Erythrodiplax fervida, (Erichson, 1848) (Erichson, 1848)

Description of the last instar larva View in CoL

Head: Trapezoidal, 2.5 times as wide as long with anterolateral angles occupied by protruding compound eyes, occipital margin concave, occipital lobes round ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Antenna 1.2 mm long, setiform, seven segments with relative lengths 1:5:7:2:3:4:6 ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Prementum trapezoidal, reaching mid-length of second pair of coxae when folded ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1–6 ), 3 mm long with 10 setae on each side: six long lateral ones and four shorter medial ones. Prominent ligula, with triangular distal margin armed with six setae on each side plus two in center ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Palps with six long setae along outer margin, distal margin slightly crenulate with one in between each undulation, six small setae on base and a pair of spinules on outer margin of its articulation with prementum ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Mandibular formula (see Watson 1956): L 1 2 3 4 y a b / R 1 2 3 4 y a b c d ( Fig. 5, 6 View FIGURES 1–6 ).

Thorax: Dark brown, 3.5 times as wide as long. Distal end of wing pads reaching mid-length of abdominal segment VI. Hind femur and tibia 3.5 and 4 mm long, respectively, with 2 transverse brown stripes on each ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–6 ).

Abdomen: Dark brown, 7 mm long, 4 mm maximum width (at segment VI), with a pale mid dorsal stripe along abdominal segments II-IX. No middorsal hooks; lateral spines on segments VIII and IX, much shorter than medial length of segment and slightly curved ventral ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–6 ), a line of tiny distally oriented setae on distal margin of segments V-IX ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Epiproct almost as long as its basal width, apex sharply acute, straight paraprocts, as long as epiproct, and cerci 0.90 length of epiproct.

Measurements (mm): Total length, 11.5; abdomen length including appendages, 7; abdomen width, 4; head width, 4.5; length of hind femur III, 3.5; length of hind tibia III, 4.

Biology: Our observations suggest that larvae inhabit shallow, shaded lentic environments, with abundant aquatic vegetation. Emergence occured at 7:58 am 24 cm above water level on a cloudy day with intermittent rain (14.2 mm recorded from meteorological station 50 m from Chalons basin for that day).

Adults become active late in the morning, at about 11:00 am, when males can be seen perching on exposed vegetation. Females stay in shady places away from water and usually come out over water at 12:30 pm. Copulation is brief and occurs during flight. Oviposition takes place among floating vegetation.

Discussion

The larva of Erythrodiplax fervida can be distinguished from those of the other four Cuban species by the reduced number of palpal and premental setae (6 and 10 respectively). In E. justiniana , E. umbrata and E. bromeliicola there are between 12 and 15 premental setae and 9 and 11 palpal setae. Erythrodiplax berenice naeva resembles E. fervida in the number of setae (8-9 and 6-8 setae respectively), but also they differ by the presence of mid dorsal hooks on abdominal segments III-VII in E. berenice naeva .