Helveciagrion Machado, 1980

Lencioni, F. A. A., 2023, Analysis of Telebasis Selys, 1865 - Part I. (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), Zootaxa 5239 (4), pp. 500-520 : 506-510

Helveciagrion Machado, 1980

Fig. 5 (♁ app., posterior view). Fig. 6 (♁ app., lateral view). Fig. 7 (♀ prothorax, dorsal view). Fig. 8 (tandem pair), Fig. 9 (detail of the contact between cercus and mesepisternal fossae), Fig. 10 (live specimen),

Type species. Helveciagrion vulcanoae Machado, 1980 , by original designation ( Machado 1980).

Etymology: Helveciagrion = Helvecio, after Dom Helvecio Gomes de Oliveira (b. 1876, d. 1960), Former Archbishop of Mariana–MG + agrion, neuter form of agrios (ἄγριος) meaning “wild”, which in damselflies is now used as an indicator that a genus belongs to the Coenagrionidae ( Fliedner 2006) .

Generic characterization. Medium sized Coenagrionidae (30–38 mm), angulated frons, male cercus approximate at the base, with a pair of heavily sclerotized tubercles of different sizes ( Fig. 5–6 ) that fit the pair of mesepisternal fossae in the pterothorax of the female ( Fig. 7 , 9 ), paraprocts subequal to or longer than cercus, female lacking flap–like structures on anterior margin of prothorax and lacking mesanepisternal groove. Anterior part of female pterothorax with a pair of mesepisternal fossae ( Fig. 7 ). Penis long and narrow, with inner fold small, S 3 in lateral view expanded laterally, rounded, or triangular–shaped and lacking accessory lobes or processes, ectal region of S3 without lateral fold.

Species included: Helveciagrion boomsmae ( Garrison, 1994) comb. nov.; Helveciagrion collopistes ( Calvert, 1902) comb. nov.; Helveciagrion garrisoni ( Bick & Bick, 1995) comb. nov.; Helveciagrion obsoletum (Selys, 1876) ; Helveciagrion rojinegra ( Haber, 2020) comb. nov.; Helveciagrion simulacrum ( Calvert, 1909) ; Helveciagrion vulcanoae Machado, 1980 ; Helveciagrion williamsoni ( Garrison, 2009) comb. nov.

Distribution. From Mexico to Argentina.

For species identification: Garrison (2009) and Haber (2020).

In addition to the original description, I examined specimens of the following species: H. obsoletum 1♁—(NC 16)— Brazil: Miranda (Salobra)—MS, 20° 12′ 10′′ S & 56° 32′ 53′′ W, 1–2/1941, Leg. C.I.O. Cruz (exchange—ExMNRJ collection (nº 18640)); H. obsoletum 1♁, 1♀ —(NC 3346)— Bolivia: Santa Cruz Dept., San Ramon, Rio San Julian, 16º 38′ 43″ S & 62º 30′ 32″ W, 215 m, 12.viii.2003, Leg. F.A.A. Lencioni; H. obsoletum 1♁—(NC 3367)— Bolivia: Santa Cruz Dept., San Ramon, Rio San Julian, 16º 38′ 43″ S & 62º 30′ 32″ W, 215 m, 12.viii.2003, Leg. F.A.A. Lencioni; H. obsoletum 1♀ —(NC 3372)— Bolivia: Santa Cruz Dept., San Ramon, Rio San Julian, 16º 38′ 43″ S & 62º 30′ 32″ W, 215 m, 12.viii.2003, Leg. F.A.A. Lencioni; H. obsoletum 1♀ —(NC 3698)— Bolivia: Beni Dept., Trinidad, forest N of town, 14° 45′ 1.5″ S & 64° 57′ 20.7″ W, 21.viii.2003, Leg. F.A.A. Lencioni; H. vulcanoae 1♁—(NC 26)— Brazil: Lagoa Santa—MG, 02.xi.1966, Leg. N. Santos, J. Machado e J. Martins (exchange—MNRJ—Exc. 303—col. 10); H. vulcanoae 1♁—(NC 79)— Brazil: Marliéria—MG, Dom Helvécio lake, 19° 47′ 5′′ S & 42° 35′ 15′′ W, 18–22.v.1980, Leg. Angelo Machado (donation— paratype); H. williamsoni 2♁♁—(NC 8)— Venezuela: Zulia State, Encontrados, 9° 3′ 40 ‘′ N & 72° 14′ 8′′ W, 25.iv.1920, Leg. J.H. Williamson et al (donation).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Helveciagrion obsoletum—male appendages in posterior view, showing a pair of heavily sclerotized tubercles.

FIGURE 6. Helveciagrion obsoletum—male appendages in lateral view, showing a pair of heavily sclerotized tubercles.

FIGURE 7. Helveciagrion obsoletum—female thorax in dorsal view, showing the mesepisternal fossae where male tubercles fit.

FIGURE 8. Tandem pair of Helveciagrion obsoletum.

FIGURE 9. Detail of the contact between cercus and mesepisternal fossae.

FIGURE 10. Helveciagrion obsoletum male, Brotas—S.P., 17.i.2012 (FAAL).