Leptogomphus hongkongensis Asahina 1988

Wilson, Keith Duncan Peter & Xu, Zaifu, 2009, Gomphidae of Guangdong & Hong Kong, China (Odonata: Anisoptera) 2177, Zootaxa 2177, pp. 1-62 : 15-19

Leptogomphus hongkongensis Asahina 1988 stat. nov.

Figs. 5 (a–m)

Leptogomphus perforatus subsp. (?) nec Ris 1912: Asahina (1965: 500, figs 16–17, Hong Kong: Lam Tsuen Valley & Tai Po Kau).

Leptogomphus sauteri ? nec Ris 1912: Lai (1971: 120, 144 fig. 19, Hong Kong: Fo Tan & Tai Po Kau).

Leptogomphus elegans hongkongensis Asahina 1988 : Asahina (1988: 691–693, figs 7–11, type-loc. Lam Tsuen Valley, Hong Kong); Matsuki et al. (1990: 15–17, figs 16–18, Hong Kong); Chao (1990: 297, 293–294, 6 figs, Hong Kong); Saito & Ogata (1995: 33, figs 41–44, Hong Kong); Wilson (1995b: 324–325, Hong Kong); Muraki et al. (1996: 4, Hong Kong); Matsuki (1996: 29–32, larvae, Hong Kong); Wilson (1997a: 31, Hong Hong); Hua (2000: 11, Hong Kong); Wilson (2003: 234–235, photos, Hong Kong); Wilson, (2004a: 236–237, photos, Hong Kong).

Specimens: 1 ♂, Mid-Levels , Hong Kong, 25 iv 1992, coll KW ; 1 ♂, Mid-Levels , Hong Kong, 27 iv 1992, coll KW ; 1 ♀, Sha Lo Tung , 6 vi 1992, coll KW ; 1 ♂, 16 vi 1993, Sha Lo Tung, coll KW; 1 ♀, Sunset Peak , Lantau, Hong Kong, 25 v 1996, coll. KW ; 1 ♀, Sha Lo Tung , Hong Kong, 14 v 2000, coll. KW ; 4 ♂, 1 ♀, Sunset Peak , Lantau, Hong Kong, 24 v 2002, coll. KW .

Remarks: Asahina (1988) described and illustrated Leptogomphus elegans hongkongensis based on the type male collected from Lam Tusen Valley, Hong Kong, a further male also collected from Lam Tsuen Valley and a male collected from Tai Po Kau ( Figs. 5a–e). Originally Asahina (1965) thought his material might be a subspecies of Leptogomphus perforatus Ris , but after examining specimens collected by Eric Schmidt from Kuatun, Fujian Province Asahina (1988) considered Hong Kong specimens, “to be a local race of elegans .” Asahina did not have the benefit of examining any female specimens. It is clear from studying several female specimens that Hong Kong females are also structurally distinct from L. elegans . The occipital horns of L. hongkongensis ( Figs. 5k–l) are widely divergent compared to L. elegans which has vertical horns ( Fig. 6f & 6h). In addition the subgenital plate of L. hongkongensis ( Fig. 5i) is slightly broader and more divergent when compared with L. elegans ( Figs. 6g & 6i). There are also clear structural differences between male L. hongkongensis and L. elegans . Male L. hongkongensis is easily separated by comparing the branches of the inferior appendage, which in L. hongkongensis converge together at their tips and almost touch ( Fig. 5j), whereas in L. elegans the branches are widely separated ( Fig. 6d). In addition both male and female L. hongkongensis of all specimens examined possessed a greyish-yellow blotched area which impinges on the upper yellow stripe across the metepisternum and the upper yellow stripe covering the metepimeron ( Fig. 5f). This blotch is not an artifact of preservation and can be seen in specimens photographed in vivo (Wilson 1995, 2003, 2004a).

It is noteworthy that a female Leptogomphus elegans collected by G.T. Reels from Wutongshan, 16–17 May 2001 ( Fellowes et al. 2002d), which possessed vertical (parallel-sided) occipital horns. Wutongshan is located in Guangdong close to the Hong Kong border. Leptogomphus elegans s. str. is recorded from Guangxi, Fujian and Guangdong ( Chao 1990).

Distribution: China ( Hong Kong).