4. Coenagrion ponticum (Bartenef, 1929)

Figs 2l–m, 3l–m, 4c–d, 5d–e, 7h, 9

Reported (as Agrion ponticum sp. n.) from: just three locations in Krasnodarskiy Kray: the environs of Sochy (five localities), Tuapse and Adler (one locality in each), all by the species’ author, A.N. Bartenev (Bartenef 1929; 1930; Skvortsov 2010).

Specimens. Krasnodarskiy Kray: 22 ♂♂ (Figs 2l–m, 3l–m, 4c–d, 5d–e) (108924869, 108924870, 108924871 (Fig. 9a), 37680876 (Fig. 9b), 37680891), 3 ♀♀ (Fig. 7h), Goryachiy Klyuch Municipality, Fanagoriyskoe village NW environs, ponds, 44.515–516 N, 39.108–109 E, 101–102 m a.s.l., 27.06.2019 ; ♂, Goryachiy Klyuch Municipality, the Chepsi River banks 6.5–7 km SW of Fanagoriyskoe village, 44.464 –44.469 N, 39.055– 39.058 E, 148–162 m a.s.l., 27.06.2019, V. Onishko & O. Kosterin leg.

Additional photographic registrations: Krasnodarskiy Kray: 1 teneral ♀ (37681071 (Fig. 9c)), Goryachiy Klyuch Municipality, Fanagoriyskoe village NW environs, ponds, 44.515 –44.516 N, 39.108– 39.109 E, 101–102 m a.s.l., 27.04.2019 ; 1 teneral ♂ (37681035), the same place, 28.04.2019; 4 ♂♂ (37680916, 37680932, 37680994, 37681023), the same place, 28.04.2019; 2 teneral ♀♀ (207535828, 207535790), Goryachiy Klyuch Town centre, a pond, 44.638 N, 39.125- 39.129 E, 55 m a.s.l., 8.04.2024 ; 2 teneral ♂♂ (75178528, 75178636), 2 teneral ♀♀ (75178417, 75179228), the same place, 23.04.2021; 3 ♀♀ (75178494, 75178577, 75178395), the same place, 24.04.2021; 1 ♂ (108928403), the same place, 27.06.2019.

Characters. The male appendages resemble those of C. pulchellum, with the following differences:

Male cercus trunk much shorter and less processed, in lateral view (Fig. 3l–m) not raised, with slanting upper surface and blunter apex, so that tubercle is entirely seen in dorsal view (and is remarkably narrow); trunk in dorsal view (Fig. 2l–m) somewhat expanding posteriorly while of almost an even width in C. pulchellum (Fig. 2o–q); prominence well expressed but broadly rounded, those of the two cerci also contact each other (see in dorsal view, Fig. 2l–m) as in C. pulchellum (Fig. 2o–q). Process nearly straight as in C. pulchellum but slenderer and somewhat shorter (Fig. 4c–d), slightly not reaching the level of the paraproct prominence.

Male paraproct spine directed more behind than up and protrudes caudad much farer than tubercle; incision between spine and prominence as deep but not as broad, and prominence as attenuated as in C. pulchellum . (Fig. 3l–m).

Male pronotum hind margin is generally as in C. puella (Fig. 5d–e), female pronotum as well but with a more prominent, roundish triangular central lobe and very slightly deeper and somewhat asymmetrical incisions between it and lateral lobes (Fig. 7h).

The black maculation development in males varies greatly, including in the same population in Fanagoriyskoe village. It is best reflected by the relative middorsal length of the posterior black spot in S3, which varies, quite continuously, ca from 20 to 70% of the S3 length, usually ca 50% (Fig. 9a). Along with its regular long lateral projections, as a rule broad in this species, it forms a cenral tooth (Fig. 9b), in some specimens produced into short, but of variable length, middorsal line.

Male S9 with a posterior black bar of variable shape, which usually has two (at sides, most frequent version) (Fig. 9a, b), one (central) or three (all above mentioned) anterior projections. S10 black above, blue at sides.

Distribution and habitat. In Russia found only in Krasnodarskiy Kray, both at the SE part of the Black Sea coast as well as inland, behind the Main Caucasus Range, in Goryachiy Klyuch District. All records were at ponds situated below 200 m a.s.l. and surrounded by forest vegetation. The earliest registered date of imaginal emerging was 8.04.2024. No other Coenagrion spp. were found at these localities. Outside the region considered, the species ranges along the Black Sea coast of Georgia and has been reported from Azerbaijan, Northern Iran (Gilan) and NE Anatolia (east of Giresun) (Boudot et al. 2021)