Pseudagrion pruinosum (Burmeister, 1839)

Pseudagrion pruinosum View in CoL : ♂ holotype, Java, MLU ( Figs 66–68) .

Calvert (1898) pointed out that there are two different species among the respective drawer label in Burmeister’s collection. Both agree with the very short description of Burmeister (1839), but not with the subsequent description of Selys (1876). However, according to the labels, Lieftinck studied the specimens in 1937. Lieftinck labelled the holotype, and identified the second specimen mentioned by Calvert (1898) as Onychargia atrocyana Selys, 1865 .

Pseudagrion p. ranauense: ♂ lectotype, i.1929, Ranau See, Südsumatra, A. Thienemann leg., RMNH, JvT no. 2844 ( Figs 69–70) ;— 1♂ paralectotype, i.1929, Ranau lake , A. Thienemann leg., NHMUK, no. 013324104 ;— 1♂ paralectotype, 20.i.1929, Ranau See, Südsumatra, A. Thienemann leg., SMF, no. 13944 .

Pseudagrion p. fraseri: 2♂♂ syntypes, 9.iv.1929, K.L. Toba, A. Thienemann leg., NHMUK, no. 012495535, 012495540 ( Figs 71–72) .

Remarks on P. p. fraseri and P. p. ranauense

Lieftinck (1935b) already considered the name P. p. fraseri a junior synonym of P. p. ranauense. We propose to consider the names P. p. fraseri as well as P. p. ranauense to be junior synonyms of P. p. pruinosum . The colour pattern at the rear of the head, according to Schmidt (1934) the main character to separate P. p. pruinosum , P. p. fraseri, and P. p. ranauense, is variable and not sufficient to consider a subspecific rank. The synonymization of the name P. elongatum Needham, 1930 with P. p. fraseri by Asahina (1988) was incorrect, due to the principle of priority ( ICZN 1999: 23.3). In addition, there are apparently consistent differences between the two taxa, which are visible in the type specimens as well (see also below under P. p. elongatum ).

Other specimens examined (52♂♂, 7♀♀)

Indonesia, Java: 1♂, without particular locality, E.A. Fritze leg., MWNH ;— 1♂, without particular locality, Ploem leg., ex. Museum Godeffroy no. 17501, ZMH ;— 19♂♂, 2♀♀, Soekabumi , Le Moult vend., via Reinbek, Eing. Nr. 1.1957, ZMH , no. 67, 68, 82, 377–394;— 1♂, without particular locality, SMF , no. 30142;— 1♂, without particular locality, Fruhstorfer leg., SMF , no. 28377;— 1♂, without particular locality, Fruhstorfer leg., SMF , no. 32493; — 1♂, 24.xi.1903 – 12.iii.1904, Buitenzorg, K. Kraepelin leg., ZMH ;— 1♂, v.1918, Salatiga , Röpke leg., SMF , no. 13938;— 1♂, 15. –25.ix.1924, Buitenzorg, Sammelreise Prof. Dr. H. Winkler, ZMH ;— 1♂, viiviii.1927, Halimoen , 500 ft., S. Overdijkink leg., SMF , no. 13943;— 1♂, 18.i.1931, Plantentuin [Botanical Garden], Buitenzorg, W. Java, M.A. Lieftinck leg., RMNH , no. 1658924;— 5♂♂, 1♀, 18.x.1996, river under the bridge (main road Sleman-Borobudur) in Tempel village, Sleman , Yogyakarta Province, - 7.6454°S, 110.3219°E, alt. 400 m, M. Bedjanič leg., MB GoogleMaps ;— 1♂, 18.x.1996, stream 500 m W of Pakem village, southern slopes of Mt. Merapi , Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta Province, - 7.6002°S, 110.4187°E, alt. 400m, M. Bedjanič leg., MB GoogleMaps ;— 1 ♂, 25.x.1996, Bogor Botanical Gardens, Bogor , West Java Province, - 6.5977°S, 106.7993°E, alt. 300m, M. Bedjanič leg., MB GoogleMaps .

Indonesia, Sumatra: 4♂♂, 1912, Bunga-Bondar , Schütz leg., SMF, no. 34068–34071 ;— 1♀, x.1913, Kloof v. Haran, Pad. Borld., E. Jacobson leg., SMF, no. 13942 ;— 2♂♂, vi.1914, Buo, Pad. Borld. , E. Jacobson leg., SMF, no. 13940, 13941 ;— 1♂, 1925, Fort de Kock , 920 m a.s.l., E. Jacobson leg., SMF, no. 13935 ;— 1♀, xii.1925, Fort de Kock , 920 m a.s.l., E. Jacobson leg., SMF, no. 13939 ;— 1♂, ii.1926, Fort de Kock , 920 m a.s.l., E. Jacobson leg., SMF, no. 13934 .

Characterization of male

Head ( Figs 66, 93): Labrum and anteclypeus red, postclypeus almost covered by black; antefrons and postfrons reddish when immature, but becomes blackish with maturity; occipital bar dark reddish, dark reddish colour continuous as a broad marking laterally of lateral ocelli towards antennae, and a dark reddish centre between both lateral ocelli; the dark reddish colour may be almost completely obscured and hardly detectable; postocular spots orange-reddish when immature, but become obscurely blackish in mature males; rear of head black, eye margins at least partly pale, but pale colour may be widened posteriorly or even cover entire rear of head; hind margin of the head towards postocular spots may be washed-out pale, but may also be covered with pruinosity or likewise be obscurely blackish (e.g. in specimens of P. p. ranauense); base and scape of antennae darkish, following segments brownish.

Thorax ( Figs 66, 68, 110, 171–173): Anterior, middle and posterior lobe of pronotum in mature males covered with bluish pruinosity; when immature the anterior pronotal lobe is orange-reddish, expanding in the centre towards middle lobe, and with its anterior margin black; middle pronotal lobe of immature males black, with a centrally divided orange-reddish patch in the middle, and on either side a large orange-reddish patch dorsolaterally; propleuron black above, orange-reddish below and to rear; posterior lobe of pronotum of immature males orange-reddish, with its margins black; apical edge of posterior lobe slightly convex. Pterothorax in mature males covered with bluish pruinosity ( Figs 110, 171), when immature orange-reddish ( Fig. 173); middorsal carina black; humeral suture may be black, at least with a small elongated black patch at posterior quarter; metapleural suture with a small elongated black patch at posterior quarter; venter pale, covered with pruinosity in mature males. Legs in immatures yellowish-ochre, with outer side of femora, along spines of tibiae, and the waists blackish; but femora become almost completely obscurely blackish with maturity or may be covered with bluish pruinosity; spines black.

Abdomen ( Figs 127a, b, 171–173): S1–2 dorsally black, covered with bluish pruinosity in mature males ( Figs 127a, b, 171), but when immature laterally yellowish-orange ( Fig. 173); S 3–8 in all ages dorsally black, laterally yellowish or pale brownish; S8 at least posteriorly covered with bluish pruinosity in mature individuals; S9–10 covered with bluish pruinosity in mature individuals ( Figs 127a, b, 171); in immature S9–10 dorsally with black markings, variable in exact shape ( Fig. 173).

Caudal appendages ( Figs 144a–c): Cercus laterally blackish, slightly shorter than S10; in lateral view cercus subrectangular with upper margin gently arched, apex with inter-lobe notch in lower quarter and apex of inferior lobe slightly projecting nipple-like; in dorsal view the cercus appearing narrow, and smoothly arched; apex of the superior lobe rounded and turned inwards (more markedly so in dorsolateral view); a rounded subtriangular projection is situated at around two-thirds of the length of the superior lobe of the cercus; inferior lobe of the cercus interiorly with a ridge running to apex visible in dorsolateral view, starting from a small subbasal bulg-like projection situated at around the inferior third of the height of the cercus, this bulg-like projection bearing a sharp proximal edge and looks like a small tooth in dorsal view; paraproct pale yellow-ochre; slightly longer than half of the cercus; in lateral view subtriangular and tapered with rounded apex; in dorsal view broadly rounded, concave bowl-like; medial edge blackish tubercular.

Characterization of female

Head: Similar to immature male, but distinctly different from that of mature one; with labrum, anteclypeus, postclypeus, antefrons, postfrons and vertex yellow-ochre; a small black dot posterior of median ocellus; black patches along the inner margin towards posterior of each lateral ocellus; large yellow-ochre postocular spots, bordered by a black line anteriorly and along eyes; rear of head at least broadly pale ochre along the eye margins, but may be entirely ochre; base and scape of the antennae yellow-ochre; following segments brownish.

Thorax: Pronotum as in the male but pale ochre instead of reddish; dorsolateral patches of middle pronotal lobe larger than in male, fusing laterally with ochre of anterior lobe; posterior lobe of pronotum ochre, with two horns directed towards head, reaching the centre of the middle lobe. Pterothorax as in immature male orange-ochre, middorsal carina black, a black patch each at the posterior quarter of humeral suture and of metapleural suture; venter pale, may be covered with pruinosity. Legs as in the male, may be paler ochre.

Abdomen: S1–10 dorsally black, laterally pale yellowish; S9–10 with yellowish colour expanded dorsally in centre of segment, reducing the black colour. Cercus blackish, but paler in younger individuals, as long as half of S10; paraproct ochre, in lateral view rounded; ovipositor ochre, not reaching posterior margin of S10; two brownish styles reaching to beyond S10; inferior edge of ovipositor bearing several very small teeth.

Wings of both sexes with 11.5–14.5 px in forewing, and 10.5–12.0 px in hindwing.

Measurements of both sexes (mm): Total length (with appendages) 40.0–46.5; abdomen length (without appendages) 33.4–37.9; hindwing 22.5–27.0; forewing 24.0–29.0; Pt in forewing 0.7–0.9; male cercus 0.5–0.6.

Diagnosis

Mature males are easily separated from all congeners by their bluish pruinosity at the pterothorax and abdomen, leaving no reddish colour ( Figs 110, 127a, b, 171). However, mixed colourations occur during the maturing process ( Fig. 172). Differences to distinguish mature males of the nominate subspecies and P. p. elongatum are summarised in table 3.

Distribution

Records are available for the Indonesian Islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa ( Fig. 1). Reports of “ P. pruinosum ” from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India ( Mitra 1995, Sivaperuman 2014), could not be verified and it remains unclear if and which subspecies of P. pruinosum is present there.