[Entomology • 2019] Euphaea cyanopogon • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Euphaeidae) from the Cardamom Ecoregion in Cambodia and Vietnam

Euphaea cyanopogon 

Hämäläinen, Kosterin & Kompier, 2019

   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4555.1.2 

Abstract

Euphaea cyanopogon sp. nov. is described and illustrated from specimens of both sexes collected in the Kampongsaom Peninsula in southern Cambodia and the adjacent Phú Quốc Island in Vietnam, both in the Cardamom ecoregion; the holotype ♂ (at RMNH, Leiden) is from Kbal Chhay Waterfall, Cambodia. The male is characterized by having rather narrow wings without areas of strong pigmentation and a face marked with bright blue. The differences and affinities of the new species with E. pahyapi Hämäläinen, 1985 and some of its other congeners are discussed.

Keywords: Odonata, damselfly, Zygoptera, Euphaea, new species, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indochina, Cardamom ecoregion

Male Euphaea cyanopogon sp. nov. in nature
from Kbal Chhay Waterfall, Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia

(Photo by Oleg Kosterin) 

Euphaea cyanopogon sp. nov.

Euphaea ochracea, nec (Selys, 1859)

Euphaea pahyapi, nec (Hämäläinen, 1985)

Etymology. The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, is a composite of Latinised forms of two Greek words κυάνεοs: dark blue and πώγων: beard, together meaning ‘blue beard’, referring to the coloration of the lower face in males of the new species.

 Matti Hämäläinen, Oleg E. Kosterin and Tom Kompier. 2019. Euphaea cyanopogon sp. nov. from the Cardamom Ecoregion in Cambodia and Vietnam (Odonata: Euphaeidae). Zootaxa. 4555(1); 28–44.   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4555.1.2

[Entomology • 2019] Coeliccia lecongcoi • A New Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Coeliccia lecongcoi Phan, 2019

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4551.4.7 

Abstract

Coeliccia lecongcoi sp. nov. (holotype ♂, .., Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, Kon Tum Province, the Vietnamese Central Highlands) is described and illustrated from both sexes. The new species is allied to Coeliccia duytan Phan, 2017 and Coeliccia hayashii Phan & Kompier, 2016 but differs by the synthoracic pattern and structure of the appendages and genital ligula of the male and the posterior pronotal lobe of the prothorax of the female.

Keywords: Odonata, Platycnemididae, Coeliccia lecongcoi sp. nov., Vietnam, new species

Quoc Toan Phan. 2019. Coeliccia lecongcoi sp. nov., A New Damselfly from the Central Highlands of Vietnam (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae). Zootaxa.  4551(4); 471–478. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4551.4.7

[Entomology • 2019] Coeliccia schorri • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Coeliccia schorri 

Phan & To, 2019

 DOI: 10.1080/13887890.2018.1557567 

Abstract 

Coeliccia schorri sp. n. is described based on both sexes (holotype male from Dak Roong Commune, K’bang district, Gia Lai province, central highlands of Vietnam). The combination of the characters of a large pruinose spot on the synthorax, blue abdominal tip, and white appendages in the male and a long spine on the posterior pronotal lobe of the prothorax in the female help distinguish it from all other Coeliccia species. The Coeliccia hayashii-group, remarkable for the pruinose markings on the male prothorax and synthorax in combination with the structure of the genital ligula which is bifurcated from the base into two long flagella, is discussed. 

Figs 16-17. Photos of (14) paratype ♂ and (15) paratype ♀ of Coeliccia schorri sp. n. in Dak Roong Commune, K'Bang District, Gia Lai Province, taken in 24 May 2018 by Quoc Toan Phan.

Family Platycnemididae Yakobson & Bianchi, 1905 

Subfamily Calicnemiinae Fraser, 1957 

Genus Coeliccia Kirby, 1890 

Coeliccia schorri sp. n.

Etymology This species is named in honor of Dr Martin Schorr in appreciation of his support of odonatological research in Vietnam through the International Dragonfly Fund to the first author. A noun in the genitive case.

Phan Quoc Toan and Van Quang To. 2019. Description of New Damselfly Coeliccia schorri sp. n. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) with A Discussion of the Coeliccia hayashii -group in Vietnam. International Journal of Odonatology.  DOI: 10.1080/13887890.2018.1557567

ResearchGate.net/publication/330526171_A_new_damselfly_Coeliccia_schorri

[Entomology • 2018] Indocnemis marijanmatoki • A New Species (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from central Vietnam [On the Genus Indocnemis Laidlaw, 1917 in Vietnam]

[upper] Indocnemis marijanmatoki  Phan, 2018
[lower] Indocnemis orang (Förster in Laidlaw, 1907)

  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.809.29058 

Abstract

Indocnemis marijanmatoki sp. n. (holotype ♂, 1503 m a.s.l., Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa Province, central Vietnam) is described based on both sexes. The morphological variation of Indocnemis orang (Förster in Laidlaw, 1907) is discussed and its distribution in Vietnam updated.

Keywords: Indocnemis, new species, Odonata, Platycnemididae, Vietnam

Figures 7–10. Indocnemis spp.
7 Indocnemis marijanmatoki  sp. n., ♂ from Kon Ka Kinh National Park, photographed by Mr To Van Quang
8 I. orang ♂ in nature, Nam Giang, Quang Nam 9, 10 Habitus and appendages of I. orang ♂, Cuc Phuong National Park, photographed by the author. 

Figures 11–12. Habitus of Indocnemis marijanmatoki  sp. n.  11 Holotype male 12 Paratype female.

Figures 13–20. Indocnemis spp. ♂. 13–16 Indocnemis marijanmatoki  sp. n., holotype ♂
and 17–20 I. orang (km19, Hon Ba Nature Reserve) 13, 17 appendages, dorsal view 14, 18 right cerci, oblique-dorsal view 15, 19 appendages, lateral view 16, 20 genital ligula, dorsal view.

Indocnemis marijanmatoki sp. n.

Diagnosis: The new species differs from I. orang with a combination of the following characters: in the male, the marking on dorsum of synthorax is small, shield-shaped; S9–10 entirely black; cerci short, of the length as S10, without a robust basal spine; paraproct entirely black. In the female, the posterior pronotal lobe of the prothorax is rather small, semicircular-shaped.

Etymology: Marijanmatoki, a noun in the genitive case, after Marijan Matok (born 28 March 1972) of Ulm-Söflingen, Germany, in appreciation of his support of the author’s odonatological research in Vietnam through the International Dragonfly Fund.

Habitat and ecology: At the type locality, the new species was found at a narrow (2–3 m wide), shallow stream with sandy bottom. Specimens were collected in April, which otherwise is early for other dragonflies and damselflies, so only Anotogaster sp. was found at the same stream. At the two localities where the new species was found, I. marijanmatoki sp. n. and I. orang occur at quite different elevations. The new species occurs at very high elevations, from 1,400–1,500 m a.s.l., while I. orang is usually found in the areas ranging from 300–600 m a.s.l.

 Quoc Toan Phan. 2018. On the Genus Indocnemis Laidlaw, 1917 in Vietnam with Description of Indocnemis marijanmatoki sp. n. (Odonata, Zygoptera, Platycnemididae). ZooKeys. 809: 15-29. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.809.29058

[Entomology • 2018] Damselflies of the Genus Argia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Ecuador with Descriptions of Five New Species

Argia tennesseni  Garrison & von Ellenrieder, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4470.1.1

Abstract 

A total of 31 species of Argia are reported as present in Ecuador, of which two, A. huanacina Förster and A. jocosa Hagen, constitute first records for the country, and five are new to science and are described here: Argia acridens n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Manabí Prov., 79 km west of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 260 m, 7 May 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., in USNM), Argia cuspidata n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Prov.: 19 km east of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 740 m, 7 May 1975, A. Langley & J. Cohen leg., in USNM), Argia philipi n. sp. (Holotype ♂: BOLIVIA, Cochabamba Dept., Chapare Prov.: stream 5 km south of Villa Tunari, noon, 350 m, 4 November 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., in FSCA), Argia selysi n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Napo Prov.: Jatun Yacu, Napo River watershed, 700 m, 18 April 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., in UMMZ) and Argia tennesseni n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Orellana Prov.: stream 8.5 km east of Loreto, 360 m, 14 September 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., in FSCA). The new species are illustrated and diagnosed from their congeners and their known distribution areas are mapped. To aid in identification, illustrations needed for diagnosis and / or distribution maps of closely related species are also provided, including: A. adamsi Calvert, A. difficilis Selys, A. dives Förster, A. huanacina Förster, A. fulgida Navás, A. infrequentula Fraser, A. jocosa Hagen in Selys, A. joergenseni Ris, A. limitata Navás, A. medullaris Selys, A. orichalcea Hagen in Selys and A. ulmeca Calvert. Argia columbiana Navás and A. rectangula Navás are treated as subjective junior synonyms of Argia medullaris Selys. A key to the eight known metallic red Argia species from South America is provided. 

Key words: Damselfly, Neotropics, Ecuador, keys, diagnoses, distribution maps

 Argia acridens n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Manabí Prov., 79 km west of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, approximately 0°20' S, 79°46' W, 260 m, 7 May 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., in USNM), 

Argia cuspidata n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Prov.: 19 km east of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, approximately 0°18'49'' S, 79°1'44'' W, 740 m, 7 May 1975, A. Langley & J. Cohen leg., in USNM), 

Argia philipi n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: BOLIVIA, Cochabamba Dept., Chapare Prov.: stream 5 km south of Villa Tunari, noon, 16°59'49" S, 65°24'28" W, 350 m, 4 November 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., in FSCA), 

Argia selysi n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Napo Prov.: Jatun Yacu, Napo River watershed, approximately 1°1' S, 77°50' W, 700 m, 18 April 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., in UMMZ) 

Male of Argia tennesseni at a small forest stream about 12 km NE of Loreto in Ecuador, Orellana Province, photographed by Kenneth J. Tennessen on 26 October 2013.

 'This forest was being cut down, and the little streams that back then held up to 10 species of Argia, may no longer be a suitable habitat for some of these species that require forest shade and bank protection'

(Kenneth J. Tennessen pers. comm.).  

Argia tennesseni Garrison & von Ellenrieder, n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Orellana Prov.: stream 8.5 km east of Loreto, 0°37' 6" S, 77°17' 42" W, 360 m, 14 September 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., in FSCA).

Etymology. Named tennesseni (Latinized name) in honor of our friend and colleague Kenneth J. Tennessen who first brought this interesting species to our attention.

 Rosser W. Garrison and Natalia von Ellenrieder. 2018. Damselflies of the Genus Argia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Ecuador with Descriptions of Five New Species. Zootaxa. 4470(1); 1–69.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4470.1.1

Resumen: Treinta y una especies de Argia son registradas de Ecuador, de las cuales dos, A. huanacina Förster y A. jocosa Hagen, constituyen nuevos registros para el país, y cinco son nuevas para la ciencia y son descriptas aquí: Argia acridens n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Manabí, 79 km al oeste de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 0°20' S, 79°46' O, 260 m, 7 Mayo 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., en USNM), Argia cuspidata n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: 19 km al este de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 0°18'49'' S, 79°1'44'' O, 740 m, 7 Mayo 1975, A. Langley & J. Cohen leg., en USNM), A. philipi n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: BOLIVIA, Dept. Cochabamba, Prov. Chapare: arroyo 5 km al sur de Villa Tunari, mediodía, 16°59'49" S, 65°24'28" O, 350 m, 4 Noviembre 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., en FSCA), Argia selysi n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Napo: Jatun Yacu, Cuenca del Río Napo, 1°1' S, 77°50' O, 700 m, 18 Abril 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., en UMMZ) y A. tennesseni n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Orellana: arroyo 8.5 km al este de Loreto, 0°37' 6" S, 77°17' 42" O, 360 m, 14 Septiembre 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., en FSCA). Las nuevas especies son ilustradas y diagnosticadas de sus congéneres, y sus áreas de distribución conocidas son mapeadas. Para ayudar en su identificación, se proveen también ilustraciones y /o mapas de distribución de especies relacionadas, incluyendo a: A. adamsi Calvert, A. difficilis Selys, A. dives Förster, A. huanacina Förster, A. fulgida Navás, A. infrequentula Fraser, A. jocosa Hagen en Selys, A. joergenseni Ris, A. limitata Navás, A. medullaris Selys, A. orichalcea Hagen en Selys y A. ulmeca Calvert. Argia columbiana Navás y A. rectangula Navás son tratadas como sinónimos junior subjetivos de Argia medullaris Selys. Se proporciona una clave para las ocho especies conocidas metálicas rojas de Argia de América del Sur. 

Palabras clave: Libélulas, Neotrópico, claves, diagnosis, mapas de distribución

[Entomology • 2018] Drepanosticta adenani • A New Species (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Drepanosticta adenani  Dow & Reels, 2018

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4379.3.6

twitter.com/Naturalis_Sci 

Abstract

Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov. (holotype ♂, from a tributary of Sungai Jela, Nanga Segerak area, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Aman Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, 18 vii 2016, deposited in the Natural History Museum, London) is described from both sexes.

Keywords: Odonata, Zygoptera, Platystictidae, Drepanosticta, adenani, Borneo, Sarawak, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, new species

FIGURES 1–2. Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov.:
(1) Holotype male, head dorsal-frontal view; (2) paratype female (SAR16_PST12), head dorsal-frontal view. 

FIGURES 6–11. Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov., synthorax in lateral view:
(6) holotype male; (7) paratype female (SAR16_PST12). Markings of terminal abdominal segments:
(8) holotype male, lateral view; (9) paratype female (SAR16_PST12), lateral view;
(10) holotype male, dorsal view; (11) paratype female (SAR16_PST12), dorsal view. 

Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov.

Etymology. The species epithet adenani, a noun in the genitive case, is a dedication to the late Tan Sri Adenan bin Satem (27 January 1944–11 January 2017), Chief Minister of Sarawak from 2014–2017, in recognition of his support for biodiversity research and conservation in Sarawak, and for starting the Research for Intensified Management of Bio-rich Areas (RIMBA) project, which includes LEWS.  

Rory A. Dow and Graham T. Reels. 2018. Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov., from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Zootaxa. 4379(3); 429–435.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4379.3.6

 researchgate.net/publication/323201539_Drepanosticta_adenani_from_Lanjak_Entimau_Sarawak

 twitter.com/Naturalis_Sci/status/973153590129909760

[Entomology • 2018] Argia angelae • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Argia angelae 

Vilela, Guillermo-Ferreira, Del-Claro & Cordero-Rivera, 2018

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4415.3.8

twitter.com/RhainerGuille

Argia angelae sp. nov. (Holotype ♂, BRAZIL, Mato Grosso, Chapada dos Guimarães, Rio Salgadeira, 1 xi 2015, D. S. Vilela leg., in LESTES, Cod. ACR 8173A) from Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil is described, illustrated and diagnosed based on comparison with other known sympatric species of the genus. This species inhabits streams throughout the National Park and a map of its known distribution is provided.

Keywords: Damselfly, Brazil, Neotropical, Odonata

Diogo Silva Vilela, Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira, Kleber Del-Claro and  Adolfo Cordero-Rivera. 2018. Argia angelae (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) sp. nov. from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Zootaxa. 4415(3); 549–560. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4415.3.8

twitter.com/RhainerGuille/status/991119573981253632

[Entomology • 2018] Drepanosticta emtrai • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Vietnam with A Discussion of Drepanosticta vietnamica Asahina, 1997

Drepanosticta emtrai 

Dow, Kompier & Phan, 2018

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4374.2.7 

 VNCreatures.net 

Abstract

Drepanosticta emtrai sp. nov. is described from Vietnam (holotype male Ha Tinh Province, 9 vi 2015, to be deposited in RMNH). The new species is allied to D. carmichaeli (Laidlaw, 1915) and a number of other species of Drepanosticta including D. vietnamica Asahina, 1997. New illustrations of the paratype of D. vietnamica are provided and the species is discussed. The Drepanosticta carmichaeli-group, to which the above mentioned species belong, is defined and discussed.

Keywords: Odonata, Platystictidae, Vietnam, Drepanosticta emtrai, Drepanosticta carmichaeli-group, Drepanosticta vietnamica, new species

 Rory A. Dow, Tom Kompier and Quoc Toan Phan. 2018. Drepanosticta emtrai sp. nov. from Vietnam with a discussion of Drepanosticta vietnamica Asahina, 1997 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae).  Zootaxa. 4374(2); 273-282. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4374.2.7
 ResearchGate.net/publication/322579604_Drepanosticta_emtrai_from_Vietnam 

PHÁT HIỆN MỘT LOÀI CHUỒN CHUỒN MỚI PHÂN BỐ RỘNG Ở VIỆT NAM  VNCreatures.net/all_species/new0013.php

[Entomology • 2017] Nososticta nicobarica • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Platycnemididae: Disparoneurinae) from Great Nicobar Island, India

Nososticta nicobarica

Rajeshkumar, Raghunathan & Chandra, 2017

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4311.3.8  

Abstract

The damselfly Nososticta nicobarica sp. nov. (Odonata: Platycnemididae: Disparoneurinae) is described (holotype ♂: ZSI-ANRC-T-4418; 11.ii.2016) from Gandhi Nagar, Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. This is the first record for the genus Nososticta from the Indian sub-continent, and a formal description is given. The new species is described on the basis of male anal appendages, particularly cerci with a deeply bifurcate, acute apex, distinctly curved downward. Paraprocts almost straight with blunt apex slightly curved upward and inner margin with small, roughly rectangular hook. The female is characterised by the anterior lobe of the pronotum, which bears two long, divergent horn-like processes and a short posterior lobe with paired club-shaped processes. Affinities with species of Lesser Sundaic region are discussed.

Keywords: Odonata, Nososticta nicobarica sp. nov., Disparoneurinae, Great Nicobar Island, India

S. Rajeshkumar, C. Raghunathan and Kailash Chandra. 2017.  Nososticta nicobarica sp. nov. (Odonata: Platycnemididae: Disparoneurinae) from Great Nicobar Island, India.
 Zootaxa.  4311(3); 426–434. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4311.3.8

[PaleoEntomology • 2017] Mesosticta davidattenboroughi • Mesostictinae subfam. nov., An Archaic Group of Platystictid Damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber

Mesosticta davidattenboroughi

 Zheng, Wang, Nel, Jarzembowski, Zhang & Chang, 2017

 DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2017.1348395 

Abstract

Odonatans are quite rare in the fossil record compared with the other insects, especially in Cretaceous amber inclusions. The extant family Platystictidae is one of the most diverse Zygoptera, but short of fossil records. In this paper, a new species, Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, representing the third-known fossil species of Platystictidae. Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov. has a long IR1 beginning one cell distal of the base of RP2, confirming the previous attribution of Mesosticta Huang, Azar, Cai & Nel, 2015 to Platystictidae. It differs from other species of Mesosticta in having a long IR1 and a basally crossed subdiscoidal cell. The fossil genus Mesosticta shares the diagnostic characters of the modern platystictid genera, viz. a basally recessed ‘CuP’ (shared by all species), a very long IR1 (only in Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov.), and a specialized subdiscoidal area mostly rhomboidal in shape (only in Mesosticta electronica Zheng, Zhang, Chang & Wang, 2016). Based on the platystictid damselflies from Burmese amber, a new subfamily Mesostictinae subfam. nov. is established. Mesostictinae subfam. nov. represents the first fossil group of modern platystictid damselflies, documenting the appearance of Platystictidae as early as mid-Cretaceous. It differs from modern Platystictidae by the presence of fewer postnodal and postsubnodal crossveins, a short MP, the base of RP2 being nearer to the subnodus and the nodus lying more distally.

Keywords: Platystictidae, Zygoptera, Odonata, Cenomanian, Cretaceous, Burmese amber

Figure 1. Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov., holotype, NIGP164541, photograph of specimen. 

Order Odonata Fabricius, 1793

Suborder Zygoptera Selys-Longchamps, 1854

Superfamily Platystictoidea Kennedy, 1920

Family Platystictidae Kennedy, 1920

Subfamily Mesostictinae subfam. nov.

Type genus. Mesosticta Huang, Azar, Cai & Nel, 2015.

Mesosticta Huang, Azar, Cai & Nel, 2015 

Type species. Mesosticta burmatica Huang, Azar, Cai & Nel, 2015. 

Included species. Mesosticta electronica Zheng, Zhang, Chang & Wang, 2016; Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov. 

Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov. 

Type species. NIGP164541, two complete forewings attached to body.

 Diagnosis. Forewing characters: IR1 long, originating one cell distal of base of RP2, nearer to N than to Pt; Arc aligned with Ax2; subdiscoidal cell basally crossed by one vein. 

Etymology. In honour of Sir David Attenborough, on his 90th birthday, for his appreciation of dragonflies. 

Locality and horizon. Hukawng Valley, Kachin Province, Myanmar; lowermost Cenomanian, lowermost Upper Cretaceous.

Figure 7. Hypothetical position of Mesosticta davidattenboroughi sp. nov. in phylogenetic tree of Zygoptera. All line drawings are based on forewings (phylogeny based on Dijkstra et al. 2014; line drawing of Sinosticta ogatai Matsuki & Saito, 1996 after Wilson 1997; line drawing of Palaemnema picicaudata Kennedy, 1938 after Kennedy 1938; line drawings of Platysticta deccanensis Laidlaw, 1915 and Protosticta himalaiaca Laidlaw, 1917 after Fraser 1933).

Daran Zheng, Bo Wang, André Nel, Edmund A. Jarzembowski, Haichun Zhang & Su-Chin Chang. 2017. Mesostictinae subfam. nov., An Archaic Group of Platystictid Damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber.  Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.   DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2017.1348395

David Attenborough gains new species namesake  phy.so/422069741 @physorg_com

[Entomology • 2017] Coeliccia mientrung spec. nov. from Central Vietnam (Odonata: Platycnemididae)

Coeliccia mientrung 

 Kompier & Phan, 2017

OdonataVietnam.blogspot.com

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4247.2.4 

Abstract

Coeliccia mientrung spec. nov. is described from central Vietnam. Detailed differences from the very similar C. pyriformis Laidlaw, 1932, are provided. The female of C. pyriformis is described for the first time.

Keywords: Odonata, Platycnemididae, Coeliccia mientrung spec. nov., Coeliccia pyriformis, new species, Vietnam

FIGURE 4. Male Coeliccia mientrung in nature, 5.VIII.2016, Bach Ma National Park, Thua Thien—Hue Prov. Note three–colored eyes, white spots in prothorax, short truncated antehumeral stripes and limited yellow on S9. 

Etymology. The specific name mientrung, a noun in apposition, refers in Vietnamese to the area of central Vietnam where the species occurs

 Tom Kompier and Quoc Toan Phan. 2017. Coeliccia mientrung spec. nov. from Central Vietnam (Odonata: Platycnemididae). Zootaxa. 4247(2); 131–140. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4247.2.4

 researchgate.net/profile/Phan_Quoc_Toan2

[Entomology • 2017] Megalestes gyalsey (Odonata: Synlestidae) • Honouring His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Bhutan

Megalestes gyalsey

Gyeltshen, Kalkman & Orr, 2017

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4244.4.9 

Abstract

Megalestes gyalsey spec. nov. is described from a single male from Trongsa District in Bhutan. The species was discovered during field work conducted in 2015 for the Bhutan invertebrate biodiversity project. The species is named in honour of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, the Gyalsey of Bhutan, on the occasion of his first birthday.

Keywords: Odonata, Damselfly, Zygoptera, Bhutan, Himalaya

Differential diagnosis. Megalestes and Sinolestes are the only damselfly genera in mainland Asia with a pterostigma that is at least twice as long as broad, a metallic green colouration and a total length of over 50 mm. The only genus matching the first two characters is Lestes, but the species of that genus are smaller and have R4 and Ir3 originating well proximal of the subnodus (at the subnodus in Megalestes and Sinolestes). Megalestes gyalsey can best separated from all other species of Megalestes and Sinolestes based on its anal appendages: the paraprocts are slightly over half the length of the cerci and have a relatively simple structure with the apical half consisting of a strong apically pointed gently curved finger-like process and lacking small upcurved spines. Figure 4c–f shows the anal appendages of Megalestes major and M. irma, the two other species of the genus known from Bhutan.

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Etymology. The specific epithet gyalsey, is a noun in apposition. The species is named in honour of His Royal Highness Crown Prince of Bhutan, The Gyalsey, Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, on the occasion of his first birthday

Discussion: 

 Megalestes gyalsey is the eighteenth species of Megalestes. It is currently known only from the type locality in Bhutan but is likely to occur in adjacent areas of India and might be found in the eastern parts of Nepal. Further field work might result in the discovery of more species of Megalestes, especially in parts of China, but new species might yet be found in the Himalayan region as well. There is little information on the habitat and life history of Megalestes gyalsey or any other species of the genus Megalestes and it would be interesting to study the behaviour and seasonality of the species. Although only one location is known for the species, there is no reason to assume that it is threatened, as much probably suitable habitat is present in Bhutan. Nonetheless, it would be desirable to further explore the region in order to locate more populations.

Gyeltshen, T., V. J. Kalkman and Albert G. Orr. 2017. Honouring His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Bhutan: Megalestes gyalsey (Odonata: Synlestidae).
 Zootaxa. 4244(4); 588–594.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4244.4.9

[Entomology • 2016] Taxonomy and Molecular Phylogeny of the Platystictidae (Insecta: Odonata) of Sri Lanka

Ceylonosticta anami  (Bedjani, 2010) 

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4182.1.1

Abstract

The 22 Sri Lankan representatives of the family Platystictidae, all endemic to the island and belonging to the distinct endemic subfamily Platystictinae, are revised, and a new reconstruction of the phylogeny based on molecular characters is provided. Five new species are described: Ceylonosticta venusta sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Rambodde Falls, at the tunnel; Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province; N7.0489, E80.6961; 12-vii-2012; to be deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Ceylonosticta inferioreducta sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Norton Bridge, stream on the B43 road 1.5km WNW of Norton Bridge; Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province; N6.9171, E80.5075; 28-vii-2009; to be deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Ceylonosticta mirifica sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Uwella, primary forest on the road Uwella-Ratnapura, 11.5km NW of Balangoda; Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province; N6.6968, E80.6059; 16-vii-2012; to be deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Platysticta secreta sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Hasalaka; Kandy District, Central Province; N7.3535, E80.9509; 31-v-1975; deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA) and Platysticta serendibica sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Kanneliya; Galle District, Southern Province; N6.2291, E80.3834; 8 & 9-vi-1975; deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA). Additionally, a determination key, figures showing morphological details and coloration in life, as well as distribution maps for all species are presented. Based on molecular analysis of 21 taxa, the phylogeny of Platystictinae is presented and discussed from the zoogeographical and paleogeographical point of view. Sri Lankan species, traditionally placed in the genera Platysticta Selys and Drepanosticta Laidlaw / Ceylonosticta Fraser, separated into distinct clades within the subfamily as presently defined, but the monophyletic nature of the Platystictinae and its Sri Lankan endemicity is confirmed. For the South Indian species, formerly known as Platysticta deccanensis, morphological and molecular analyses demonstrated that it does not belong to the Sri Lankan clade and a new genus Indosticta gen. nov. is erected to accommodate it.

Keywords: Odonata, Zygoptera, Platystictidae, Platystictinae, new species, new genus, Ceylonosticta, Platysticta, Indosticta, Sri Lanka, India

M. Bedjanič, K. Conniff, R.A. Dow, F. R. Stokvis,  R. Verovnik and J Van Tol. 2016. Taxonomy and Molecular Phylogeny of the Platystictidae of Sri Lanka (Insecta: Odonata). 
Zootaxa. 4182(1); 1–80. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4182.1.1

[Entomology • 2016] Idiocnemis schorri • A New Damselfly Species (Odonata: Platycnemididae) from southern Papua New Guinea

Idiocnemis schorri  

 Gassmann, Richards & Polhemus, 2016  


  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4171.3.5 

Abstract

Idiocnemis schorri sp. nov. is described from the Hindenburg and Muller Ranges and the Kikori River Basin of southern Papua New Guinea. The new species differs from all congeners by, among other characters, a unique colour pattern on the thorax. Characters of males and females are illustrated and compared to those of similar species from the Idiocnemis bidentata group. The new species is found along small, shallow rainforest streams and is currently known only from the Trans-Fly Foreland and Papuan Gulf Foreland areas of endemism.

Keywords: Odonata, Zygoptera, new species, Hindenburg Range, Muller Range, Kikori River Basin, Papua New Guinea


Dirk Gassmann, Stephen J. Richards and Dan A. Polhemus. 2016. Idiocnemis schorri sp. nov., A New Damselfly Species from southern Papua New Guinea (Odonata: Platycnemididae). 
Zootaxa. 4171(3); 491–504. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4171.3.5

[Entomology • 2015] Protosticta ponmudiensis • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Ponmudi Hills in the Western Ghats of India

 Protosticta ponmudiensis 

Kiran, Kalesh & Kunte, 2015

DOI: 10.11609/JoTT.o4145.7146-51 

Abstract

 The genus Protosticta Selys, 1885 has 10 species reported from the Indian region, of which seven are known from the Western Ghats. Here we report a new species, Protosticta ponmudiensis from the Ponmudi Hills, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, in the Agasthyamalai region of the southern Western Ghats. The species is distinguished from other Protosticta based on its large size, bright green eyes, the broad dorsal stripe on the base of segment 7, and very distinct anal appendages.

Keywords: Biodiversity hotspots, India, Odonata, Platystictidae, Protosticta, species description, Western Ghats, Zygoptera.

Distinguishing features: The large size, bright green eyes and broad patch on abdominal segment 7 easily distinguishes this species from other sympatric Protosticta (P. gravelyi and P. davenporti) (Table 3). Further, the characteristic shape of the anal appendages distinguishes it from all known

species of Protosticta (Fig. 2). The anal appendages have a construction similar to P. himalaica but differ in the shape of the superior appendage, which is longer than the inferior appendage and curved in P. ponmudiensis, while it is shorter than the inferior appendage and straighter in P. himalaica. The spine on the inferior appendage of P. himalaica is directed straight and medially, while in P. ponmudiensis it is curved inwards medially and directed posteriorly. The prothorax of P. ponmudiensis has two pairs of spines on its posterior lobe (medial and lateral pair), both pairs are of equal length in contrast to long medial spines in P. antelopoides.

Etymology: Named after the type locality (Ponmudi), a hill station near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, where the species was discovered.

Distribution and ecology: Known so far only from the type locality in southern Western Ghats of Kerala. The type specimens were found perched on vegetation overhanging small streams in evergreen forest patches among tea estates in the type locality. They were always found near slow-flowing hill-streams and brooks. This species shares the habitat with other Protosticta (P. gravelyi and P. davenporti), and with other odonates (Caconeura spp., Euphea fraserii, Idionyx saffronata and Heliogomphus promelas).

C.G. Kiran, S. Kalesh and Krushnamegh Kunte. 2015. A New Species of Damselfly, Protosticta ponmudiensis (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Ponmudi Hills in the Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7(5): 7146–7151. DOI: 10.11609/JoTT.o4145.7146-51  

http://biodiversitylab.org/sites/default/files/images/website/KiranEtal_ProtostictaPonmudiensisSpNov_2015.pdf

New Endemic Species of Damselfly Discovered in Ponmudi http://bit.ly/1E8n9kl via @NewIndianXpress