Lestes secula May 1993, new species
Creators: name: May, M. L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1993
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Odonata
Lestidae
Lestes
Lestes secula

description: Lestes <i>secula</i>, new species <i>Fig</i>.1 A-F <i>Material</i> examined.- <i>Holotype</i>: &amp;male; (#1), <i>Panama</i>, Area <i>del</i> Canal, Barro <i>Colorado Island</i>, seasonal pond at <i>Standley Trail marker</i> 5, <b>28</b> <i>March</i> 1974, coll. by M. L. <i>May</i>, IORI. Allotype <b>:</b> &amp;female; (#2), same data as holotype except 19 <i>&amp;Tstrok;anuary</i> 1974. <i>Partypes</i>: 1 &amp;male; (#3), <i>Panama</i>, <i>Prov</i>. <i>Panama</i>, Pacora, 24 <i>December</i> 1950, coll. by R. B. Cumming, FSCA; 1 &amp;male; (#4), 1 &amp;female; (#5), same data as <i>holotype</i> except 9 Feb. 1972, teneral <i>specimens preserved</i> in alcohol, <i>MLM</i>; 1 &amp;male; (#6), 2 &amp;female; (#' <b>s</b> 7, 8), <i>same data</i> <b>as</b> <i>holotype</i> except collected <b>as</b> larvae <i>on</i> 15 <i>September</i> 1974 (&amp;male; emerged 22 Sept., &amp;female; 's <i>emerged</i> 20 and 23 Sept.), preserved <i>in alcohol</i>, <i>FSCA</i>. <i>Etymology</i>. - <i>Secula</i> is the Latin noun <i>for sickle</i>, or scythe, <i>referring to <i>the shape</i> <i>of the male</i> cerci.</i> <i>Diagnosis</i>. -A <i>species <i>of</i> moderate</i> size and stature, <i>dark and not</i> strongly metallic or pruinose; the posterior <i>surface</i> ofthe <i>head <i>is</i> mostly <i>black</i>, <i> <i>the</i> medial mesepistemal</i> dark <b>stripe</b> at least?/2 <i>width</i> of that sclerite, and distinct dark <i>markings</i> are <i>present</i> above and below the <i>metapleural carinae and</i> on the <i>thoracic venter</i> (Fig. 1 F). The <b>shape</b> of the male cerci <i>is unique</i>; <i>the</i> paraprocts are <i>unusually short</i> and stout (<b>Fig</b>. 1A, B). The ventral <i>margin of <i>the</i> ovipositor is distinctly concave and the <b>basal plate</b></i> rounded (<b>Fig</b>. <i>1E).</i> <i>Males</i> of L. secula <i>resemble L. <i>tenuatus</i> in the <i>form of their paraprocts and</i> in size</i></i> and general <i>coloration but</i> are <i>usually darker</i> insects <i>with wider and less</i> brightly metallic mesepisternal stripes (<i>dark</i> thoracic <i>areas</i> of some <i>old male</i> L. tenuatus <i>may</i> be as extensive as in <i>L</i>. secula, however), a more extensive dark pattern on the metathoracic venter, <i>and</i> the rear <i>of</i> the head dark. They ordinarily are easily dis tinguished <i>by</i> the <i>absence of</i> a <i>basal</i> tooth <i>along</i> the medial <i>margin of</i> the <i>cerci</i>, although <i>this tooth may occasionally be blunt and lobe-like</i> in <i>L</i>. tenuatus (<i>&amp;Tstrok;ohnson</i>, 1975). <i>Females</i> are <i>very</i> similar to <i>L</i>. <i>tenuatus in the form of the</i> ovipositor <i>and</i> the slightly flavescent <i>wings</i> but are <i>stockier</i> (in L. <i>tenuatus abdominal</i> segment 3 is at <i>least</i> 6 times as <i>long</i> as <i>its height</i> at <i>midlength</i>) <i>and</i> differ in <i>the same color characters</i>. <i>Both</i> sexes <i>of L. <i>secula</i> also are somewhat <i>like L. <i>henshawi</i> , a <i>species not</i> recorded from <i>Panama but</i> expected to occur (<i>Tsuda</i>, 199 1). <i>Lestes henshawi is</i> an appreciably larger <i>species</i>, <i>however</i> (<i>hindwing longer than</i> 25 mm, <i>abdomen</i> longer <i>than</i> 36 <i>mm</i> in <i>males</i>, 33 mm in females), <i>with</i> the pronotum largely black, black areas <i>of</i> the pterothorax lacking greenish <i>reflections</i>, <i>and pale</i> areas <i>of the</i> pterothorax <i>contrasting</i> sharply <i>with the black</i> and apparently <i>not becoming</i> brown <i>and obscure</i>. Like L. tenuatus, <i>male L. <i>henshawi have</i> a distinct basal tooth on <i>the inner</i> edge <i>of</i> the cerci. <i>The</i> ovipositor of female L. <i>henshawi</i> resembles both L. <i>secula</i> and L. <i>tenuatus</i> in having a <i>rounded</i> basal <i>plate but</i> differs from both those <i>species</i> in <i>that</i> the ventral margins <i>of the third</i> valvulae are <i>nearly</i> straight, <i>not</i> distinctly concave.</i></i></i> <i>The</i> absence, as in <i>L</i>. secula, of a basal cercal tooth is uncommon among <i>male Lestes and</i> mostly occurs in species with a distinct <i>declivity</i> toward the apex <i>of</i> the cerci. An exception is L. pictus <i>Hagen</i> in <i>Selys</i>. <i>In</i> this South American species, <i>however</i>, the medial shelf <i>of</i> each cercus is wider apically (<i>Calvert</i>, 1909; <i>Muzon</i>, pers. comm., 1991) <i>than</i> in <i>L</i>. <i>secula</i>, <i>and</i> in the <i>male</i> syntype (<i>which</i> now <i>lacks</i> its terminal <i>abdominal</i> segments; pers. <i>obs</i>., 1988) <i>the</i> rear of <i>the</i> head is <i>pale</i>, <i>and the</i> dorsum of abdominal segment 2 has a <i>wider</i>, triangular <i>pale</i> stripe. <i>The</i> female syntype also <i>has the</i> rear <i>of the</i> head pale <i>and</i> the ventral <i>margin of</i> the ovipositor straight; a female in <i>the</i> Carnegie <i>Museum</i> (Pittsburgh, <i>PA</i>) <i>has the</i> ovipositor <i>barely</i> concave, with <i>the</i> basal plate right-angulate. <i>Holotype</i>.- <i>Abdomen</i> broken between segments 4 and 5, both hind tarsi <i>broken</i> off, subapical tear in <i>both</i> forewings. <i>Head with</i> labrum <i>light</i> blue with narrow brown <i>margin</i> and <i>small mediobasal</i> spot. <i>Genae and</i> outer surface of <i>mandible ivory with slight bluish cast</i>. Clypeus <i>broadly</i> brown along clypeolabral <i>and</i> epistomal sutures, <i>black</i> between. Antefrons brown <i>ventrally</i>, <i>becoming black</i> above; remainder <i>of</i> epicranium <i>black with slight</i> metallic greenish reflections except for <i>small brown</i> areas <i>just lateral to lateral</i> ocelli <i>and</i> on occipital ridge. Antennae <i>black</i> to <i>dark</i> brown with tan anterior stripe on 2 <i>basal</i> segments, ocelli <i>brown</i>, eyes grey (<i>probably bluish</i> in <i>life</i>). Rear of head <i>black</i> except <i>small yellowish</i> central area, mouthparts <i>tan with apexes of</i> mandibles <i>and</i> maxillae <i>black</i>. <i>Prothorax</i> brown with <i>small</i>, <i>geminate black spot on</i> middle <i>lobe</i>; slightly <i>pruinose</i> dorsally, heavily so on pleura. <i>Pterothorax with middorsal carina and</i> narrow <i>flanking</i> stripes, antealar <i>ridge and</i> sinus, <i>and tergal sclerites</i> brown. <i>Mesepisterna each with black</i> stripe, showing metallic <i>greenish reflections</i>, <i>extending their full length and gradually</i> widening from <i>about</i> ?/2 width <i>of</i> sclerite anteriorly <i>to</i> 2/3 width at posterior end. Laterally and ventrally, thorax <i>largely</i> brown, slightly darker on center <i>of</i> mesepi <i>meron</i>, <i>yellowish tan</i> on ventral mesinfraepisternum, anterior metepisternum, <i>lateral</i> metepimeron, and <i>venter</i>; <i>pattern of dark</i> ventral <i>and ventrolateral markings <i>like</i> Figure 1F</i> but nearly <i>obscured</i> along midline by pruinosity. <i>Also heavily pruinose</i> on coxae <i>and</i> anterior tergal <i>sclerites</i>, lightly <i>so along metapleural and</i> interpleural sutures. <i>Legs</i> tan, brown on extensor surfaces of femora, black on internal and external angles <i>and</i> distal <i>ends of femora</i>, <i>flexor</i> surfaces <i>of tibiae</i>, <i>and</i> most <i>of</i> tarsi. <i>Wings</i> hyaline, veins and pterostigmata <i>black</i> to <i>dark</i> brown. <i>Abdomen with</i> terga <i>of segments</i> 1-8 <i>black with slight</i> metallic <i>greenish</i> reflections <i>dorsally</i> except <i>grey</i> on basal 1/3 and distal 1/6 of <i>segment</i> 1, tan <i>along diffuse</i>, narrow median <i>line</i> on 2, extremely narrow hairline on 3 and 4, and narrow, medially interrupted basal <i>rings</i> on 3-8. <i>Tergites tan</i> ventrolaterally <i>except</i> for <i>black apical</i> annulus on each and black ventral margin of 1, <i>marginal</i> spot <i>of</i> 2, <i>and</i> edges of hamules. Segments 9 <i>and</i> 10 dark red-brown, dorsal apex <i>of</i> 10 <i>black</i>; caudal ap pendages mostly <i>black</i>. Sternum of segment 1 <i>tan with median black</i> stripe, 2-7 <i>black</i>, 8 and 9 each brown with median <i>black</i> line. <i>Third</i> abdominal segment 10 times as <i>long</i> as <i>its</i> height at <i>midlength</i>, 2.5 times as <i>long</i> as segment 2. <i>Cerci</i> 1.12 mm, <i>lacking</i> prominent <i>teeth along medial</i> edges, each <i>with shelf-like medial dilation</i> along <i>distal</i> 4/5 <i>that is widest</i> near <i>base</i> and <i>gradually</i> tapers to <i>apex</i>; paraprocts 0.66 mm, slightly upcurved, <i>with</i> terminal <i>tuft of setae</i> (Fig. <i>1A</i>, <i>B</i>). <i>Penis</i> not extruded but presumably as in <i>Figure</i> 1C, D. Measurements: <i>Total</i> length-37.0, abdomen-29.0, hindwing-21.0. Allotype.-Left prothoracic <i>leg</i> broken at trochanter, abdominal segment 9 in dented dorsally. <i>Head and prothorax</i> as in <i>holotype</i> except <i>labrum</i> dull, <i>dark</i> grey. <i>Pterothorax with mesepisternum</i> similar to <i>holotype</i> but middorsal <i>carina darker and less distinct</i> from <i>black</i> stripe, <i>antealar ridge and</i> sinus <i>dark</i>. <i>Mesepimeron dark</i> brown <i>with black</i> streak about 2/3 <i>its</i> width <i>along</i> central 3/5. Mesinfraepisternum <i>black</i> on dorsal 1/2, yellowish ventrad. <i>Metapleura and venter</i> yellowish-tan with <i>dark</i> line along each metapleural sulcus <i>and along</i> anterodorsal margins of metinfraepisternum. <i>Dark</i> markings <i>of venter</i> similar <i>to holotype</i> but <i>much less obscured</i> by pruinosity. Legs and <i>wings</i> as in <i>holotype</i> except <i>wing</i> membranes faintly flavescent. Abdominal segments 1-7 marked much as in holotype but dark areas generally more extensive. <i>Pale ventrolateral</i> areas <i>of</i> segments 1 <i>and</i> 2 <i>with distinct</i> greenish grey tint, <i>those</i> of 3-7 <i>darker than</i> in <i>holotype</i>. Segments 8-10 entirely dark brown to <i>black</i> except <i>small</i>, ventrolateral tan <i>markings on</i> 8. <i>Third abdominal</i> segment 5 times as <i>long</i> as <i>its height</i> at midlength, 2.1 <i>times</i> as <i>long</i> as segment 2. <i>Ovipositor</i> 2.25 mm, with <i>ventral</i> margin <i>of</i> valvula 3 distinctly <i>concave near</i> midlength, basal plate rounded (Fig. <i>1E</i>). Measurements: <i>Total</i> length-37.5, abdomen-29.5, hindwing-22.0. <i>Variation</i> among paratypes.-Male from Pacora like holotype except generally <i>darker</i>, <i>hence</i> probably older. Postclypeus entirely dark. <i>Pterothorax</i> marked as in allotype <i>except lateral</i> dark <i>areas</i> more extensive <i>and</i> ventrolateral margins <i>darker</i>; venter <i>with less</i> pruinosity, <i>more</i> extensive <i>dark marking than</i> holotype. <i>Abdomen</i> with middorsal <i>lines</i> obsolete, <i>lateral areas of</i> segment 1 entirely <i>margined with</i> black. <i>Penis</i> shown <i>in Figure 1C, D</i>. <i>Total length-</i> 38.0, abdomen-30.0, hindwing-22.0. <i>The teneral and</i> reared specimens, in <i>alcohol</i>, <i>have very</i> faintly <i>developed color</i> patterns. <i>They</i> appear <i>similar</i> to those <i>of</i> the <i>holotype and</i> allotype, except <i>with the mesepisternal dark stripe</i> slightly narrower, probably a <i>function of</i> age. Structurally <i>they</i> seem identical. <i>Measurements</i> are <i>not</i> given because <i>of the</i> probability of dis tortion of <i>the soft</i> cuticle. Notes.- <i>Like</i> many Lestes, this <i>species</i> inhabits seasonal <i>ponds</i> with abundant bottom <i>litter and</i> no <i>fish</i>. The type locality is typically dry from <i>about</i> February <i>to May</i> or &amp;Tstrok;une. It <i>is</i> in old-growth, <i>seasonal</i> moist <i>forest</i>, receives sunlight only <i>inter</i> mittently except at <i>midday</i>, <i>and has</i> little or <i>no rooted aquatic vegetation</i>. <i>Seemingly</i> mature L. <i>secula could be</i> found throughout most <i>of the year</i>, <i>but</i> I <i>observed</i> re productive <i>activity</i> only during the wet season. <i>Possibly this species</i>, like a number of other <i>tropical</i> dragonflies, <i>passes the</i> dry <i>season</i> in <i>adult diapause</i>. <i>Other Odonata collected</i> at <i>the</i> type locality <i>included Miocora peraltica Calvert</i> (<i>probably not breed ing</i>), <i>Metaleptobasis</i> westfalli Cumming, Neoerythromma <i>cultellatum</i> (<i>Selys</i>), <i>Gyna</i> cantha <i>gracilis</i> (Burmeister), G. <i>tibiata Karsch</i>, <i>Triacanthagyna</i> satyrus (<i>Martin</i>), <i>Anatya normalis Calvert</i>, <i>Cannaphila insularis Kirby</i>, <i>Erythrodiplaxfervida</i> (Erich son), <i>Micrathyria</i> atra (<i>Martin</i>), <i>and Perithemis mooma</i> Kirby. In <i>Panama</i>, L. ten <i>uatus Rambur</i> is common in similar <i>habitats</i> but was <i>not</i> collected <i>with L. <i>secula</i> .</i>
description: Published as part of <i>May, M. L., 1993, Lestes secula, a new species of damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Lestidae) from Panama, pp. 410-416 in J. New York Entomol. Soc. 101</i> on pages 411-414, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3237470
description: {"references": ["Tohnson, C. 1975. Variability in the damselfly, Lestes sigma Calvert (Zygoptera z Lestidae). Texas T. Sci. 26: 165 - 169.", "Calvert, P. P. 1909. Contributions to a knowledge of the Odonata of the Neotropical region, exclusive of Mexico and Central America. Ann. Carnegie Mus. 6: 73 - 280."]}