Planaeschna tomokunii Asahina, 1996

Kompier, Tom, Karube, Haruki, Futahashi, Ryo & Phan, Quoc Toan, 2021, The genus Planaeschna McLachlan, 1895 and its subgroupings in Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species (Odonata: Aeshnidae), Zootaxa 5027 (1), pp. 1-35 : 8

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CCF10500-01A3-476C-A4BE-57161E164EBD
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A687CB-FFC7-FFF9-E0E7-70D1FCDEF8D5
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Planaeschna tomokunii Asahina, 1996
status

Treatment

2. Planaeschna tomokunii Asahina, 1996 View in CoL

( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 )

Planaeschna tomokunii: Asahina (1996) View in CoL pp. 70–72, Figs 4–6 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 (description of female holotype); Sasamoto et al. (2013) pp. 590–593, Figs 11 View FIGURE 11 –22 (first description of male, photos of female holotype).

Materials examined. 1 ♀, Tam Dao NP, Vinh Phuc Prov., Vietnam, 24-IX-2015 , TK leg.; 1 ♂, same locality and collector, 4-VI-2016 ; 1 ♂, same location and collector, 3-VII-2016 ; 2 ♂♂, same location and collector, 16-VII- 2016 ; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, same location and collector, 17-VII-2016 ; 1 ♂, same location and collector, 27-VIII-2016 .

Notes. Asahina (1996) described P. tomokunii based on a single female. Without detailed explanation, he considered P. tomokunii to be closely related to P. taiwana . The description of Planaeschna species based on a single female is problematic, because there is little interspecific structural variation in females. For the identification of Planaeschna , the combination of the morphology of the male anal appendages and the maculation pattern is effective, but in 1996 there were no Planaeschna known from Vietnam. Planaeschna tamdaoensis with a black and yellow face and plain-faced P. tomokunii were the first two species described. Planaeschna tomokunii remained enigmatic until Sasamoto et al. (2013) described the male based on specimens collected at the type locality, allowing the species to be correctly identified. So far, P. tomokunii may be a true endemic of the Tam Dao mountain range.

Of all Planaeschna species known from Vietnam or China, none have the combination of slender cerci and dorsal pattern of S2 of male P. tomokunii . The dorsal and lateral pattern of S2 is somewhat like that of P. crux , but that species has clearly paddle-shaped cerci (see Fig. 11A–E View FIGURE 11 ). The anal appendages of P. tomokunii are similar to those of P. samurai and P. viridis (compare Fig. 4F–G View FIGURE 4 with Figs 3G–H View FIGURE 3 and 6B–C View FIGURE 6 ), but differ in detail. The cerci are more parallel-sided in dorsal view compared to P. samurai , with a slightly longer epiproct, and in lateral view not waved and curving downward as in P. viridis , but gently curving upwards. The dorsal and lateral pattern of S2 distinguishes it clearly from both P. samurai and P. viridis (compare Fig. 4D–E View FIGURE 4 with Figs 3E–F View FIGURE 3 and 6D View FIGURE 6 ). Furthermore, the triangular spot on the metepisternum is confluent with the lateral stripe on the mesepimeron in P. samurai and P. viridis , but separated in P. tomokunii (compare Fig. 4A–C View FIGURE 4 with Figs 3B, D View FIGURE 3 and 6A View FIGURE 6 ).

Ecology. Planaeschna tomokunii is found around 1000 m asl. on the densely forested slopes of Tam Dao, where it apparently breeds in small brooks and seeps. Field observations were done of specimens hawking at dusk over a car track through the forest on the mountainside. In one instance, a male successfully grabbed a female over the track. It occurred together with P. tamdaoensis .

Distribution. Endemic to Vietnam (Vinh Phuc Prov.)