Mesamphiagrion occultum (Ris, 1918)

Bota-Sierra, Cornelio Andrés & Echeverri, Martha Isabel Wolff, 2013, Taxonomic revision of Mesamphiagrion Kennedy, 1920 from Colombia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), with the description of four new species, Zootaxa 3718 (5), pp. 401-440 : 433-434

Mesamphiagrion occultum (Ris, 1918)

Figs. 10 e (pronotum and mesostigmal plates ♀), 10i (habitus ♀), 13i –j (S7– 10 ♂), 14m –n (S7–10 ♀); 15 (map)

Enallagma occultum Ris 1918: 118 –120, fig. 60 (description of male, illustration of male S10);—De Marmels 1989: 246–248, figs. 9–14 (generic characterization, description, and illustration of diagnostic characters).

Mesamphiagrion occultum Kennedy 1920: 87 (diagnosis);—Davies 1981: 6 (generic listing with type species listed);—Davies & Tobin 1984: 75 (synonymic list);—De Marmels 1989: 248–250, figs. 9–14 (description and illustrations);—De Marmels 1990a: 74, fig 1 (rediscovery, brief description and illustration);—Garrison 1991: 13 (synonymic list);—Bridges 1994: VII.171 (synonymic list);—Moore 1997: 16 (IUCN conservation plan);—Steinmann 1997: 278 (synonymic list);—Tsuda 2000: 39 ( Colombia);—Heckman 2008: 319, fig. 363 (keys for adults);—von Ellenrieder & Garrison 2008: 1–51, figs. 7c, 15, 38, 60, 70, and 80 (in part, key, map, and illustrations);—Garrison et al. 2010: 275–279, figs. 1728, 1731, 1746, 1747, 1764, 1765 (in part, synonymic list, and illustrations);—Pérez-Gutiérrez & Palacino-Rodríguez 2011: 213 (Colombian species check list).

Specimens examined (seven specimens). Cundinamarca: ICN: 1♂, Municipality Tena, ca 4°39’N 74°23’O, 27.iv.1991, Leg: A. Castillo. ANDES: PNN Chingaza , Quebrada La Playa, 4°33’5” N 73°46’17”O 3170m: 1♂ and 3♀, 9.xi.2003, Leg: E. Realpe. 2♂, 16.x.2004, Leg: E. Realpe & L. Pérez.

Remarks. Little is known about this Colombian endemic species, which has been recorded from only three localities. Apparently this species is sexually dimorphic.

First description of female. Head. Labium cream. Mandible base reddish brown. Labrum reddish brown with a black small midbasal spot. Gena reddish brown. Anteclypeus reddish brown turning blue to the middle, postclypeus reddish brown. Antefrons light blue, with a black transverse stripe over clypeus, postfrons reddish brown with blue postocular spot not reaching margin of eye, occipital bar blue, ocelli surrounded by black rings, antennaewith first antennomere reddish brown, the rest dark brown. Rear of head cream ( Fig. 10 i).

Thorax. Prothorax reddish brown, with anterior lobe of pronotum and propleura light blue, a black stripe on the center of medial lobe, and posterior lobe light blue. Medial lobe of posterior prothoracic lobe developed into a caudally projected rounded plate, its lateral edge about 1/3 distal edge length ( Fig. 10 e). Pterothorax reddish brown, with light blue stripe on mesepisternum, light blue stripe on metepimeron and metepisternum distal 1/4, metepimeron light blue, venter cream ( Fig. 10 i). Coxa and remainder of leg light brown with spurs, claws, and tarsomeres black. Eight external spurs on right metafemur and six on left, as long as space between them or shorter, gradually increasing in size toward apex. Six external spurs on left metatibia and seven on right, as long as space between them or shorter, gradually decreasing in size toward apex. Pretarsal claw with well developed supplementary tooth. Wings smoked, especially along costal area, with brown Pt, ratio between distal and proximal sides about 1:1. CuP reaching CuPAA slightly distal to confluence of CuPAA with hind margin of wing. 13 Px in right FW and 14 in left FW, 11 Px in right HW and 12 in left HW. RP 2 branching between Px 4 and 5 in right FW and under 5 in left FW, between Px 4 and 5 in HW ( Fig. 10 i).

Abdomen. Light brown with dorsal distal 1/4 on S3–7 and S8–10 black, sides of S1–3 light blue, dorsum of S7 with proximal three quarters and distal margin light blue, S8 with light blue distal margin, S9–10 with light middorsal line ( Fig. 10 i, 13m). Ovipositor, cercus, and paraproct reddish brown. Well developed black vulvar spine. Subbasal plate of ovipositor triangular. Ovipositor distal apex reaching level of S10 distal edge, stylus dark brown. Cercus subconical, three quarters as long as S10, its apex representing the most distal point of the body. Paraproct truncated posteriorly. Total length 34 mm. Abdomen length 26 mm. FW length 22 mm. HW length 21 mm.

Variation. Other females vary as follows. Color darker, with green instead of blue. Labrum light blue. Metepimeron light blue to cream. S 6 may be light blue. S7 entirely black ( Fig. 13 n). Seven external spurs on right metafemur and nine on left, eight external spurs on right metatibia and six on left. Total length 36 mm. Abdomen length 28 mm. FW 23 mm. HW length 22 mm.

Distribution. Cundiboyacense highlands, in the Cordillera Oriental, between about 2,000 and 3,150 m. a.s.l. ( Fig. 15 ).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Mesamphiagrion nataliae (Cundinamarca, Guasca): (a) Male holotype; (f) Juvenile male paratype; (b) Androchrome female allotype; (g) Gynochrome female paratype; (c) Juvenile female paratype. (h) M. rosseri female paratype (Antioquia, Medellín). (d) M. ovigerum female (Cundinamarca, Bogotá) and (j) dorsal view of posterior lobe of pronotum and mesostigmal plates. (i) M. occultum female (Cundinamarca, PNN Chingaza) and (e) dorsal view of posterior lobe of pronotum and mesostigmal plates. p. m.: Mesostigmal plates. l. p.: Ponotum posterior lobe.

FIGURE 15. New distributional records of Mesamphiagrion laterale, M. nataliae, M. occultum, M. rosseri, M. santainense, and M. tamaense in Colombia.

FIGURE 13. S 7 – 10 color patterns of males: (a) and (b) Mesamphiagrion gaudiimontanum; (c) and (d) M. risi; (e) M. rosseri; (f) and (g) M. santainense; (h) M. tamaense; (i) and (j) M. occultum; (k) M. demarmelsi; (l) M. laterale; (m) M. ovigerum; (n) M. nataliae.