Protosticta, Selys, 1885

Joshi, Shantanu, Subramanian, K. A., Babu, R., Sawant, Dattaprasad & Kunte, Krushnamegh, 2020, Three new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with taxonomic notes on P. mortoni Fraser, 1922 and rediscovery of P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958, Zootaxa 4858 (2), pp. 151-185 : 183

Key to the males of Protosticta spp. from the Western Ghats

[Note: Caution is needed in using the key in immature animals in which colors are not fully developed; please also refer to Fig. 22 which depicts caudal appendages of all species included in the key]

1. Posterior lobe of prothorax with spines.................................................................... 2

- Posterior lobe of prothorax without spines.................................................................. 3

2. Posterior lobe of prothorax furnished with a pair of long, divaricate horn like spines; S7 faintly marked at base or unmarked; paraprocts bifid at apex..................................................................... P. antelopoides

- Posterior lobe of prothorax furnished with a pair of short lateral spines and internally two medial spines; S7 with extensive blue markings; paraprocts twisted and curved inwards, not bifid at apex.................................. P. ponmudiensis

3. Anterior 1/3 rd or more of S8 marked with bright turquoise-blue, the markings connected dorsally...................... 4

- Anterior 1/3 rd of S8 yellow or blue colored, the marking not connected dorsally.................................... 9

4. Apical fork of cerci deeply incised more than 1/3 rd of the total length............................................ 5

- Apical fork of cerci shallow, much less than 1/3 rd of total length................................................ 7

5. Cerci with a small tubercle at middle of the apical fork; length of abdomen + caudal appendages <25 mm ...................................................................................................... P. myristicaensis

- Apical fork of cerci without a tubercle at its center; length of abdomen + caudal appendages> 25 mm .................. 6

6. Prothorax with a hexagonal black marking covering central portion of posterior lobe and small portion of middle lobe; cerci with a prominent laterally pointed basal spine; paraprocts furnished with an inner stout spine at base............ P. gravelyi

- Anterior and middle lobes of prothorax blue; cerci with a small laterally pointed basal spine; paraprocts without an inner stout spine at base.................................................................................. P. mortoni

7. Prothorax completely blue; length of abdomen + caudal appendages <30 mm; inner fork of cerci very short, outer fork not expanded.................................................................................... P. hearseyi

- Anterior and middle lobes of prothorax pale yellow, posterior lobe partially or completely black; length of abdomen + caudal appendages> 30 mm; inner fork of cerci more than 1/3 rd length of outer fork, outer fork expanded..................... 8

8. Dorsum of middle portion of posterior lobe of prothorax completely black extending as two points to the dorsum of middle lobe; inner fork of cerci thin and small, outer fork rounded at apices and more than twice the length of inner fork................................................................................................... P. davenporti

- Dorsum of posterior lobe of prothorax black, laterally brown; middle lobe of prothorax with a small dorsal faint black spot; inner fork of cerci thick, outer fork ending in a quadrangle, less than twice the length of inner fork........... P. rufostigma

9. S9 completely black or marked only at ventral border; posterior border of prothorax not expanded; paraprocts not lobed at apices............................................................................................. 10

- S9 laterally marked with a large yellow at anterior border, reaching more than 2/3 rd of the segment, not connected apically in both sexes; posterior border of prothorax expanded; paraprocts thin, long and lobed at apices................... P. sholai

10. Pterostigma red; S3–4 with longitudinal white markings laterally at 2/3 rd of its length; cerci with a robust basal spine; outer fork of the cerci bi-lobed..................................................................... P. sanguinostigma

- Pterostigma black or brown; no medial bright markings on S3–4, except basal annules; cerci with only one small basal protruberance not sharp at apices, inwardly pointed; outer fork of cerci not bi-lobed.................................... 11

11. Eyes dark grey above, bluish green below; femur pale yellow; S8 black dorsally, ventro-laterally 1/4 th yellow; outer fork of cerci curved at apices............................................................................. P. monticola

- Eyes blue; femur bright blue internally; S8 with a bright blue annule extended laterally 2/3 rd of its length; outer fork of cerci straight................................................................................. P. cyanofemora

Figures

FIGURE 22. Comparison of caudal appendages of Protosticta spp. from the Western Ghats of India (scale: 0.5 mm, dorsal view).