Morphological variability and evaluation of taxonomic characters in the genus Erythemis Hagen, 1861 (Odonata: Libellulidae: Sympetrinae) Author Rodríguez, Fredy Palacino Author Sarmiento, Carlos E. Author González-Soriano, Enrique text Insecta Mundi 2015 2015-07-10 2015 428 1 68 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.5353155 1942-1354 5353155 A5F39894-9426-4F2C-89CC-E812671E85E4 Erythemis credula ( Hagen, 1861 ) ( Fig. 1a , 2a , 22, 24 , 32 ) Diplax credula Hagen, 1861: 184 . Type material. ( 2 male ). BRAZIL . Minas Gerais : St. Thomas, 1877, no more data, 1 male lectotype , 1 male paralectotype ( MCZ ). We examined two adult specimens labeled as types ( MCZ ), in the type 1 the abdomen is lost (from the mid region of second segment). The specimen labeled as type 2 is here designed as the lectotype because it has all its parts. Diagnosis. Thorax, dorsum of abdomen, and dark basal spot ochreous or brown (in female and immature male), or black (mature male). Dorsum of the thorax pale with dark antehumeral stripes, the width of the three stripes is similar (female and sexually immature male). Dark basal spot on HW does not reach the first antenodal vein, but reaches the following regions: beyond the MP crossvein, the penultimate row of cells or the row of marginal cells, and maximum the supplementary anal vein. Posterior lobe of vesica spermalis not covered by lateral lobe ( Fig. 20 and 21 ), which extends more posteriorly than medial lobe is more extended into posterior region than the medial lobe. Hook not bilobed, instead two finger-shaped structures are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vesica spermalis ( Fig. 22 and 24 ). Cornua diagonal with respect to vesica spermalis transversal axis, with lobes separate to apex, and not covered by lateral lobes ( Fig. 20 ). Vulvar lamina suboval in ventral view, not projected to posterior region and with posterior border rounded ( Fig. 10 ). Lab ≤ 30mm , LcaS4/LclS4>2.1. Morphometric ratios of males. AnptFW/LoptFW ratio on HW (AnptHW/LoptHW<0.19); LHW/ Lab>1.2; AnptFW/LoptFW>0.22; Acd/Lban> 4.10; And/Lban>4.10; Lban/Anb>1.90; LHW/Acd>3.60; LHW/LFW>0.97; LclS3/LcaS3>2.10; LclS3/Lecv-clS3>4.00; Lecv-clS3/LcaS3>1.50; Lab/LclS3<1.50; Lab/ LcaS3>3.00; Ansbt/Antr<2.70; LFW/Lnpt>3.00; Lnpt/Anb>1.50; Lba/Lban>2.00; Lban/Lasa-ca<3.00. Head. Ll: 0.0009 –0.0011 mm (M); 0.0013mm (F). Lw: 0.0027 –0.0031 mm (M); 0.0031mm (F). Hwd: 0.0050 –0.0053 mm (M); 0.0055mm (F). Hl: 0.0026 –0.0028 mm (M); 0.0028mm (F). Legs. Nsmf: 9–22 (M); 6–12 (F). Nshf: 21–54 (M); 7–17 (F). Hfl: 0.0056 –0.0060 mm (M); 0.0062mm (F). Fbsd: 0.0020 –0.0021 mm (M); 0.0023mm (F). Mfl: 0.0034 –0.0036 mm (M); 0.0038mm (F). Dshf (the conditions separated by commas are present in different specimens): short spines-3 long spines (MF), short spines-1 (F) or 2 median spines (MF)-3 long spines (M). Wings. AvFW: 10–12 (M); 10–12 (F). AvHW: 8–10 (M); 8–9 (F). LoptFW: 0.0030 –0.0033 mm (M); 0.0031mm (F). AnptFW: 0.005 –0.007 mm (M); 0.006mm (F). LoptHW: 0.0031 –0.0033 mm (M); 0.0032mm (F). AnptHW: 0.0053 –0.0068 mm (M); 0.006mm (F). DfwHW: 0.004 –0.006 mm (M); 0.0053mm (F). LbanFW: 11.85–14.58mm (M); 13.24–14.58mm (F). LbanHW: 10.25–13.35mm (M); 10.91–12.89mm (F). AndFW: 5.33–6.74mm (M); 5.55–6.62mm (F). Wb: 6.38–8.16mm (M); 7.47–7.91mm (F). LFW: 24.19–30.35mm (M); 27.24–29.94mm (F). LHW: 24.46–29.00mm (M); 25.67–29.05mm (F). AnsbtFW: 0.0015 –0.0018 mm (M); 0.0013mm (F). AntrFW: 0.0062 –0.0075 mm (M); 0.007mm (F). LarFW: 0.000 – 0.0002 mm (M); 0.0006mm (F). LarHW: 0. 000– 0.002mm (M); 0.0006mm (F). LnptFW: 7.86–9.75mm (M); 8.30–9.81mm (F). LnptHW: 7.56–10.95mm (M); 9.00– 10.90mm (F). At-MP: 0.004 –0.008 mm (M); 0.009mm (F). LbaFW: 0.0025 –0.0029 mm (M); 0.002mm (F). LbaHW: 0.0025 –0.0029 mm (M); 0.0025mm (F). RP2-loptFW: 0.0009 –0.0015 mm (M); 0.008mm (F). RP2-loptHW: 0.0011 –0.0016 mm (M); 0.008 (F). Dat-lsbt: 0.0012 –0.0018 mm (M); 0.0018mm (F). Lasa-ca: 0.003 –0.008 mm (M); 0.006mm (F). Crp: 6–9 (FW), 5–10 (HW). Crp: 4–6 (FW), 5 (HWF). Cal: 2–4. PC-RA-RP1: 2–3 (FW), 1–3 (HW). CdfFW: only 2 rows, only 3 rows, 1–3 triple cells-2 rows, 1 double cell-1-2 triple cells-2 rows, 1 double cell-1 triple cell-2 rows. CdfHW: 1–4 individual cells-2 double cells, 1 cell-1 double cell-1 cell-2-3 rows. Vt: 0–1, in some cases 0 (left), 1(right). Csub: 2–3. FW arculus approaching or beyond the second antenodal vein. Abdomen. Lab: 21.16–24.94mm (M); 22.97–24.65mm (F). LcaS3: 0.005 –0.008 mm (M); 0.008mm (F). LclS3: 0.0016 –0.0018 mm (M); 0.0019mm (F). Lecv-clS3: 0.0011 –0.0013 mm (M); 0.001mm (F). Caudal appendages. Las: 0.0013 –0.0015 mm (M); 0.009mm (F). Poas: 0.001 –0.003 mm (M); 0.001mm (F). Anas: 0.003 –0.005 mm (M); 0.002mm (F). Ddas: 0.002 –0.004 mm (M). Epl: 0.0008 –0.0014 mm (M); 0.004mm (F). Larva. Dias dos Santos (1969) provides the following characters for the last larval stage: larva ochre and spider-shaped, with white eyes and long metathoracic legs. Head short and wide. Total length 15 mm , width of the head 5 mm , head length 2 mm , ll 3 mm , lw 3.50 mm , thorax length 4 mm , wing teca 6.00 mm, femur anterior, medial and posterior length 2.30; 3.00 and 5.50 mm respectively. Tibia anterior, medial and posterior length 2.50; 3.50 and 7.00 mm respectively. Lab 9.00 mm, caudal appendage mid-dorsal 1.20 x 1.10 mm , lateral superior 0.70 mm , lateral inferior 1.20 mm . According to Costa and Pujol-Luz (1993) , E. credula larvae show 11 premental setae, six palpal setae, cercus exceeds 1/2 the length of the epiproct. Material examined. BRAZIL , Amapá , Ressurreição , ii.1964 , J.C.M. Carvalho , Dirce leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; Espírito Santo , Reserva Nova Lombardia , 4 Km. do Sta. Tereza , 15.i.1967 , N. Santos leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; Minas Gerais , Cataguases , 20.ii.1958 , N. Santos leg., 2 males ( MNRJ ) ; same, but Lagoa Santa , Lagoa olho d’ agua, 20.iv.1949 , Machado e N. Dias dos Santos leg., 4 males , 6 females ( MNRJ ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 23.x.1983 , N. Santos , Ulisses leg., 1 male ; same, but ii.1942 , Berla leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: ii.1947 , Santos , Berla , Machado leg., 4 males , 1 female , 13.i.1951 , N. Dias dos Santos e Machado leg. 2 males , 2 females ; same, but Pirapora , ii.1947 , Santos , Machado leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; Pará , Belém , Utinga , 20.ii.1963 , Roppa , Mielke leg., 4 males 1 female ( MNRJ ) ; Pernambuco , Igaraçu , Usina S. José , 2 males ( MNRJ ) ; same, but Recife , Reserva Florestal do Açude do Prata , Parque Dois irmãos, 08°- 09°S e 34°- 35°W , 08.ii.2001 , 5 males ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 09.ii.2001 , 1 male ; same, but Dois irmãos, 12.xii.1944 , Berla leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; same data as before except collected on following dates: 27.vii.1944 , 1 male ; same, but São Lourenço , Brejo dos Macacos , 18.ii.1963 , N. Santos , Dardano Lima leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; Sem procedência, 2 males , 3 females ( MNRJ ) ; São Paulo , Emas , i.1939 , Santos leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ) ; same, but Pirassununga , Ribeirão S. Vicente , 15.xii.1948 , Machado , N. Dias dos Santos leg., 2 males ( MNRJ ) ; same, but Laranja Azeda , iii.1944 , N. Santos leg., 1 male , 2 females ( MNRJ ) ; same, but E. E. Casa e Pesca , 09.xii.1948 , Machado , N. Dias dos Santos leg., 2 males ( MNRJ ) ; same, but Lagoa do Carrinho , xii.1948 , Machado , N. Dias dos Santos leg., 1 male ( MNRJ ). COLOMBIA , Amazonas , Leticia. km. 2 vía Tarapacá , 1 male ( ICN ) ; Meta , San Juan de Arama , Hda. La Macarena , 1 male ( ICN ). GUYANA , Demerara , Lama creek , tributary of Mahaica River , 6°48’ 58°10’, 0 m, T. W. and A. J. Donnelly leg., 1 female ( RWG ). FRENCH GUYANA , small canal 17 km S of Tonate on route D5, 4°52’15” 52°31’9”, 18 m , 18.ii.1988 , R. W. Garrison leg., 2 males ( RWG ) ; marsh by Piste de Kaw , just E of N2, 4°23’53” 52°18’30”, 71 m , 17.ii.1988 , R. W. Garrison leg., 1 male ( RWG ). VENEZUELA , Bolívar State , Canaima at Río Carrao , 6°14’30” 62°50’53”, 415 m , 12-14.viii.1990 , R. W. and J. A. Garrison , 1 male ( RWG ) . Remarks. The larva of E. credula was described by Calvert (1928) based on material from Antigua and Barbados , but Dias dos Santos (1969) remarks that both the description and the figures provided by Calvert (1928) do not correspond to this species, so he provided a new description. Biology . Larvae of Erythemis credula show low mobility in water, but walk rapidly on dry surfaces ( Dias dos Santos 1969 ) and have been observed preying on larvae of Buenoa platycnemis Fieber (Heteroptera: Notonectidae ) in acidic water ponds with temperatures between 22 and 24°C (Nessimian and Ribeiro 2000). Likewise, larvae and adults have been found in swamps where the primary vegetation was Sphagnum (Sphagnaceae) ( Dias dos Santos 1969 ). Distribution. From Belize to Argentina ( Fig. 32 ), between 0–1870 m . asl.