Sulcosticta vantoli, Villanueva & Schorr, 2011

Villanueva, Reagan Joseph T. & Schorr, Martin, 2011, Two new damselfly species from Polillo Island, Philippines (Odonata: Platystictidae), Zootaxa 3017, pp. 46-50 : 48-49

Sulcosticta vantoli spec. nov.

( Figures 3–5 )

Protosticta sp. n. Hämäläinen & Müller, 1997, p. 258, 277, 290 [name only; no description]. Sulcosticta sp. A. Van Tol, 2005, p. 277–279 [including description].

Materials examined. Holotype 3, Tamulaya area, Polillo Is., Philippines, 25.iv.2009, Reagan Joseph T. Villanueva leg. (to be deposited in RMNH). Paratypes: 8 3 3 Ƥ, same labels as holotype, ( RJTV). Other materials (all in RJTV): 1 3 1 Ƥ, Anawan area, Polillo, Polillo Is., Philippines, 24.iv.2009, RJTV leg.; 1 Ƥ (teneral), same labels as holotype; 1 3, Tamulaya, Polillo, Polillo Is., Philippines, 30.iii.2010, RJTV leg.; 1 Ƥ, Malat River, Burdeos, Polillo Is., Philippines, 23.iv.2009, RJTV leg.; 1 Ƥ, Sibulan watershed, Sibulan, Polillo, Polillo Is., Philippines, 1.iv.2010, RJTV leg.; 1 3, Pinaglubayan area, Polillo, Polillo Is., Philippines, 17.iv.2009, RJTV leg.; 3 3, Pinaglubayan area, Polillo, Polillo Is., Philippines, 18.iv.2009, RJTV leg.

Diagnosis. The posterior lobe with broadly rounded lateral portion places this species as most similar to S. viticula van Tol, 2005 . It differs from that species in having a simpler paraproct which is broad basally and distally flattened, its tip acutely curved anterodorsad.

Etymology. Named after Dr. Jan van Tol, Leiden, Netherlands who published the preliminary description of this species. He established the genus of the present species and contributed several significant papers including description of several dozen new species of the family from the oriental region.

Description of male holotype. Head: Labium and mandible pale with brownish variegated specks more distinct at distal portion. Labrum, anteclypeus, and genae bluish white. Rest of head black except for brownish antennae. Transverse occipital carina distinct but without lateral extremities.

Thorax: Prothorax pale except for brownish lateral lobes and black paired circular spot at medial portion of posterior lobe. Lateral portion of anterior lobe slightly elongate, not reaching middle portion of median lobe. Posterior lobe ( Fig. 3 ) collar-like with lateral portion produced into a smoothly rounded lateral projection. Synthorax mostly pale except for mesepisternum with large greenish patch covering entire dorsum, although not reaching anterior and lateral margins. Humeral suture with narrow black humeral stripe, a darkened streak at the anterior margin of mesepimeron. Metepisternum with rectangular blackish median patch and another vague circular spot distal to it, broad black streak across second suture connected to black distal portion of metepimeron, another black streak at anterior portion of metepimeron. Legs generally pale yellow except for blackish coxae, brownish spines and tarsi, and small black specks at knees. Wings hyaline with dark brown veins. One postcubital vein situated between base of wing and level of Ax1. Ac nearer to Ax2, Ab vein absent, Arculus at level of Ax2, Px 11 and 10 in Fw and Hw, respectively; R 4+5 arising distal to subnodus, IR3 a little distal to that. Pt brownish, rectangular.

Abdomen: Abdominal segments generally pale except for brownish basal half of S1, and S2 with broad light brown tinge across middle and narrow blackish apical ring. S3–6 with narrow apical and basal blackish rings, S7 with distal half brownish, S8–10 black with brownish tinge on ventral portion of S10. Posterior abdominal segments grossly swollen; basal portion of S7 somewhat more robust than S6, then gradually broadening, achieving its broadest width at S8,which is almost five times width of S3–6, and slowly tapers to S10, which is about three times width of S3–6. Cerci ( Figs. 4–5 ) pale yellow, longer than S10. In lateral view, basal half of cerci sharply directed dorsad, distal portion slightly bent ventrad; small dorsal tooth situated at base of distal portion, inner angle of tip distinctly angulate and directed ventromedially. Viewed dorsally, basal half broad, sub-cylindrical; distal portion dorsoventrally flattened with ventromedial portion triangularly produced and slightly concave medially. Paraprocts similar to cerci in length, pale yellow except for dark brown tip; basal four-fifths robust, distally flattened and acutely curved anterodorsad, tip slightly serrate.

Measurements of holotype: abdomen + cerci 26, Hw 16.

Variation in males. Tip of paraproct smooth and triangularly blunt in some specimens. Metepisternal dark marking more extensive in some individuals, perhaps an age-related character.

Measurements: abdomen + cerci 26–28, Hw 16–17.

Female. Similar to male in coloration, venation and prothoracic structure, except for short, erect anterior lobe of prothorax. Abdomen starts to expand at apical four-fifths of S6 and reaches maximum width on basal portion of S7, about 3.5 times width of S3–5. Basal third of S8 slightly constricted, about three times width of S3–5. S10 twice width of S3–5.

Measurements: abdomen 25–26, Hw 16–17.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 5. Sulcosticta vantoli. 3. Prothorax oblique dorsal view, 4. Cerci lateral view, 5. Cerci mediolateral view.