Epipleoneura machadoi Rácenis, 1960

Pessacq, Pablo, 2014, Synopsis of Epipleoneura (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae, “ Protoneuridae ”), with emphasis on its Brazilian species, Zootaxa 3872 (3), pp. 201-234 : 222

Epipleoneura machadoi Rácenis, 1960

( Figs. 2 , 41 , 62 )

Epipleoneura machadoi Rácenis 1960: 37 –40, figs. 4a–c (new species, description of male and female, illustration of male S 10 in posterior and lateral view, female prothorax and mesostigmal lamina in dorsal view, type material at MIZA). Lencioni 2005: 178, figs. 108 a–c (references, type locality, distribution, described stages, reproduction of original illustrations of male S 10 in lateral and posterior view and female prothorax in dorsal view). Garrison et al. 2010: 352, 355, fig. 2346 (included in list of species, illustrations of epiproct in posterior view). Pessacq et al. 2012: 4 (included in list of Brazilian Protoneuridae , new record for Mato Grosso State).

Specimens examined. 336 ♂ 45 ♀. 174 ♂, Brazil, Espirito Santo State, Baixo Guandu, estrada Baisco-Ituituba rio Baixo Guandu (19º31’08”S, 41º00’57”W), leg. Elias & Paulo, 27–30 iv 1970. 9 ♂ 1 ♀, same as previous but Santa Teresa, estrada Santa Teresa-Vitória, 35 km E de Santa Teresa (about 20º07’18”S, 6040º27’16”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 16 i 67. 35 ♂ 30 ♀, same as previous but Baixo Guandu, rio Baixo Guandu km 11 (Baixo Guandu: 19º31’17”S, 41º00’40”W), leg. Elias & Paulo, 11–16 v 1970. 62 ♂, same as previous but km 13, 24–31 v 1970. 9 ♂ 9 ♀, same as previous but km 10, 1–7 vii 1971. 18 ♂, same as previous but estrada Baixo Guandu-Mutum Preto, km 22 N of Doce river (about 19º24’11”S, 41º07’30”W), leg. Elias & Paulo, 7–12 vi 1971. 14 ♂ 5 ♀, Brazil, Minas Gerais State, Cataguazes, Meia Pataca stream (21º23’20”S, 42º41’49”W), leg. N.D. Santos, 15 ii 1958. 2 ♂, same as previous but cágado river, leg. N.D. Santos, 17 ii 1958. 1 ♂, same as previous but passa cinco stream, leg. N.D. Santos, 16 ii 1958. 1 ♂, Brazil, Mato Grosso State, Reserva do Cabaçal, Epaminondas’s Farm, Peixe river (15º04’48”S, 58º27’57”W), leg. J.M. Costa, 6 iii 2002. 3 ♂, same as previous but Chapada dos Guimarães, Coxipó river (15º27’39’S, 55º45”W), leg. L.F. Reys, 15 vii 1983. 1 ♂, same as previous but Casca river (about 15º27’39’S, 55º45”W), leg. L.F. Reys, 18 vii 1983. 1 ♂, same as previous but córrego de agua fria (about 15º27’39’S, 55º45”W), leg. L.F. Reys, 19 vii 1983. 3 ♂, same as previous but Indiavai, km 3 of Road Indiavai-Jaurú (about 15º29’04’S, 58º31’10”W), leg. L.O.I. Souza & J.M. Costa, 1 iii 2002. 3 ♂, same as previous but Cuiabá, tributary of Claro river (Cuiabá: 15º36’05’S, 56º05’54”W), leg. N.D. Santos & U.S. Carvalho, 21 x 1983.

Diagnosis. Male cercus resembles that of E. capilliformis . The cercus ( Fig. 2 ) possesses a well-developed triangular inner-basal branch directed posteriorly, unique for this species. The branches of the bifurcate epiproct ( Figs. 2 b–c) are separated at their bases by a triangular swollen structure (TS, Fig. 2 b) and are fingerlike, with considerable degree of intraspecific variation (see below). The male cercus and epiproct of E. machadoi also resemble those of E. kaxuriana , E. ottoi , and E. westfalli , from which they differ by the triangular inner-basal branch of the cercus ( Figs. 2 a, c). For further comments see under related species ( E. kaxuriana , E. ottoi , and E. westfalli ). The genital ligula ( Fig. 41 ) is like that of E. kaxuriana , E. ottoi , and E. westfalli . The female posterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 62 ) is unique in having a small medial projection accompanied by two small rounded lateral lobes, and the anterior margin of pronotum with two rounded lobes at the sides of midline.

Distribution. Central Brazil in Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, and Espiritu Santo States (Type locality Buenópolis, Minas Gerais, 17º52’22”S, 44º10’48”W).

Notes. Epipleoneura machadoi is well represented in MNRJ, with about 370 specimens, showing considerable intraspecific variation. Figures 67 a–f show the different morphological types of the epiproct, from branches parallel to slightly divergent and well separated at their bases to fused along basal half. Figures 67 b and c show the most common form, agreeing with the original description. Figures 67 a to 67e belong to specimens from the same site and date (Baixo Guandu River, route Baisco-Ituituba, 27–30 iv 1970), from which 174 specimens were examined. Figures 67 d and 67f are atypical, possibly showing extremes of morphological variation. The specimen illustrated in figure 67d was collected in the same river and similar date as mentioned above (Baixo Guandu river, km 11, 11–16 v 1970).

Cercus varies less than epiproct; inner-basal branch may or may not have a very small tooth pointing dorsally, ventral branch in some specimens forms an angle slightly greater than 90º with dorsal branch, and posterior margin of dorsal branch is straight in lateral view (not slightly convex) in a few specimens. These last characters are useful in the separation of E. machadoi from E. ottoi .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Male caudal appendages, a: lateral view; b: posterior view, c: latero-posterior view. AH: apical hook. DB: cercus dorsal branch. VB: cercus ventral branch. CIB: cercus inner-basal branch. CT: cercus inner-basal tooth. TS: triangular swollen structure.

FIGURES 28 – 47. Genital ligula, lateral and ectal view. Figures 29, 33, 47 modified from Garrison et al. (2010). PLP: posterolateral projection.

FIGURES 53 – 66. Female pronotum in lateral, dorsal, antero-lateral, anterior postero-lateral and posterior view. Figures 57, 64 and 65 modified from Garrison et al. (2010), Rácenis (1960) and Machado (2005) respectively.