Epallage alma, Selys, 1879

K. J. Morton, 1924, The Dragon-flies (Odonata) of Palestine, based primarily on collection made by Dr. P. A. Buxton, with Notes on the Species of the Adjacent Regions., Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1924, pp. 25-44 : 29

Epallage alma Selys.

Although coming from a locality beyond the limits dealt with in this paper, it may be of interest to refer to this large and beautiful form from the southern Caspian region, my acquaintance with which I owe to Dr. Ris, who has forwarded a series of four males received by him from Astrabad (Funke), one of which he has generously added to my collection. The ♀ has been described at,some length by Selys (Syn. Calopterygines, 4th Add., P. 26) from an example from the same locality communicated by McLach-lan. The ♂ does not appear to have been described. Whether this fine form be regarded as a species or a local race of E. fatime , the name seems to be well worthy of retention.

♂ (adult). Almost entirely pruinose or blackened excepting the pale yellowish labium, the bow of mandibles, genae, margin of the eyes below thc antennae, and the labrum, the last with a dark central virgule; anteclypeus a sordid tan colour.

Wings: a brownish black opaque apical space reaching to about the middle of pterostigma or even beyond; in one example a brownish suffusion in one cell proximal to pterostigma. Forewings suffused with brown from arculus or triangle half-way t o nodus or rather beyond with coloured rays reaching the base in subcostal and submedian areas; hardly any colour in costal area or less pronounced there, reduced t o slight brown margins on the cross veins: cells usually clearer in their centres. In the hindwings the brown suffusion is richer and denser extending nearly t o the level of the nodus, more suffused distally and towards the anal margin, but in the middle of the dark area the clearer centre of the cells much less pronounced and the costal space more suffused with brown than in fore-wings. In one example the dark shading is reduced being only distinct in a portion of the subcostal area (5 or 6 cells) and the nervures are narrowly bordered with brownish for 5 or 6 cells distally from arculus and as far as Cu 2. Antenodals, f.-w. 1 4 16; h.-w. 11-15; postnodals, f.-w. 18 - 21; 11.-w. 18 - 20. Length of h. - w. 35 - 37: mm..

Thc appendages do not appear to differ from those of E. fatime .