Phyllogomphoides suasus (Selys, 1859)

Torres-Pachón, Mónica, Novelo-Gutiérrez, Rodolfo & Ruiz-Sanchez, Eduardo, 2019, A synopsis of Phyllogomphoides Belle, 1970 (Odonata: Gomphidae) of Mexico: taxonomy and distribution, Zootaxa 4634 (1), pp. 1-67 : 39-43

Phyllogomphoides suasus (Selys, 1859)

Gomphoides suasa Selys, 1859: 545 –546 [Bulletin de l’ Académie royale de Belgique (2) (7)] (♀) Gomphoides suasa . Selys (1869: 28 (reprint)) [Bulletin de l’ Académie royale de Belgique (2) (28)] (♂) Phyllogomphoides suasus . Novelo-Gutiérrez (1993: 23–24) [Odonatologica 22 (1)] (larvae, ♂ ♀ reared)

Type. Not examined.

Type repository. Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique ( IRSN). (Not examined).

Material studied: Total specimens: 198♂♂, 85♀♀, distributed like thus: 48♂♂, 29♀♀ ( FSCA), 53♂♂, 16♀♀

( IEXA), 38♂♂, 18♀♀ ( PSUC) , 59♂♂, 22♀♀ ( UNAM). MEXICO: Chiapas; El Chorreadero, where Rio Blanco emerges from mountainside - 0.5 mi. N.W. of H’way #190 at a point 6.1 mi. E. of Chiapa , 30 July 1959, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 1♂; same locality but: Carr. Tuxtla Gtz-San Cristóbal de las Casas 24 km al S. de Tux. Gtez, 27 September 1983, R. Novelo et al. leg ., 6♂♂, 3♀♀; Tuxtla Gutiérrez , 19 July 1965, D.R. Paulson leg. , 1♂. Hidalgo; Pemuxtitla, Río Zacuala , 2 July 1994, R. Novelo leg. , 3♂♂; same locality but: 23 July 1994 , 1♀; Rio Calnali , 1 km S, 22 km E Ixtalhuaco, 23 July 1992, T. Donnelly leg. , 1♂. Nuevo León; Arroyo Dolores, El Cercado Santiago , 17 August 1984, A. Contreras et al. leg ., 2♂♂; Horsetail Falls, 35 km. S. of Monterrey , 2 September 1962, T. Don- nelly leg ., 1♂, 1♀; same locality but: 6 September 1962 , 5♂♂; Municipio de Monterrey , 5 August 1984, A. Contre- ras et al. leg ., 1♀; same locality but: 9 August 1984 , 1♂; Municipio de Santiago , 2.5 km NW of Rancho Los Atascosos, 2 July 1987, M.J. Westfall et al ., 1♂, 1♀; Santiago , on grill of car, 1 July 1988, A. Skelley leg. , 1♂; stream at entrance to Horsetail , 25 June 1965, D. Paulson et al. leg ., 2♂♂. Oaxaca; San Pedrito Chicozapote (17º46’20’’N, 96º56’40’’W), elevation 670m, 21 August 1998, E. González-Soriano leg. , 1♂; same locality but: 16 September 1998 , 1♂; same locality but: 16 October 1998 , 2♀♀; Santiago Dominguillo (17º38’56’’N, 96º54’42’’W), elevation 760m, 20 August 1998, E. González leg. , 1♂, 1♀; Sierra de Juárez, San Martín Soyolapan, arroyo tribu- tario al Río Soyolapan (17º41’54.9’’N, 96º16’59.0W), elevation 66m, 27 October 2016, R. Novelo et al. leg ., 14♂♂, 5♀♀; stream 20.1 mi. NE Tapanatepec , 2 August 1965, D.R. Paulson leg. , 1♀. Puebla; 4 km SW of Tlaxcalamtango [Tlaxcalantongo] Hwy 104, 19 August 1961, T. Donnelly leg. , 1♂; Cuetzalan, Atepatahua (20º00’42.0’’N, 97º29’24’’W), elevation 715m, 13 July 2007, R. Novelo leg. , 1♂; same locality but: 1 Km al SE de Atepatahua (20º00’41.7’’N, 97º29’24.4’’W), elevation 669m, 13 July 2007 , 1♂, 1♀; Piedras Negras , 23 August 1987, A. Gómez leg. , 2♂♂. San Luis Potosí; no locality, 6 September 1963, T. Donnelly leg. , 1♀; 3.6 mi. S. of Tamazunchale , wa- terfall and stream adjoining spring-flow below h’way #85, 30 August 1958, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 6♂♂, 1♀; 4.4 mi. N. of Tamazunchale , small arroyo in wooded ravine, crossing H’way #85, 1 September 1958, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 1♂; 5 mi. W Naranjos on R. Salto, 30 August 1940, H. R. Roberts leg. , 1♂; 5.5 mi. N. of Tamazunchale , larger arroyo below iron bridge of H’way #85, 31 August 1959, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 1♂; Agua buena, Tamasopo , 26 June 1990, A. Maya et al. leg ., 1♂; Aquismón , 0.7 km N de Aquismón (21º37’41.1’’N, 99º1’22.5’’W), elevation 80m, 12 June 2001, E. González leg. , 1♂; same locality but: 4 July 2004, R. Novelo leg. , 1♀; Arroyo de los Patos, 7.9 mi. (E.) of Tamazunchale , on road to San Felipe Orizatlan, 8 June 1962, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♂♂, 1♀; Ar- royo en Palitla , aproximadamente 9 km al N.O. de Tamazunchale, 28 June 1990, E. González et al. leg ., 1♀; Casca- das Micos, rec. area, 25 June 1990, G.A. Tennessen leg., 1♀; El Salto, 10 mi. W. of Nuevo Morelos, river-bank close to falls, tributary streams, pools, weedy fields near river, 2 September 1958, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 5♂♂, 1♀; Horsetail Falls, 35 km. S. of Monterrey, Huichihuayan , 23 June 1990, K.J. Tennessen leg. , 2♂♂; Huichihuayan, Nacimiento (río), 23 June 1990, R. Novelo et al. leg ., 11♂♂, 7♀♀; same locality but: small stream parallel to h’way at N. edge of town, 1 September1959, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 1♂; Las Cascadas Park , HW 899 S of Tamasopo, 26 June 1990, J. Daigle leg. , 1♂; Mun. Tamasopo, Puente de Dios , 2 km al NO de Tamposo (21º55’51.8’’N, 99º23’52.2’’W), elevation 450m, 20 August 1999,? leg ., 1♂; Mpio. de Huehuetlán, Nacimiento del Río Huichi- huayan, 19 May 1987, E. González et al. leg ., 1♂; same locality but: 29 May 1987 , 8♂♂, 1♀; same locality but: 23 June 1990 , 16♂, 6♀♀; same locality but: 18 August 1999 , 5♂♂, 4♀♀; same locality but: 15 June 2001 , 2♂♂; Puente de Dios, Río Aguabuena 2 km N.O. Tamasopo, 28 May 1987, E. González leg. , 1♀; 2 km al N.O. de Tama- sopo, 26 June 1990, A. Maya et al. leg., 1♂; Puente Palitla, Hwy. 85, 28 June 1990, K.J. Tennessen leg. , 1♂, 1♀; Tierra Blanca, 11 km S. ok Tamazunchale , 4 September 1963, T. Donnelly leg. , 3♂♂, 4♀♀; stream 4.0 mi. W Tamazunchale , 26 June 1965, D. Paulson leg. , 1♀; same locality but: 27 June 1965 , 1♂; Xilitla, Puente La Cauchi- ta, 8 July 2004, R. Novelo leg. , 1♂, 1♀. Tamaulipas; San Antonio, Rt 101 west Ciudad Victoria , 24–26 June 1981, S. Miller et al. leg ., 1♂, 1♀; stream at El Encino , 30.5 mi. N Mante, 18 June 1966, D. Paulson leg. , 1♂. Veracruz; no date, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 9♂♂, 8♀♀; 3 km N of Santiago Tuxtla , 13–14 September 1965, T. Donnelly leg. , 6♂♂, 2♀♀; Arroyo 0.8 mi. S. of H’way #180 at Sihuapan, which is 4 mi. S.E. of San Andres Tuxtla , 13 August 1958, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♀♀; Salto de Eyipantla, 5.4 mi. S.W. of Sihuapan, which is 4 mi. S.E. of San Andrés Tuxtla , 24 July 1959, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 1♂; between San Andres Tuxtla and Volcan San Martin , 18 August 1961, D.C. Robinson leg. , 4♂♂; road from San Andres Tuxtla to Laguna Encantada , 23 July 1961, J.A. Harshaw leg. , 1♀; outlet river of Laguna Encantada, San Andrés Tuxtla , 23 July 1961, J.A. Harshaw leg. , 2♂♂, 1♀; Laguna Encantada, San Andrés Tuxtla outlet river below fall, 23 July 1961, J.A. Harshaw leg. , 1♀; Arroyo 0.8 mi. S. of H’way #180 at Sihuapan, which is 4 mi. S.E. of San Andres Tuxtla , 30 May 1962, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♀♀; 8 km. SE of San Andres Tuxtla , 12 September 1965, T. Donnelly leg. , 1♂, 1♀; Salto Eyipantla, 8 km S of San Andres Tuxtla & Mex. Hwy. 180, 15 August 1976, R.W. Garrison et al. leg ., 1♂, 1♀; Mun. San Andrés Tuxtla, Laguna Azul (18º35’21.1’’N, 95º05’36.3’’W), elevation 180m, 27 August 1988, E. González-Soriano leg. , 1♂; Arroyo Frio, for about 0.5 mi. above confluence with Rio Tecolapan, 10.1 mi. N.W. of Santiago Tuxtla , 26 July 1959, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♂♂; Arroyo Tatocapan, parallel to H’way #180, 1.3 mi. N.W. of Santiago Tuxtla , 2 June 1962, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♀♀; Barranca de Metlac, 2 mi. W. of Fortin, tiny pools in quarry, banks of Rio Metlac below & above power plant, banks of Rio Blanco 0.1 mi. above confluence with Rio Metlac , tiny arroyo in back of power plant, coffee plantations near Rio Metlac & quarries, 15 July 1959, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♂♂; Coatepec, Arroyo en Consolapa, Río Pixquiac , 20 August 1995, R. Novelo leg. , 3♂♂, 1♀; same locality but: Río Ahuacatlán , 24 Oc- tober 2001, R. Novelo leg. , 1♂; Fortin, arroyo below crossing of Mexico-Veraruz H’way at km. 333, 15 August 1957, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 2♂♂; La Gloria Cardel , 8 July 1938, J. Camelo leg. , 1♀; Laguna Azul, Laguna Emilia, and Arroyo de la Laguna Escondida near Los Tuxtlas Biol. Stat. , 27 August 1988, M. J. Westfall leg. , 2♂♂, 1♀; Laguna del Tizatal, a crater lake at 150 m nr Tapalapan , 17 July 1992, S.W. Dunkle leg. , 1♂; Coatepec, Las Puentes , 30 September 2001, R. Novelo leg. , 1♂; same locality but: 1 August 2001 , 8♂♂, 2♀♀; Martínez de la Torre, Río Bobos , 12 July 2002, R. Novelo leg. , 3♂♂; Misantla , 6 October 1980, E. González et al. leg ., 2♂♂; same locality but: 14 June 2013 , 1♂; Mpio. de Temapache, Rancho La Camelia , 2 km S O La Camelia, 19 September 1993, E. Gonzalez leg. , 1♂; Municipio de Atzalan, Reserva Pez Ma , 13 June 2013, R. Novelo et al. leg ., 1♂; Muni- cipio de Tlapacoyan, Ixtacuaco , 5 May 2000, R. Novelo leg. , 1♀; north side of Lake Catemaco , 1 July 1965, D. Paulson leg. , 1♀; stream 2.0 kilometers E of Coyame and 12.4 kilometers ENE of Catemaco , 14 August 1976, R.W. Garrison et al. leg ., 1♂; Ocotal Chico, Sierra de Santa Martha , 28 September 1981, H. Pérez leg. , 1♀; same locality but: 18 July 1982 , 1♀; Rio Seco (left-hand branch of Rio Atoyac), 1.5 mi. N. of Penuela , (which is 4 mi. E. of Cor- doba) on road to Ingenio Potrero & Atoyac, 28 August 1957, G. H. Beatty et al. leg ., 1♂; small stream S. of highway, “Posada Loma,” Fortin de las Flores , 15 August 1957, G.H. Beatty et al. leg ., 3♂♂, 1♀; Soyolapan , 16 August 2017, R. Novelo leg. , 3♂♂; Tebanca , 17 June 1992, R. Novelo et al. leg ., 1♀; Yetla , 15 August 2017, R. Novelo leg. , 1♂.

Description of male. Body dark brown, with five pale stripes on pterothorax.

Head: Face pale; labium mostly pale, anterior border dark brown, submentum light brown; labrum mostly brown with two large lateral pale spots; mandibles pale basally, tips reddish-brown; anteclypeus brown, pale superiorly; postclypeus brown with pale lateral spots; lower and upper surface of antefrons brown, postfrons mostly pale, a blackish-brown stripe at the union with vertex; antennal scape and pedicel dark brown with apical rim creamy pale, flagellum brown; vertex dark brown, depressed area between ocelli with a large, quadrate pale spot; occiput dark brown with a large, trapezoid, central pale spot, posterior border fringed with long, stiff, reddish-brown setae ( Fig. 29 ).

Thorax: Pronotum reddish-brown, with a pale middorsal twin spot on posterior margin of midlobe. Pterothorax reddish-brown with five complete pale stripes as shown in Fig. 29 ; middorsal thoracic carina pale; first antehumeral stripe connected to pale mesothoracic collar forming an inverted “7”, reaching border of antealar crest superiorly; second antehumeral stripe the narrowest, continuous covering 0.90–0.95 mesepisternum’s length, ending at upper end in a circular spot close to antealar crest; mesepimeral stripe closely as wide as second antehumeral stripe, covering most of mesepimeron (90–95%), more or less parallel sided, gradually widening at upper; metepisternal stripe wider than mesepimeral one, covering almost the full-length of metepisternum, sometimes discontinuous forming a circular spot superiorly, partially encircling the spiracle; metepimeral stripe forming and inverted “L”, reaching subalar carina; metaposternum pale, with a brown spot posteriorly; pectus mostly grayish-yellow. Legs: Femora dark reddish-brown, anterior femora broadly pale ventrally; tibiae, tarsi and pretarsal claws black, armature black. Wings: Hyaline, slightly tinged with yellowish-brown at extreme base, venation black, anterior margin of costae with a disrupted yellow line on FW, continuous and well-defined on HW; second primary antenodal crossveins the 8th (left), 7th (right) in FW, the 7th (left), 8th (right) in HW; antenodal crossveins: FW 18–26, HW 13–19; postnodal crossveins: FW 11–17, HW 12–18; second series antenodal crossvein in FW 23–25, HW 17–20; triangles 3-celled and sometimes 2-celled, rarely 4-celled; subtriangles 2-celled and sometimes 3 or 4-celled; supratriangles 2 or 3- celled and rarely 4 or 5-celled; anal loop in HW 2 or 3-celled; anal triangle 4-celled, rarely 3 or 5-celled; pterostigma dark brown.

Abdomen: Reddish-brown on S1–2, black on S3–10. Pale colorarion creamy yellow as follows: a posterodorsal spot and ventral 0.30–0.45 of tergum on S1; a middorsal stripe tapering posteriorly not reaching posterior margin, auricles, and a posteroventral, narrow, vertical spot on S2; a middorsal stripe on basal 0.80–0.90 constricted at basal 0.55–0.65 of its length, and a broad basoventral spot on basal 0.40–0.45 of S3; a missdorsal stripe on basal 0.35– 0.45 tapering posteriorly followed by a spot, a broad basoventral spot on basal 0.25–0.30 of S4; a middorsal stripe on basal 0.15–0.25 tapering posteriorly, a broad basoventral spot on basal 0.20–0.25 of S5; a middorsal spot on basal 0.10–0.15, a broad basoventral spot on basal 0.15–0.20 of S6; basal half of S7; S8–10 black with pale strikes on basoventral 0.20–0.25 of S8. Foliation on S8–9 poorly developed and scalloped, foliation on S8 increasing gradually in width caudally, ending in a wide rounded lobe which surpasses by 0.15–0.45 mm the anterior margin of S9, its edge with a row of small spines on apical 0.32–0.40 of its length, maximum width of foliation 0.30–0.45 mm; foliation on S9 of the same width along the entire, smooth margin, 0.25–0.35 mm wide ( Fig. 42 ). Accessory genitalia: Anterior lamina thick, entire; in ventral view anterior hamuli flattened, rounded and slightly tumid anteriorly, mesal margin entire (slightly notched in some populations of the Pacific slope [Chiapas and Oaxaca]), strongly convex at basal half, slightly concave at distal half, apex entire, round, strongly incurved mesally. Posterior hamuli reddishyellow, subcylindrical, with a black, small, blunt, apical spine directed mesally ( Figs. 67–68 ). Vesica spermalis : V1 bifid with a large tooth on middle, V2–3 of usual type, V4 with 2 relatively short flagella almost reaching posterior margin of V1. Caudal appendages: Cerci with moderately long setae, mostly black, dorsally pale on distal 0.60 its length excepting the black tips; a dorsomesal tooth at basal 0.70–0.75, 0.30–0.46 mm length, directed medially, followed by a mesal shelf-like carina which ends at apical 0.10 from the tip, tips flattened laterally and produced dorsally into a triangular, stout spine; in lateral view with a subbasal spine 0.15–0.36 mm length at basal 0.20–0.25, the tip of cercus with the apical margin convex and sometimes with a tiny spine at the inferior angle. Epiproct brown, in dorsal view V-shaped, branches triangular, tips sharp, separated from each other by a distance of 0.65–1.00; in lateral view, branches almost straight, slightly up-curved at tip; in ventral view with a large basal tubercle beset with numerous long, stiff setae ( Figs. 105–107 ).

Measurements (measures are an average): TL, 58.05–69.40 (63.90); AL, 42–51 (45.88); MWh, 8.5–9.0; FwL, 35–42 (40.07); HwL, 33–41 (38.42); FwW, 7.0–9.0 (8.5); HwW, 9.0–11 (10.51); HfL, 6.5–6.9; cerci length, 2.25–3.5 (3.18).

Female. Similar to male, with the following differences: Head: Submentum dark brown; anteclypeus pale; antennal scape with apical rim creamy pale and pedicel dark brown. Thorax: First antehumeral stripe not connected to pale mesothoracic collar. Wing: Antenodal crossveins: FW 22–28, HW 16–21; postnodal crossveins: FW 11–18, HW 12–19; subtriangles 2-celled and sometimes 3 or 4-celled, rarely 5-celled; anal triangle 5 to 7-celled. Abdomen: Pale as follows: A posterodorsal spot and the ventral 0.40 of tergum on S1; a middorsal stripe on basal 0.60 constricted at basal 0.55 its length, and a broad basoventral spot on basal 0.40 of S3; a middorsal stripe on basal 0.70 tapering posteriorly followed by a spot, a broad basoventral spot on basal 0.25–0.30 of S4. Foliation on S8–9 strongly reduced, almost absent, foliation on S8 increasing slightly and gradually in width caudally, its edge with a row of small spines on apical 0.50–0.60 its length, maximum width of foliation 0.10–0.25 mm; foliation on S9 of the same width along the entire margin, very narrow, 0.06–0.2 mm wide, inferior margin with row of spines on distal 0.50 and short setae ( Fig. 118 ). Vulvar lamina: Short occupying 0.17 of length of S9; in ventral view ( Fig. 139 ) widely V-shaped, lobes triangular, reddish-black, with the most ventral margin black and with few stiff light brown setae, tips separated each other by a distance equal to the basal width of each lobe, lateroexternal margin with a small, subdorsal, blunt tubercle directed dorsally; in lateroventral view as in Fig. 140 . Caudal appendages: Cerci long, longer than S10, conical, sharply pointed, with abundant large setae, black on basal 0.30, pale on distal 0.70, exterme tips black ( Fig. 118 ). Epiproct brown, laminar-shaped ending ending in a sharp tip directed ventrally; in dorsal view, the epiproct is quite visible.

Measurements (average in parenthesis): TL, 59.55–69.75 (63.60); AL, 42–50 (47.16); MWh, 8.9–9.5; FwL, 39–46.5 (42.5); HwL, 37–45 (40.5); FwW, 8.0–11.5 (10.5); HwW, 9.0–12 (11.5); HfL, 6.7–6.8; VlL, 0.40–0.56 (0.46); cerci length, 2.42–2.83 (2.65).

Comparative diagnostic notes. Males of P. suasus are easy differentiated from all other males because the anterior hamule is entire along mesal margin and tip. Females closely resembles P. duodentatus . Phyllogomphoides suasus can be differentiated from P. duodentatus by the following (features of the later in parentheses): cercus longer than dorsal length of S9 and the posterior margin of lateral ocelli with a single tubercle (cercus shorter than dorsal length of S9 and posterior margin of lateral ocelli with a twin tubercle). On other hand, the geographic distribution pattern of P. suasus it is towards the north, center and south of the Gulf of Mexico.

Flight season. May, June, July, August, September, and October.

Distribution. Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz ( Fig. 153 ). In other countries: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua ( Paulson & Gozález-Soriano 2018).

Natural history. This species has the widest distribution in Mexico (11 states). Donnelly (1979) and Needham et al. (2014) also mentioned that P. suasus has the greater range of distribution from northern Middle America. This species is bold and flies in relatively open spaces, such as along the banks of wide rivers. It is the species encountered most frequently hanging up in vegetation along paths away from water ( Donnelly 1979). However, this species was observed flying and perching in a very small stream with abundant surrounding vegetation in cloud forest (MTP, personal observations). According to the records, this species has an altitudinal distribution in Mexico from 39 to 1700masl.

Figures

FIGURE 153. Map of geographical distribution. 153) P. suasus.

FIGURES 23–29. Head and thorax, lateral view. 23) P. indicatrix, male (alcoholic teneral specimen); 24) P. luisi, male; 25) P. nayaritensis, male; 26) P. pacificus, male; 27) P. pugnifer, male; 28) P. stigmatus, male; 29) P. suasus, male.

FIGURES 37–42. Abdominal segments S8–10 and caudal appendages, left lateral view. 37) P. luisi, male; 38) P. nayaritensis, male; 39) P. pacificus, male; 40) P. pugnifer, male; 41) P. stigmatus, male; 42) P. suasus, male.

FIGURES 63–68. Male accessory genitalia, ventral and ventrolateral view. 63–64) P. pugnifer; 65–66) P. stigmatus; 67–68) P. suasus.

FIGURES 96–107. Male caudal appendages, dorsal, lateral and ventral view. 96–98) P. pacificus; 99–101) P. pugnifer; 102– 104) P. stigmatus; 105–107) P. suasus.

FIGURES 114–118. Female abdominal segments S8–10 and caudal appendages, left lateral view. 114) P. nayaritensis; 115) P. pacificus; 116) P. pugnifer; 117) P. stigmatus; 118) P. suasus.

FIGURES 131–140. Female vulvar lamina, ventral and ventrolateral view. 131–132) P. nayaritensis; 133–134) P. pacificus; 135–136) P. pugnifer; 137–138) P. stigmatus; 139–140) P. suasus.