Leptobasis melinogaster Gonzalez-Soriano 2002

Leptobasis melinogaster González-Soriano 2002

Figs. 2 f, 4b, 7c, 14, 20f, 21f, 22d, 25b, c, 27

Leptobasis melinogaster González-Soriano 2002: 181 (holotype 3, Estación de Biología Chamela, Jalisco State, Mexico, in UNAM); — Abbott 2004: 17 (TX); — Paulson 2005: 38 (common name); — Abbott 2006: 162 (distribution, seasonality); — González-Soriano & Novelo-Gutiérrez 2007: 129 (Mexico); — Abbott 2007: 140 (distribution, seasonality); — Abbott 2008: 144 (distribution, seasonality); — Bailowitz, Danforth, & Deviche 2009: 16 (Sinaloa, Mexico); — Lasley & Abbott 2009: 17 (Texas); — Paulson 2009a: 136 (identification, distribution, photos); — Rose 2009: 3 (Texas).

Specimens examined. Total: 2 3, 1 Ƥ: 1 3, USA, Texas, Hidalgo Co., Willow 1, Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge, 26°04'42"S, 98°08'14"W, 24–26 vi 2005, leg. John Abbott; 1 Ƥ, Kleberg Co., Santa Gertrudis Creek, King Ranch, 27°35'02"S, 98°02'36"W, 17 x 2006, leg. Jim Sinclair (deposited in RWG); 1 3, Mexico, Veracruz state, Cuitlahuac, 18°48'43"S, 96°43'22"W, 24–25 vii 1965, leg. O.S. Flint, Jr. & M.A. Ortiz B., deposited in USNM.

Diagnosis. Elongate decumbent cercus (Figs. 20 f, 21f) and spinulose, hook-like posteriorly directed movable process of genital ligula (Fig. 14 a) are unique for males. Female diagnosed by rounded corners of medial lobe (Fig. 2 f) which are angular in those species with a supplementary inferior lobe (L. buchholzi, Fig. 2 a; L. candelaria, Fig. 2 b; L. lucifer, Fig. d). Pale femora with darkened apices also separate this species from others which have largely pale femora or only flexor surfaces darkened.

Dimensions. Males (n = 2): Hw 17.0–17.3; abdomen 31.0; total length 37.0–38.0. Female (n = 1): Hw 20.6; abdomen 32; total length 40.

Distribution. Southern Texas, USA, and Mexico (Fig. 27).

Leptobasis raineyi (Williamson 1915) Figs. 2 g, 8a, 15, 19e, 20g, 21g, 22e, 28

Telagrion raineyi Williamson 1915: 613 (holotype 3, small swamp near Cumuto, Trinidad, 10 iii 1912, in UMMZ); — Geijskes 1932: 248 (description of female); — Davies & Tobin 1984: 94 (catalog); — Michalski 1988: 48 (Trinidad, additional notes); — Steinmann 1997: 358 (catalog).

Leptobasis raineyi: Garrison 1986: 67 (transferred to Leptobasis); — Dunkle 1987: 5 (Trinidad); — Bridges 1994: VII.197 (catalog); — Tsuda 2000: 38 (catalog); — Garrison, von Ellenrieder, & O'Brien 2003: 36 (type data). Acanthagrion raineyi: Heckman 2008: 527 (key to species of Leptobasis as Acanthagrion).

Specimens examined. Total: 4 3, 4 Ƥ, all from Trinidad: 1 Ƥ, St. George Co., forest and small stream along trail called Indian Walk Ride off main road, 1.9 mi N of Cumuto, 10°36'N, 61°12'W, 7 iv 1980, leg. J.A. & R.W. Garrison, deposited in RWG; 1 Ƥ, St. Andrew Co., Valencia, 10°38'54"N, 61°11'55"W, 59 m, 11 iv 1965, leg. T.W. Donnelly; 1 3, 1 Ƥ, same data but forest just SE of town, 10°38'36"N, 61°11'42"W, 62 m, 13 iv 1965; same data but 15 iv 1965, 1 3 (all deposited in DRP); 1 3, 1 Ƥ, forest cut and forest 2 mi SE of Valencia on Eastern Main road, 10°37'26"N, 61°10'55"W, 42m, leg. J.A. & R. W. Garrison; 1 3, Plantation Rd., by Tumpuna Rd., 1 mi W of Cumuto, 10°35'N, 61°13'W 11 i 1981, leg. R.W. Garrison (all deposited in RWG).

Diagnosis. Males differentiated from L. mauffrayi and L. vacillans only by unique morphology of genital ligula; apex of terminal segment in lateral view is bluntly pointed and ventral margin is linear (Fig. 15 a); in L. mauffrayi, the tip is rounded and the ventral margin has a sclerotized tubercle (Fig. 13 a), and in L. vacillans the apex is evenly rounded (Fig. 16 a). Fleshy papillae on terminal segment of the genital ligula occur only on these three species but they are randomly distributed on the dorso-lateral surface in L. raineyi (Fig. 15 b), not arranged in a linear row as in the other two species (Figs. 13 b, 16b). Females apparently not morphologically different from L. mauffrayi and L. vacillans and separable only by locality.

Dimensions. Males (n = 4): Hw 16.3–17.2 (16.8); abdomen 29.5–32.0 (30.8); total length 35.0–37.0 (36.3). Females (n = 4): Hw 18.0–19.0 (18.7); abdomen 29.0–30.5 (29.9); total length 34.5–36.5 (35.8).

Remarks. Overall light blue body coloration, usually faint orange mid-dorsal and humeral stripes on the thorax as well as paler, postocular spots are present on all material we examined, and the same color scheme is also found in L. mauffrayi and some L. vacillans. We have seen no individuals of L. raineyi with any orange or reddish coloration.

Distribution. Apparently endemic to Trinidad (Fig. 28). A record of L. raineyi from Peru by Butt (1995) as identified by Garrison was in error, and in fact is Leptobasis mauffrayi.