Epipleoneura humeralis ( Selys, 1886 )

Pessacq, Pablo, 2014, Synopsis of Epipleoneura (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae, “ Protoneuridae ”), with emphasis on its Brazilian species, Zootaxa 3872 (3), pp. 201-234 : 215-217

Epipleoneura humeralis ( Selys, 1886)

( Figs. 20 , 36 , 56 )

Protoneura humeralis Selys, 1886: 209 –210 (new species, description of female from "Coary (Amazone)"; type material at IRSN).

Epipleoneura ? humeralis Williamson, 1915: 619 (comments about generic position of humeralis , “it might be a Protoneura , but more probably an Epipleoneura ”, brief description of coloration, measurements and prothorax).

Epipleoneura humeralis Rácenis 1960: 25 –26 (based on Sjöstedt (1918) male description conclusion that E. humeralis is an Epipleoneura , species included in checklist, recorded for Brazil). Machado 1984: 585 –589, fig. 1 (holotype redescription, doubts on the specific identity of the material studied by Sjöstedt (1918), illustration of female prothorax in postero-dorsal view). Lencioni 2005: 176, figs. 106 a (references, type locality, distribution, described stages, reproduction of Machado’s illustrations of female prothorax). Pessacq et al. 2012: 4 (included in list of Brazilian Protoneuridae ).

Specimens examined. 3 ♂, 1 ♀. 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ in copula, 2 ♂, Brazil, Pará State, Igarapé do Favio, Fordlandia (Fordlandia: 04º05’44”S, 55º19’32”W), leg. A.B.M. Machado & P. Pereira, iii 1957, ABMM.

Male description. Head: Dorsally metallic green; dorsal half of anterior side black, ventral half yellow, antennifer yellow, postclypeus black, anteclypeus yellow, labrum and rear of head yellow. Thorax: Prothorax dorsal half metallic green, ventral half yellow. Mesepimeron metallic green, remaining pterothorax light yellow, except for a small area in the rear of interpleural suture. Abdomen: Discolored, S1–2 dorsally black, sides brown, S3–4 brown, S5–10 dark brown. Segment 3 of genital ligula ( Fig. 36 ) moderately narrow medially, with two lateral lobes and a medial U cleft on its apical margin, sides elevated; postero-lateral projections directed posteriorly, each with conspicuous peduncle and apex approximately triangular. Cercus ( Fig. 20 ) shorter than S10, with an innerbasal tooth; dorsal branch directed upwards and with an apical hook directed ventrally; ventral branch well developed, as a projection of cercus base, much shorter than dorsal branch and forming a slightly obtuse angle with it. Epiproct ( Fig. 20 b-c) bifurcated, branches long, thick, fingerlike and clearly divergent, fused along basal half. Diagnosis. The epiproct and cercus of this species closely resemble those of E. westfalli ( Figs. 16 and 43 ), from which it can be separated by the thicker branches of the epiproct, the lack of triangular swollen structure between branches base and the completely different morphology of genital ligula. The genital ligula is very similar to those of E. janirae , E. tariana Machado, 1985 , and E. waiwaiana Machado, 1985 , from which E. humeralis differs by the different cercus and epiproct morphology. The female posterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 56 ) with two erected flat lobes narrowing towards the apex and with a deep V cleft between them is also similar to that of E. westfalli ( Fig. 58 ), but in E. humeralis the lobes narrow abruptly close to their apex and the cleft between the lobes has a V shape (rounded and cleft U shaped in E. westfalli ). Epipleoneura manauensis Santos, 1964 also has a V cleft between pronotum lobes ( Fig. 57 ), but these, unlike those of E. humeralis , are widely rounded.

Distribution. Northern Brazil in the States of Amazonas and Pará (type locality, Amazonas, Coari, about 4º04’58”S, 63º08’43”W).

Notes. Sjöstedt (1918) identified a female and a male from the Amazonas as E. humeralis , basing his identification on the deep V excavation in female prothorax, as described by Selys (1886) for the female holotype. Machado (1984) doubted Sjöstedt’s identification, mentioning two undescribed Amazonian species with a deep V excavation in female prothorax ( E. manauensis Santos, 1964 and E. westfalli Machado, 1986 ). Based on the descriptions of E. manauensis , E. westfalli , and the present male description, and comparing it with that of Sjöstedt (1918), I believe that Sjöstedt's material does not belong to any one of these species but may more likely represent an undescribed one.

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 21. Male caudal appendages, a: lateral view; b: posterior view, c: latero-posterior view. Figures 19 and 21 modified from Rácenis (1960) and Machado (1985) respectively.

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.

FIGURES 16 – 18. Male caudal appendages, a: lateral view; b: posterior view, c: latero-posterior view. Figures 17 and 18 modified from Garrison et al. (2010) and De Marmels (1985) respectively. CT: cercus inner-basal tooth.