Amphicnemis smedleyi, Laidlaw, 1926

M. A. Lieftinck, 1940, Descriptions and records of South-East Asiatic Odonata (II), Treubia 17 (4), pp. 337-392 : 373

Amphicnemis smedleyi LAIDLAW.

1915. RIS, Tijdschr. Ent. 58, p. 13 14. - ♀ Simaioer id. ( louisae ).

1926. LAIDLAW, J. Mal. Br. Roy. As. Soc. 4, p. 232 fig. 3 (apps. ♂). — ♂♀ Siberoet & Pagai Ids. ( louisae smedleyi ).

Material studied: - 2 ♂ (ad, crushed), 2 ♀ (one ad., one juv.), Siberoet Id., Sept. 1924, C. Boden KLOSS & N. SMEDLEY, ex coll. F. F. LAIDLAW .

These specimens differ from wallacei (= louisae LAID.) in a number of characters, which I have enumerated in the key to the species. The ♂ is easily distinguished from wallacei by the different shape of the superior anal appendages and by the absence of a prothoracic spine. The ♀ has been described at length by Ris. This species is obviously most closely related to gracilis , KRUGER, and kuiperi , LIEFT., two species in which the prothoracic spine is either also reduced, or absent altogether. Apart from the differences found in the sculpturing of the hinder lobe of the prothorax, the ♂ of smedleyi may be distinguished from that of kuiperi by the presence of a black streak to the outer surface of all femora; it differs further from kuiperi in the shape of the superior anal appendages, which bear a very close resemblance to those of gracilis , being in fact practically identical with those of that species (pl. 16 fig. 2 ). On comparing smedleyi with gracilis , these species proved to resemble each other very closely, and I could find no other distinctive features than those mentioned already in the key to the species. Granting the characters of the prothorax to be constant, there should be no difficulty in separating them; but it is doubtful if these differences are of specific significance. In view of the rarity of these extremely delicate species in collections, it seems worth recording the observed differences even on the small series available. Personally I am of opinion that smedleyi is only a subspecies of the Sumatran gracilis , KRUGER.

Figures

Fig. 2. Ventral aspect of seminal vesicle (top) and left side-view of anal appendages of Euphaea subnodalis Laid., from Mt. Marapok (bottom).