. 5). Leg. J. P. Duffels; 9♂, Streams between Desa Seseba and Sinsing camp. Several small, slowly flowing streams with clear water, predomi- nantly semi-cultivated area. Some half shaded; some emergent water vegetation. Bottom coarse sand and/or pebbles 80 m. 14 Oct. 1989. Leg. J. van Tol.; 2♂, Batui river at Sinsing Camp. Middle-sized stream in lowland rainforest SW of Luwuk. 90 m. 14–17 Oct 1989. Leg. J. P. Duffels; 8♂, NNW of Batui. Batui river at Sinsing camp. Middle size stream through primary forest. Width 20–25 m; depth 20–50 (80) cm. Fast flowing with quiet sites. Boulders, some sand. Clear water, no water vegetation. Several pools. pH 8.5; conductivity 240µS/cm. 15–17 Oct. 1989 (sample 89JvT23). Leg. J. van Tol; 13♂ 6♀, 20 km NNE of Luwuk. Brooklet and pond in semi-cultivated area between Salodik and Siuna. 22 Oct 1989 (sample 89JvT29). Leg. J. van Tol; 1♂, 40 km N of Wotu: just N of Batas. Small stream near bridge road Wotu-Tentena at km 4 Batas. Width=2–4m, d=0.1–0.3m; shade; boulders. Disturbed primary forest (2°13’31”S, 120°46’27”E). 1200 m. 24 Oct 1993. Leg. J. van Tol; 5♂, N of Danau Poso, Tonusu, Sungai Tumonda (1°47’S, 120°31’E), 25 Jul. 1994. Leg. A. Günther & F. Randow (in AGPC); 4♂ 4♀, N of Danau Poso, Tonusu, Sungai Tumonda (1°47’S, 120°31’E), 1–6 Mar. 1997. Leg. A. Günther (in AGPC); 4♂ 2♀, N of Danau Poso, Tonusu, Sungai Wera, above waterfall (1°45’S, 120°31’E), 18 Aug.–2 Sep. 1999. Leg. A. Günther (in AGPC).

Sulawesi Tenggara ( South-eastern Sulawesi )

3♂ 2♀ (holotype ♂ and four paratypes), Buton : Dwaalbaai . 19 Jan. 1917. Leg. »Na- tive collector« [fide: M.A. Lieftinck] or [?] N.A.L. Krans.

Distribution and habitat

Rhinocypha phantasma was originally described, and up to now only known, from a small series collected on north-eastern Buton (LIEFTINCK 1935), an island off south-eastern Sulawesi ( Fig. 86 ). We have no recent records from this island. However, it was found widely distributed on the Banggai pe- ninsula in 1989 at low altitudes. One specimen was collected near the road from Wotu to Poso at 1 200 m, both an unusual place and altitude (leg. JvT). A note on the envelope indicates that it was the only individual seen. The specimen is very large compared to other specimens of R. phantasma, which may be related to the high altitude of the locality; otherwise it does not dif- fer significantly.

The populations in the Lake Poso area inhabited shaded streams in pris- tine rain forests at an altitude of 650–800 m ( Fig. 16 ; GÜNTHER 2008a, 2008b). At more open sections of streams and at lower altitudes, R. phantasma was replaced by R. virgulata . Both species seem to exclude each other due to their habitat requirements and have never been found syntopically. Rhinocypha phantasma has also been collected with R. frontalis at the same streams, but not with R. monochroa.

Behaviour

Behavioural observations from populations in the Lake Poso area were reported by GÜNTHER (2008a). Males mostly perch on leaves or emergent sticks in small sunny spots close to oviposition sites. MostMost ofof thethe malesmales de- fend distinct small territories over many days. During frontal threat display, males mostly fly obliquely from below or above towards each other with simple synchronous stroking wing beat. During courtship display, the male arches up his abdomen, presenting its dorsal pruinosity. This behaviour has not been observed in any other species of the Rhinocypha tincta -complex, and it is correlated with the specialised coloration on the dorsum of the ab- domen. Eggs were laid in driftwood or other plant substrates at the level of the water surface. Females were only observed at the water on very sunny days. This is probably the reason why several series include hardly any female specimens.

Figures

Figure 8. Rhinocypha phantasma, female. Stream Sg. Wera above Saluopa waterfall, Tonusu, north of Lake Poso, Central Sulawesi. Photo: AG (21-viii-1999)

Figure 16. Habitat of Rhinocypha phantasma and Disparocypha biedermanni Ris, 1916. Stream Sg. Wera above the Saluopa waterfall in undisturbed rain forest, Tonusu, north of Lake Poso, Central Sulawesi. Photo: AG (18-viii-1999)

Figure 60. Rhinocypha phantasma. Male, lectotype. Sulawesi Tenggara, Buton Island, Dwaalbaai. 19-i-1917 [JvT 2214] Photo: JvT

Figures 61–65. Rhinocypha phantasma. All from Sulawesi Tengah. 61 – Male, head, frontal view. W of Luwuk, 14­x­1989 [JvT 05662]; 62 – Male, pronotum, lef lateral view. 28 km NE of Luwuk, 07­x­1989 [JvT 05442]; 63 – Male, synthorax, lef lateral view. Same locality [JvT 05440]; 64 – Male, abdomen, lef lateral view. Lo- cality as in Fig. 61 [JvT 05667]; 65 – Female, head, dorsal view. Locality as in Fig. 62 [JvT 05450]. Artwork by JvT

Figure 86. Distribution Rhinocypha phantasma.