Descriptions of two newCephalaeschnaspecies from Yunnan, China (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

2013·0.28 MB·

by  Haomiao Zhang

InternationalJournalofOdonatology,2013
Vol.16,No.3,239–246,http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2013.820977
Descriptions of two new Cephalaeschna species fromYunnan,
China (Odonata:Aeshnidae)
HaomiaoZhangandQinghuaCai*
StateKeyLaboratoryofFreshwaterEcologyandBiotechnology,InstituteofHydrobiology,Chinese
AcademyofSciences,Wuhan430072,PRChina
(Received20March2013;finalversionreceived30May2013)
Twonewspecies,Cephalaeschnacornifronssp.nov.andC.ordopapilionessp.nov.fromYunnanProvince,
China, are described, illustrated in color and compared with known Chinese Cephalaeschna.All the
holotypesaredepositedintheCollectionofAquaticAnimals,InstituteofHydrobiology,ChineseAcademy
ofSciences,WuhanCity,HubeiProvince,China.Briefnotesonbiologyofeachspeciesarealsoprovided.
Keywords: Odonata;dragonfly;Cephalaeschna;newspecies;Yunnan;China
Introduction
Southwestern China is a hotspot of biodiversity. It is home to many flagship animals, the most
famous being the Giant Panda. Owing to the complex terrain and the mild climate, it is also a
paradiseforinsects.
Inawinterexpedition(November–December2012)tothefamousCangshanmountains,inthe
BaiAutonomous Prefecture of Dali, westYunnan Province, some very remarkable dragonflies
wereencountered.Themountains,withMalongfeng(4022m)thehighestpeak,arecoveredby
dense vegetation mixed with coniferous and broad leaved forest.Valleys support an extremely
rich system of streams, rivers and marshes, providing ideal habitats for Odonata. Our survey
was conducted mainly between 1600 and 3000m altitude.The winter sunshine was so intense
that many dragonflies were still on the wing in December, including members of the genera
Cephalaeschna, Planaeschna, Megalestes, Sympetrum, Crocothemis and Orthetrum. Two new
Cephalaeschna species were discovered, and are named here. Our exploration of the region is
continuing, and hopefully will improve our presently limited knowledge of the fauna, as well
leadingtothediscoveryofmoreundescribedtaxa.
BothholotypesaredepositedintheCollectionofAquaticAnimals,InstituteofHydrobiology,
ChineseAcademyofSciences,WuhanCity,HubeiProvince,China.
Abbreviationsofabdominalmaculation,adoptedfromWalker(1912)include:S=abdominal
segment,AD=anterodorsal,AL=anterolateral,MD=mediodorsal,PD=posterodorsal,and
PL=posterolateral.
*Correspondingauthor.Email:[email protected]
©2013WorldwideDragonflyAssociation
240 H.ZhangandQ.Cai
Descriptionsofnewspecies
Cephalaeschnacornifronssp.nov.
Materialexamined
Holotype:male(2012YN03-009),Fengweiqing,WaseTown,25.92◦N,100.29◦E,altitude2328m,
Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali,Yunnan Province, China, Haomiao Zhang leg., 21 Octo-
ber 2012; Paratypes: 1 female (2012YN03-012), same as holotype; 2 males (2012YN03-010;
2012YN03-011),samelocalityandcollector,18October2012;3males,1female(2007YN003;
Figure 1. Cephalaeschnacornifronssp.nov,holotypemale(a–c,e–f,k–n)andparatypefemale(d,g–j,o):(a)headin
frontalview;(b)bodyinlateralview;(c–d)leadingedgeofwingsandpterostigma;(e)headindorsalview;(f)abdomen
indorsalview;(g)headindorsalview;(h)abdomenindorsalview;(i)headinfrontalview;(j)bodyindorsalview;(k)
appendagesinlateralview;(l)appendagesindorsalview;(m)penisinventralview;(n)penisinlateralview;(o)ovipositor.
DescriptionsoftwonewCephalaeschnaspecies 241
2007YN005;2007YN006;2007YN007),Qingbixi,Mt.Cangshan,25.65◦N,100.14◦E,altitude
2700m, Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, Yunnan Province, China, Haomiao Zhang leg.,
27August2007.
Etymology
The name cornifrons, meaning “horn face”, derived from Latin cornu=horn and frons=
forehead;signifyingtheuniquemedianhornonthefronsinbothsexes,whichistheremarkable
characterbywhichthisnewspeciesmayberecognized.
Holotype(male)
Head.Witheyesinlifemainlyluminousdarkbluewiththeposteriormarginyellow(Figure1a,
b,e).Labiumbrown,withsparseblacksetae.Labrumyellowwithloweredgepalebrown.Ante-
clypeusdarkbrown.Postclypeusyellowwithloweredgebrown.Fronsfundamentallygreenish
yellowwithdensemarginalsetae,about2/3widthofhead,withlargebrowninverted“V”markin
frontalview(Figure1a)anddarkbrown“T”markdorsally(Figure1e),andloweredgewithbroad
brownmargin.Anteriorridgeoffronsprominentwithadistinctmedianhorn,easilyseeninfrontal
(Figure1a)andlateralview(Figure1b).Occiputmainlyblack,fringedwithlongblacksetae.
Prothorax.Mainlypalebrown.Synthoraxchocolatebrownwithpalegreenstripes(Figure1b):
dorsalcarinaentirelydarkbrown;dorsalstripesonmesepisternumroughlytriangularandbent
slightly outwards; mesepimeron with broad stripe tapering towards wing base; metepisternum
withtriangularspotnearitsuppermargin;metepimeronwithbroadtriangularpatch.Legsmainly
darkbrownwithfemorareddishbrownbasally(Figure1b).
Wings.Hyaline,slightlytintedwithsmokybrown.Triangle4or5-celledinforewings,5-celled
inhindwings,analloop12or14-celled,analtriangle3-celled.Basalspacewith5crossveinsin
forewingsand4inhindwings.Leadingedgeofwingsbrown,pterostigmablackwithwellbraced
veinintherightwingsandpoorlybracedveinintheleftwings(Figure1c).Nodalindex:16:25:
24:17/18:18:17:18.
Abdomen.Mainlyblackwithyelloworgreenishyellowmarkings(Figure1b,f):S1withlarge
lateral rectangular spot; S2 reddish brown, dorsally with lanceolateAD spot, paired triangular
MDspotsandpairedsemicircularPDspots;laterallyS2withcomma-shapedspotaboveauricle
andrectangularPLspotsseparatedfromPDspots;auriclebrownindorsalviewanddarkbrown
inlateralview;S3–S8withpairedMDspots,PDspotsandverysmallALspots,theMDspots
irregularinshapeonS3–S7andlinearonS8,PDspotsprogressivelysmallerapicallyandvery
poorlydefinedonS8.S9whollyblack.S10withpairofobliqueMDspots.
Superiorappendages.Brown,about1.5timesaslongasS10.Inlateralview,curvedupwards,
narrowedbeforemidpoint,about2/5distancefromthebase(Figure1k);indorsalview,expanded
inapical3/4,withroundedapex(Figure1l).Inferiorappendagepalebrown,apexslightlybifid
indorsalviewandthetipturnedupwardsinlateralview,about3/5lengthofsuperiorappendages
(Figure1k).
Penis. Black and brown, the prominence on the stem slightly hooked (Figure 1n), the distal
segmentwithapairofslimflagella(Figure1m).
Paratype(female)
Head.Witheyesdarkgreeninlife(Figure1g,i,j).Labium,labrumandclypeussimilartomale.
Frons reddish brown, pale yellow posteriorly, with dense marginal setae, about 2/3 width of
head;mainlybrowninfrontalview(Figure1i)andwithdistinctdarkbrown“T”markdorsally
242 H.ZhangandQ.Cai
(Figure1g).Theanteriorridgeoffronswithprominentmedianhornevenmoredevelopedthan
inmale.Occiputmainlyblack,fringedwithlongblacksetae.
Thorax.Verysimilartothatofmale(Figure1j).
Wings.Hyaline,slightlytintedwithsmokybrown.Triangle5-celledinallwings,analloop8
or 9-celled. Basal space with 5 cross veins in forewings and 4 in hind wings; Leading edge of
wingsbrown,pterostigmapalebrown,withwellbracedveininallwings(Figure1d).Crossvein
presentinpterostigmainleftforewing.Nodalindex:18:22:22:17/18:15:15:20.
Abdomen. Mainly black with yellow markings (Figure 1h, j): S1, S2 and S8–S10 laterally
reddish brown; S1 with large lateral rectangular spot; dorsally S2 with linearAD spot, paired
comma-shapedMDspotsandpairedsemicircularPDspots;laterallyS2withbroadrectangular
spot;S3–S7withpairedMDspots,PDspotsandverysmallALspots,MDspotsirregularinshape,
PDspotsprogressivelysmallerapicallyandverypoorlydefinedonS7;S8withverysmallAL
spots,ADspotsandtriangularPDspots;S9withtriangularPDspots;S10withpairofobliqueMD
spots.S10withthesterniteelongatedventrolaterallytoformataperedprominence(Figure1o).
Ovipositorlongbutnotextendingbeyondtheapexofthesuperiorappendages,reddishbrownin
color.
Superiorappendages.1.5timeslengthofS10.
Variationinparatypes
TheparatypescollectedinAugust2007havegreenishyellowstripes,morebrilliantinthebody
colorthantheholotypeandparatypescollectedinNovember,whichareratheraged.Oneparatype
male(2012YN03-011)possessesreducedabdominalyellowspots:S6andS7withoutPDspots,
S10entirelyblack.Fronsviewedfromthefrontdarkerthanintheholotypemale.Theparatype
male (2012YN03-010) possesses well developed abdominal yellow spots: yellow markings on
S3–S8largerthanholotype,andS9withpairedPDspots.
Measurements(mm)
Holotype male: total length 66.0; abdomen (including anal appendages) 50.5; hind wing 40.5.
Paratypefemale:totallength60.0;abdomen(includinganalappendages)44.5;hindwing42.5.
Paratype males: total length 63.5–65.0; abdomen (including anal appendages) 47.5–50.5; hind
wing40.0–41.5.
Distribution
China(BaiAutonomousPrefectureofDali,Yunnan).
Notesonbiology
The species was first observed in August 2007. A small group was flying near the Qingbixi
streamintheafternoonintheCangshanNationalNatureReserve,itwascloudywithintermittent
sunshine.Mostofindividualswereforagingabout4–8mabovethewater.TheQingbixistreamis
about5–10mwideandratheropen,withveryfastflowingwater.Thishabitatisdifferentfromthe
typelocality,Fengweiqing,arathernarrow(0.5–1mwidth)andshallowstream.InlateNovember,
adultswereactiveonthesunnyafternoons,whentherewasalsousuallyastrongwind.Themales
patrolledalongthestream,andsometimescouldbeseenholdingtheirterritorybyhoveringvery
closetothewatersurface(thisbehaviorwasseenbetween1400–1600h,whentheairtemperature
was19.5–22.5◦C).Larvaewerealsoabundantatthetypelocality.Afemalewasobservedtolay
DescriptionsoftwonewCephalaeschnaspecies 243
theeggsintothemudontheshoreofthestream,changingpositionevery15–20seconds.Arather
young male was collected in the end of November, indicating that the species can fly until the
beginningofDecember.Somelarvaeco-occurringatthetypelocalityincludedMnaisgregoryi,
Davidiussp.,Anotogaster sp.andNeallogaster sp.
Cephalaeschnaordopapilionessp.nov.
Materialexamined
Holotype:male(2012YN03-004),Fengweiqing,WaseTown,25.92◦N,100.29◦E,altitude2328m,
BaiAutonomousPrefectureofDali,YunnanProvince,China,HaomiaoZhangleg.,18October
2012; Paratypes: 2 males (2012YN03-003; 2012YN03-006), same data as holotype; 3 males
(2012YN03-005;2012YN03-007;2012YN03-008),samelocalityandcollector,21October2012.
Figure 2. Cephalaeschnaordopapilionessp.nov,holotypemale:(a)bodyinlateralview;(b)headinfrontalview;
(c)headindorsalview;(d)leadingedgeofwingsandpterostigma;(e)abdomenindorsalview;(f)appendagesindorsal
view;(g)appendagesinlateralview;(h)penisinlateralview;(i)penisinventralview.
244 H.ZhangandQ.Cai
Etymology
Thenameordopapilionesmeans“arow-of-butterflies”,derivedfromLatinordo=line,row,and
papilio=butterfly; referring to the butterfly-shaped yellow spots on abdominal segments 4–7,
uniquetothisspecies.
Holotype(male)
Head.Witheyesinlifemainlydarkbluewiththeposteriormarginwhitish(Figure2a–c).Labium
brown,withsparseblacksetae.Labrumgreenishyellow,withloweredgelightbrown.Anteclypeus
dark brown. Postclypeus greenish yellow with pair of small brown pits. Frons fundamentally
greenishyellowwithdensemarginalsetae,about3/5widthofhead,withlargebrowninverted
“V”markinfrontalview(Figure2b),lacking“T”markdorsally(Figure2c).Anteriorridgeof
fronsprominent,withmedianpoint,notproduced(Figure2a).Occiputyellow,fringedwithlong
blacksetae.
Prothorax. Mainly pale brown. Synthorax chocolate brown with greenish yellow stripes
(Figure 2a): dorsal carina entirely brown; dorsal stripes on mesepisternum elongate triangular
and slightly bent outwards; mesepimeron with broad stripe; metepisternum with subtriangular
spot near upper margin; metepimeron with broad patch. Legs mainly dark brown (Figure 2a):
coxaeandbaseoffemorareddishbrown;tibiae,tarsi,andclawsblack.
Wings.Hyaline.Triangle5-celledinallwings,analloop12-celled,analtriangle3-or4-celled.
Basalspacewith4or5crossveinsinforewingsand4inhindwings;leadingedgeofwingsdark
brown,pterostigmablack(Figure2d),wellbraced.Nodalindex:15:22:24:17/20:18:17:20.
Abdomen.Mainlyblack,withgreenishyellowspots(Figure2a,e):S1andsideofS2reddish
brown;S1unmarked;S2withdorsallinearyellowstripeonmediancarina,extendingfrombase
to apex of segment, paired triangular MD spots and paired semicircular PD spots; laterally S2
with triangular mark above auricle and irregular PL spots which connect with PD spots; small
ventrolateralmarkaheadofauricle;auricleyellowindorsalviewanddarkbrowninlateralview;
S3withpairedMDspotsandPDspots;S4–S7withbutterfly-shapedMDspots;S8–S9withpaired
linearADspots;S10entirelyblack.
Superiorappendages.Darkbrown.Inlateralview,curvedslightlyupwards,narrowedatmid-
point and with angled bulge on lower edge near the tip (Figure 2g); in dorsal view, expanded
inapical3/4,withroundedapex(Figure2f).Inferiorappendagereddishbrown,apexbifid,3/5
lengthofsuperiorappendages(Figure2g).
Penis.Darkbrown,prominenceonthestemslightlyhooked(Figure1h),distalsegmentwitha
pairofslimflagella(Figure1i).
Variationinparatypemale
TheparatypemalehasveryfinePDspotsonS4,andS9withoutADspots.
Distribution
China(BaiAutonomousPrefectureofDali,Yunnan).
Notesonbiology
Cephalaeschnaordopapilionesalsoinhabitsverynarrow(0.4–1.2m)andopenmontanestreams.
ThebehaviorofthespeciesisverysimilartoC.cornifrons,buttheywereencounteredearlierin
DescriptionsoftwonewCephalaeschnaspecies 245
theday.MalesofC.ordopapilionesusuallyappearedafter1000h,andwereonthewinguntillate
afternoon.Theyusuallyflewrapidlyaroundstreamsinthemorning,butneverremainedcloseto
them.Sometimestheyrestedontrees.However,intheafternoon,territorialbehaviorcouldeasily
beobserved.AllspecimenscollectedinNovemberwereveryaged,suggestingtheirflightperiod
finishesattheendofNovember.Thespeciesispresentlyonlyknownfromthetypelocality.
Discussion
ComparedwiththecongenersknownfromtheHimalayas(Asahina,1981a),Vietnam(Karube,
2003,2011)andChina(Asahina,1981b,1982;Wilson&Xu,2008;Xu,2006;Zhang,Cai,&Liao,
2013),C.cornifronsandC.ordopapilionesaredistinguishedbythemedianhornonthefronsand
thebutterfly-shapedabdominalspots,respectively.ThisfarC.ordopapilionesisknownfromjust
onelocalitywhereasC.cornifronsisdistributedoverawiderrange(Figure3).Thisareaisstill
Figure 3. DistributionmapofCephalaeschnacornifronsandC.ordopapilionesinDali,Yunnan,China.
246 H.ZhangandQ.Cai
Table 1. Comparison of characters of males of Cephalaeschna cornifrons, C. ordopapiliones, C. patrorum and
C.solitaria.
Character C.cornifrons C.ordopapiliones C.patrorum C.solitaria
Anteriorridgeof Withadistinct Withamedianpoint, Withamedianpoint, Withamedianpoint,
frons medianhorn notproduced notproduced notproduced
Topoffrons With“T”mark Without“T”mark With“T”mark With“T”mark
S4–S7 MDspotsirregular, MDspotsbutterfly MDandPDspots MDtriangularand
PD spots shaped,PDspots linear PDspotsrounded
triangular absent
Superiorappendages Constricted2/5from Narrowed at Constricted2/5from Narrowed at
inlateralview base midpoint base midpoint
Stemofpenis Witharobustandnot Witharobustandnot Withaslimand Witharobustandnot
obviouslyhooked obviouslyhooked stronglyhooked obviouslyhooked
prominence prominence prominence prominence
veryinadequatelysurveyedandfurtherexplorationwouldbeusefultorevealthedistributionas
wellasthebiologyofbothnewspecies.
ThetwonewspeciesarerelatedtoCephalaeschnapatrorumNeedham,1930andC.solitaria
Zhangetal.,2013.Malesofthefourspecieshaveblueeyes,abroadfronsabout3/5–2/3thewidth
ofthehead,andsimilarstructureofthecaudalappendagesandthepenis.FemalesofC.cornifrons
andC.patrorumpossessanelongatedsterniteofS10,andfemalesofC.ordopapilionesandC.
solitariaarestillunknown,butitispredictedthattheirfemalesalsopossessasimilarstructure
ofS10.ThemeaningofthenamesofC.cornifronsandC.ordopapilionesprovideusefulclues
toseparatethemfromalltheotherspeciesofthegenus.Viewingthemalesuperiorappendages
laterally,C.ordopapilioneshasanangledbulgeintheloweredgenearthetip,whichisnotevident
intheotherthreespecies,andinC.cornifronsthesuperiorappendagesaremoreexpandedtowards
thebase.CharactersofthefourspeciesarecomparedinTable1.
Acknowledgements
SpecialthanksaregiventoDr.AlbertOrrforhisreviewofthetext,greathelpwiththeLatinnamesofthenewspecies
aswellasthecorrectingtheEnglishexpression.WearegratefulforMr.AkihikoSasamotoforhiscarefulreviewand
valuablecomments.ThisworkwasfundedbytheMajorS&TSpecialProjectofWaterPollutionControlandManagement
(2012ZX07501-002-007).
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