Amphipteryx Selys 1853

González-Soriano, Enrique, 2010, A synopsis of the genus Amphipteryx Selys 1853 (Odonata: Amphipterygidae), Zootaxa 2531 (1), pp. 15-28 : 16

Amphipteryx Selys 1853

Amphipteryx Selys 1853: 66 .

Type species. Amphipteryx agrioides Selys 1853 , by original designation.

Other species included. Amphipteryx chiapensis González -Soriano sp. nov., A. meridionalis González - Soriano sp. nov, A. nataliae González-Soriano sp. nov.

Characterization. Medium to large size (41–53 mm) robust zygopterans; head pale blue and black, postocular lobes large, convex, and extending posteriorly well beyond level of compound eye; thorax green or blue with black stripes; abdomen mostly black with some small greenish-blue spots at base; dorsum of S8–10 blue in male, in female with pale blue incomplete dorso-lateral stripes on S1-8 and dorsum of S8–10. Posterior lobe of pronotum either entire ( Figs. 1–2, 7–8 ), with lateral projections ( Figs. 3–5, 9–12 ), or erect laterally with smaller irregular v-shaped middle lobe ( Figs. 6, 13 ). Costal space with five or more antenodal crossveins, which do not extend to subcostal space; costal side of pterostigma as long as 1/2 its posterior side (Figs. 14–17). Male anterior hamule approximately quadrangular, posterior hamule small, vestigial, vesica spermalis large, inflated posteriorly ( Fig. 18 ); male genital ligula with a pair of lateral lobes and a pair of apical lobes which do not form long flagellae ( Figs. 19–23 ). Male cerci forcipate or roughly cylindrical and straight and armed infero-apically with a scalariform tooth ( Fig. 39 ), about as long as S10; paraproct well developed, slightly longer ( Figs. 24 , 28 ) to 0.5 as long as cercus ( Figs. 26–27 , 30–31 , 37–38 ). Female ovipositor extending beyond posterior margin of S10 but not surpassing tip of cerci; outer valves with one row of denticles ( Fig. 40 ).

Diagnosis. Amphipteryx is one of two New World genera of Amphipterygidae . The other, Rimanella , is monotypic, represented by R. arcana ( Needham 1933) . The two are diagnosed in Garrison et al. (2010).

Distribution. Amphipteryx occurs at small mountain streams from Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz states, Mexico, South into Guatemala and Honduras ( Figs. 41, 42 ). A larva of Amphipteryx sp. , probably A. agrioides , was also discovered in western Mexico (Jalisco state, Río Cuitzmala, approx. 19º 22' N, 104º 59' W, in INECOL, Fig. 41 ).

Biology. Adults perch with wings closed on vegetation overhanging water near seepages and small streams ( González-Soriano, 1991); larvae live in rough gravel and rapid-flow areas of small shallow creeks, and among leaf litter at lips of small waterfalls ( Novelo-Gutiérrez, 1995). With one exception (below), all Mexican populations are associated with tropical wet forests (i. e. cloud or rain forests), and the same is apparently the case with other Central American populations. The microhabitat of the larva from Jalisco differs from that described above. The Río Cuitzmala is almost at sea level within tropical deciduous forest. The larva which was collected there may have been drifted by the water current from the highlands where the forest is more humid.

Figures

FIGURES 1–13. 1–9. hind lobe of prothorax, antero-lateral view; 10–12: same, lateral view; 13: same dorsal view.

FIGURES 18–23. male accessory genitalia.

FIGURES 32–40. 32–38. male caudal appendages, dorsal view; 39: tip of cercus, medio-ventral view; 40: female S9– 10, lateral view.

FIGURES 24–27. male caudal appendages, dorso-lateral view.

FIGURES 28–31. Male caudal appendages, lateral view.

FIGURES 41–42. distribution of Amphipteryx spp.