Descriptions of the larvae of Acanthagrion speculum and A. trilobatum from Costa Rica (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
Author
Román-Heracleo, Jareth
Author
Springer, Monika
Author
Novelo-Gutiérrez, Rodolfo
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-06-28
4624
2
219
229
journal article
26361
10.11646/zootaxa.4624.2.5
ab56c76f-ae88-4efb-9f98-869cf4a5c33e
1175-5326
3259286
589EEFCB-DD4C-41B3-8BB7-1BB5EBAD91A
Acanthagrion speculum
Garrison, 1985
Figs. 1b
,
2a, c
,
3
a–b, d, 4b, d, 5c–d, 6c, 8
Specimens examined:
Six exuviae (
1♂
,
5♀♀
), eight F-0 larvae (
4♂♂
,
4♀♀
).
COSTA RICA
: Turrialba
, CATIE (9.8906°, –83.6545°), elevation
611m
, 1 F-0 larva (
♀
reared),
09 May 2018
, J. Román-Heracleo leg., emerged on
16 May 2018
; same data but
3 ♀♀
emerging,
22 August 2018
; same data but 2 F-0 larvae
24 Sep 2018
(
1♂
reared, emerged on
25 Sep 2018
,
1♀
reared emerged on
29 Sep 2018
); same data but 5 F-0 larvae (
3♂♂
,
2♀♀
), 21 No- vember 2018; same data but 3 F-0 larvae (
1♂
,
2♀♀
),
19 January 2019
.
Sarapiquí,
Reserva Biológica Tirimbina, lake (10.4238°, –84.1051°) elevation
163m
, 2 F-0 larvae (
♂♂
),
27 October 2018
, (
1♂
emerged
29 October 2018
,
1♂
died), P. E. Gutiérrez-Fonseca, J. Román-Heracleo, leg. Specimens deposited at IEXA (
4 larvae
), all other in MZUCR.
Description.
Exuviae yellowish, mature larvae mostly yellowish-brown, slender, femora with preapical bands, caudal lamellae 80% of total body length (
Fig. 1b
). Larvae similar to
A. trilobatum
described above, except as follows:
Head.
Antennomeres (
Figs. 2a, c
) 2–6 brown with apex yellow pale, 7th antennomere yellow pale, size proportions of antennomeres: 0.50, 0.70, 1.0, 0.70, 0.50, 0.40, 0.10 (
Fig. 2c
). Prementum with 3 long setae, occasionally 2+1 (
Fig. 3d
), laterodorsally with a row of 6–9 spiniform setae. Labial palp with 3–4 long setae, usually 4 (
Fig. 3d
).
Thorax.
Anterior and posterior wing sheaths reaching posterior margin of S4 and basal third of S5, respectively (
Fig. 1b
). Metathoracic legs long, when fully extended tips of tarsi reaching posterior margin of S8.
Abdomen.
S1–9 with a thin pale middorsal line, S2–8 with a prominent lateral carina, S6–9 with lateral spines at posterior third of each segment, increasing in number (2–4 or 5 spines) and robustness caudad (
Fig. 1b
). Male gonapophyses, in ventral view (
Fig. 4b
) straight, sharply pointed, reaching basal 0.56 of sternum 10. Ventral view of female gonapophyses as in
Fig. 4d
. Caudal lamellae (Figs. 5c,d) eight times longer than widest part, measuring 44.6–45.5% of total body length; nodus inconspicuous, delimited by the lateral carina and the row of spines on the ventral margin of lateral lamellae; basal 0.7 of dorsal margin of lateral lamellae with two spines, basal 0.52 of ventral margin with 34 spines (Fig. 5d); basal 0.10 of dorsal margin of median lamella with two spines, basal 0.05 of ventral margin with two spines (Fig. 5c); remainder of margins in both median and lateral lamellae with a row of minute and very fine setae. Male cerci more or less as wide as long, conical, blunt-tipped (Fig. 6c).
Measurements
(mm): Larvae only: TL 17.7–18; AL 7.6–8.2; PfL 1.9–2.0; MsfL 2.3–2.5; MtfL 3; MWh 2.8; CeL: 0.2; MgL 0.5 (Figure 5b); FgL 1.0 (Figure 5d). Lateral lamella length 7.9–8.2, maximum width 1.0. The largest measurements correspond to males.
Remarks.
The CATIE is located on the Caribbean slope, in Turrialba,
Costa Rica
. Its lake (
Fig. 8a
) is man-made with influence of the surrounding agroforestry land. The aquatic vegetation is represented mostly by
Nymphaea
spp. and
Eichhornia
sp., and grasses of the
Poaceae
family on the shore. Larvae were collected from
February 2018
to
January 2019
, associated with the roots below the leaves of the aquatic plants (water lily mainly), although the larvae found at the Tirimbina Lake (
Fig. 8b
) were found on muddy substrate. Adults emerged throughout the year, however, the highest emergence activity was during May (females) and September (males). Metamorphosis occurred 3─
15 cm
above the water surface, on vegetation.
FIGURE 3.
Morphological details of the larvae. Figs. a, b and d,
A. speculum
; c, e and f,
A. trilobatum
. a) Mandibles, ventrointernal view; b) Right galeolacinia, ventral view; c) and d) Prementa, dorsal view; e) Right labial palp, anterior view; f) Prementum teratology, ventral view, showing bilobate ligula.
FIGURE 4.
Morphological details of the abdominal segments 9–10 of the larvae. Figs. a and c,
A. trilobatum
; b and d,
A. speculum
. a–b, Male gonapophyses, ventral view, c–d, Female gonapophyses, ventral view.
Diagnosis.
Acanthagrion trilobatum
differed from
A. speculum
(characteristics of the latter in parentheses) by having 2–3 premental setae, rarely 3 (2 large +1 smaller or 3, usually 3); antennomere length proportions, especially 4
th
antennomere 0.85 times the length of the 3
rd
antennomere (0.70); labial palp with 4 long setae (3─4, usually 4); S2–8 with lateral carina and spiniform setae (S2–8 with lateral carina, but only S6– 9 with spiniform setae); male gonapophyses slightly incurved (straight); male cerci widely rounded at apex (bluntly-pointed); caudal lamella 41.1–44.7% of body length (44.6–45.5%); tracheal pattern appearing with incipient, dark, transversal bands, secondary trachea diffuse (tracheal pattern lighter, no faint of any transversal band especially in lateral lamellae, secondary trachea well-marked).