Mecistogaster Rambur, 1842

Largest genus in the subfamily with ten species, six of which are recorded for Ecuador. These are very long damselflies with narrow wings and yellow or white wing tips (Fig. 39). Numerous subspecies have been named; the group is in need of revision. References include Selys (1886), Calvert (1901, 1948), and Hedström & Sahlén (2001). A recent revision by Machado & Lacerda (2017) removed some of the species from Mecistogaster and placed them in Kennedy’s Platystigma, a genus that was previously synonymized. We have not followed this change in this paper. Mecistogaster buckleyi McLachlan, 1881 . Publ. Recs. ECU: Kirby (1890), Campos (1922), Paulson (1983), Davies & Tobin (1984), Tsuda (1986, 1991), Steinmann (1997a—also as M. garleppi), (H08), (P11), (H14); PA: *McLachlan (1881a—Type: “Río Bobonaza” [-1.5833, -77.8, 600m]), Selys (1886), Kimmins (1970 — Lectotype [BMNH]), Bridges (1993), (L05). Also PER: (L05), (H08), (P11); plus BRA: (H08).

Mecistogaster jocaste Hagen, 1869 . Publ. Recs. ECU: Kirby (1890), Campos (1922 —“indicated by Calvert”), Paulson (1983), Tsuda (1986, 1991), (H08), (P11), (H14); PA: * McLachlan (1881a), Selys (1886). Also BRA, COL, PER, VEN: (H08), (P11).

Addl. Data. LR, Quevedo: 1 ♀, Pichilingue (-1.1000, -79.4833, 84m), 20 iv 1970, leg. C. Williner, det. RWG (Senckenberg); NA, Archidona: 1 ♀, Cotundo, about 15 km N. Tena, (800m), 17 xii 1996, leg. Nicolay, det.? [USNM]; Tena: 1 ♀, Río Sinde, 5 km E of Puerto Napo (-1.0500, -77.7481, 450m), 13 vii 1996 leg. & det. KJT [KJT-FSCA]; 2 ♀♀, Río Chinchipino, 27 km E of Puerto Napo (-1.0728, -77.5864, 385m), 22 vii 1996, leg. & det. KJT [KJT-FSCA]; SU, Lago Agrio: 1 ♂, Lago Agrío (0.1000, -76.8667, 396m), 24 v 1976, leg. C. Williner, det. RWG (Senckenberg); 1 ♂, Lago Agrio, 16 iv 1976, leg. Langley, det.? [USNM]; Shushufindi: 1 ♂, Limonco- cha, lake edge, 16 i 1972, leg. D. Pearson, det. DRP [DRP-FSCA]; 1 ♀, Limoncocha, 8 vi 1977, leg. Pinto, det.? [USNM].

Mecistogaster linearis (Fabricius, 1777) . Publ. Recs. ECU: Campos (1922 —“por Dr. Calvert”), Geijskes (1971), Paulson (1983), Tsuda (1986, 1991), (L05), (H08), (P11), (H14); OR: von Ellenrieder & Garrison (2011); PA: * McLachlan (1881a), Selys (1886); SU: Donnelly (1998). Also BOL, BRA, COL, GUF, GUY, PER, SUR, VEN: (L05), (H08), (P11); plus CEN: (P11).

Addl. Data. NA: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (500m), 11 vi 1988, leg. R. Robbin, det.? [USNM]; Archidona: 1 ♂, Archidona (-0.9167, -77.8000, 604m), 4 xii 1976, leg. Herman G. Real, det. RWG [RWG]; OR, Francisco de Orellana: 1 ♂, forest, Río Savaleto, P.N.Y., 17 vi 1996, leg. & det. KJT [FSCA]; 1 ♀, T. B.S., TLE Plot T-2, Sta. 9, Lot # 2818, fogging canopy (-0.6319, -76.1442, 220–250m), 24 vii 2002, leg. T. Erwin, et. al, det. WFM [USNM]; 1 ♀, T. B.S., USFQ, Parahuaco trail between markers 300–1300 (-0.6397, -76.1453, 229m), 21 i 2009, leg. & det. RWG & NVE [USFQ]; SU Lago Agrio: 1 ♀, Santa Cecilia, Río Francisco de Orellana, 25–31 iii 1969, leg. P. Spangler, det.? [USNM]; Shushufindi: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Limoncocha, forest trail (-0.4000, -76.6167, 269m), 5 v 1971, leg. D. Pearson, det. DRP [DRP-FSCA]; 1 ♀, same data but 24 i 1972, [DRP-FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but Río Napo, 9 ix 1958, leg. T. Emmel, det. MJW [FSCA]; 1 ♀, same data but 9 ix 1958, [FSCA]; 2 ♂♂, 5 xi 1980, leg. & det. MJW [FSCA]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data but 7 xi 1980, [FSCA]; 1 ♀, 28 i 1974, leg. B. Drummond III, det. MJW [FSCA]; 1 ♂, same data but 3–16 vi 1977, leg. P. Spangler, det.? [USNM]; 1 ♂, La Selva Lodge; forest (-0.4983, -76.3733, 200m), 22 xi 1997, leg. & det. TWD [SWD-FSCA]; TU, Baños: 1 ♂, Baños, (-1.38, -78.42, 1800m), 1938, leg. J. Schunke, det. MJW [FSCA].

Mecistogaster lucretia (Drury, 1773) . Publ. Recs. ECU: Paulson (1983), Tsuda (1991), (L05), (H08), (P11), (H14); OR: von Ellenrieder & Garrison (2011); PA: * McLachlan (1881a). Also BRA, GUF, GUY, PER, SUR, VEN: (L05), (H08), (P11); plus ARG, COL: (P16).

Addl. Data. OR, Francisco de Orellana: 1 ♀, T. B.S., USFQ, stream crossing Chorongo trail at marker 225 (-0.6350, -76.1503, 221m), 18 i 2009, leg. & det. RWG & NVE [NVE]; 1 ♂, same data but along Guacamayo trail between markers 2250–2500 (-0.6181, -76.1578, 245m), 20 i 2009, leg. & det. RWG & NVE [NVE]; Loreto: 1 ♂, small streams and forest trails 12 km E of Loreto, 2+ km S of Hwy. 45 (-0.6217, -77.2600, 365m), 12 x 2009, leg. & det. JTJ [JTJ]; SU, Shushufindi: 1 ♂, Limoncocha, forest trail, 14 i 1972, leg. D. Pearson, det. DRP [DRP- FSCA].

* Mecistogaster modesta Selys, 1860 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H14). Also CEN, COL, VEN: (H08), (P11).

Addl. Data. CB, Cumandá: 1 ♀, Naranjapata, (-2.27, -79.08, 550 m), leg. F. Campos, det. P. Calvert, checked by GHB, checked by WFM, from ANSP [FSCA].

Mecistogaster ornata Rambur, 1842 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (L05), (H08), (P11), (H14); EO: Campos (1927); LR: * Campos (1922). Also ARG, BRA, COL, GUF, PER, SUR, TTO, VEN: (L05), (H08), (P11); Plus CEN: (H08), (P11); and COL (P16).

Addl. Data. GY Naranjito: 1 ♀, Naranjito (-2.17, -79.47, 30m), leg. F. Campos, det. GHB [FSCA]; LR, Quevedo: 1 ♂, Quevedo, Río Palenque (-1.03, -79.43, 100m), date?, leg. F. Campos, det. GHB [FSCA]; Babahoyo: 1 ♀, Babahoyo (-1.80, -79.53, 10m), v, leg. F. Campos, det. GHB [FSCA]; MN, Pedernales: 1 ♂, Bosque Seco Lalo Loor, arroyo casi seco (-0.0837, -80.1472, 88m), 30 xi 2012, leg. & det. ACRP [ACRP]; OR, Loreto: 1 ♂, near stream 8.5 km E of Loreto (-0.6183, -77.2950, 400m), 14 xi 1997, leg. & det. KJT [FSCA]; SU, Shushufindi: 1 ♀, Limoncocha, forest trail (-0.4000, -76.6167, 269m), 27 ix 1971, leg. D. Pearson, det. DRP [DRP-FSCA]; 1 ♀, same data but 6 i 1972 to 24 ii 1972 [DRP].