Drepanosticta conica

Theischinger, G. & Richards, S. J., 2014, Drepanosticta machadoi spec. nov. from New Guinea (Odonata: Platystictidae), Zootaxa 3866 (1), pp. 145-150 : 149

Key to the males of the Drepanosticta conica group of species

The pale/bright patches on the synthoracic pleura are termed as follows (see Fig. 7 ):

ES2 = mesepisternal patch; EM2 = mesepimeral mark; ES3 = metepisternal stripe; EM3 = metepimeral patch.

1 ES2 squarish, ill defined, approximately as long as EM2 which is narrow and curved ( Fig. 7 ); pronotal fork wide-angled, with rather straight, narrow, finger-shaped prongs ( Fig. 14 )................................................ D. machadoi

- ES2 elongate, subtriangular or subrectangular, well defined and markedly longer than EM2 (if present) ( Figs 8–13 ); pronotal fork not as above...................................................................................... 2

2 Only three pale/bright (yellowish to bluish) synthoracic pattern elements present, EM2 absent ( Figs 8–9 ); pronotal fork with prongs long and backward directed and excision distinct ( Figs 15, 16 )........................................... 3

- Four pale/bright (yellowish to bluish) synthoracic pattern elements present, including EM2 ( Figs 10–13 ); pronotal fork with prongs short or directed laterad and excision indistinct ( Figs 17–20 )............................................. 4

3 ES3 of similar width from dorsal to beyond metastigma, dorsally rather distant from EM3 ( Fig. 8 ); prongs of pronotal fork with apex pointed ( Fig. 15 )..................................................................... D. elaphos

- ES3 tapered from wide dorsally to narrow at level of metastigma, dorsally very close to EM3 ( Fig. 9 ); prongs of pronotal fork with apex rounded ( Fig. 16 )................................................................... D. dorcadion

4 ES3 much wider dorsally than at level of metastigma ( Figs 10–11 ); pronotal fork with prongs almost right-angled ( Fig.17 ), or pronotal fork wing-like with apex of prongs rounded ( Fig. 18 ).................................................. 5

- ES3 of similar width dorsally and at level of metastigma ( Figs 12–13 ); pronotal fork with apex pointed ( Figs 19, 20 )..... 6

5 ES2 narrow, comma shaped, ES3 wide in dorsal section, narrow in ventral section ( Fig. 10 ); pronotal fork with prongs almost right-angled ( Fig.17 )........................................................................... D. conica

- ES2 much wider, sub-rectangular, ES3 rather evenly tapered from wide dorsally to narrow at level of metastigma ( Fig. 11 ); pronotal fork wings-like with apex of prongs rounded ( Fig. 18 )..................................... D. pterophora

6 ES2 subtriangular, EM2 tiny, squarish ( Fig. 12 ); prongs of pronotal fork directed laterad ( Fig. 19 )............. D. taurulus

- ES2 subrectangular, EM2 larger, elongate ( Fig. 13 ); prongs of pronotal fork directed mediad ( Fig. 20 )....... D. lepyricollis

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 13. Male thorax of Drepanosticta species: 7 D. machadoi, lateral; 8 D. elaphos, lateral; 9 D. dorcadion, only synthorax, frontal, lateral and ventral; 10 D. conica, only synthorax, frontal and lateral; 11 D. pterophora, lateral; 12 D. taurulus, lateral; 13 D. lepyricollis, only synthorax, frontal, lateral and ventral. Figs 9, 10, and 13 modified from Lieftinck (1938, 1949).

FIGURES 14 – 20. Male posterior lobe of pronotum (pronotal fork), dorsal, of Drepanosticta species: 14 D. machadoi, 15 D. elaphos; 16 D. dorcadion; 17 D. conica; 18 D. pterophora; 19 D. taurulus; 20 D. lepyricollis. Figs 15 and 18 modified from Theischinger & Richards (2014), Figs 16 and 20 from Lieftinck (1949), Fig. 17 from Lieftinck (1938), Fig. 19 from Theischinger & Richards (2005).