A Second Species Of Episynlestes Kennedy (Odonata: Chlorolestidae) From North Queensland
Author
Moulds, J. A. L. Watson and M. S.
text
J. Aust. ent. Soc.
1977
16
257
259
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.3247390
52b1dca0-622d-4819-b077-e2f5e34ab8c4
3247390
Episynlestes albicauda
(Tillyard)
Synlestes albicauda
Tillyard, 1913
: 738
-241 [♂,♀. M t Tambourine (= Tamborine Mt), Queensland].
Episynlestes albicauda:
Kennedy, 1920
: 84
(recte
albicauda
).
Material examined.-
QUEENSLAND
:
1 ♂
,
Bouldercombe. Rockhampton
,
xi.1955
, c.
Vallis
:
6 ♂
♂,
St Mary's Falls, near Rockhampton
,
26.xi.1956
,
C. Vallis
;
2 ♂
♂,
1 ♀
, same locality and collector,
i.1957
;
1,
♂
,
Baldwin Swamp
,
Bundaberg
,
14.x.1972
,
H. Frauca
:
1 ♀
,
Water Filly Gorge
,
Bluff Range
,
Biggenden
,
21.x.1972
,
H. Frauca
;
1 ♀
',
Bluff Range
7 km
Biggenden
,
10-12.v.1974
,
H. Frauca
;
1 ♂
.
Rocky Gully
5 kin
Kenilworth
,
15.iii.1975
,
R. A. Barrett
;
1 ♂
,
Mapleton Falls
,
Blackall Range
,
25.ix.1955
.
R. Dobson
;
2 ♂
♂
,
1 ♀
,
Tamborine Mt.
28.xii.1912
-
3.i.1913
.
R. J. Tillyard
(
paralectotypes
))
;
1 ♀
, same locality,
29.xii.1954
.
R. Dobson
. (All in
ANIC
)
.
Measurements
Hind wing~.-Average length, male,
29.8 mm
(range
28.1-31.5 mm
); female,
31.5 mm
(range
29.9-33.1 mm
).
Pterostigma
.-
Average
length, male. fore wing
1.88 mm
(range
1.70-2.06mm
), hind wing
2.14 mm
(range
1.98-2.30 mm
);female, fore wing 1.96rnni (range
1.86-2.10mm
), hind wing
2.23mm
(range
2.08-2.48 mm
).
Comparisons between the two species of
Episynlestes
Diagnosis
E. cristatus
is significantly smaller than
E. albicauda
.
The males of
E. cristatus
can be distinguished in addition by the dissimilar quadrilaterals of the fore and hind wing, the more proximal petiolation of the hind wing, the subdivision of the radial field behind the pterostigma into small, pigmented cells and the substantial, crested upper branch of the superior appendage. The females of the two species resemble one another closely. but the smaller pterostigmata of
E. cristatus
appear to be diagnostic.
Habitats
The habitats of the two species appear to be very similar.
Tillyard (1913)
described the habitat of
E. albicauda
in the rain forest on Tarnborine Mt, a densely shaded area in which the sombre coloration of the insects provided an extremely effective camouflage.
E. cristatus
is similarly associated with small streams in rain forest, although it may occur in shaded situations along more open watercourses, as along the McLeod River. Like
E. albicauda
,
it is well camouflaged, both perched and in flight; as is common among chlorolestids, flight may be rapid, but is rarely sustained, and specimens can be gathered by hand.