Key to species of Lestidae present in Colombia

Males

1 Total length> 55 mm; pterothorax as long as high; anterior side of quadrangle (a) about 1/2 of posterior side (b) (Fig. 3A)...........................................................................................( Archilestes) 2.

1’ Total length <50 mm; pterothorax longer than high; anterior side of quadrangle (a) about 1/3 of posterior side (b) (Fig. 3B)..............................................................................................( Lestes) 3.

2 (1) Medial portion of cerci convex, with 7–8 strong spines (Fig. 10A); paraprocts barely developed, without apophyses (Fig. 10B).................................................................................... A. chocoanus .

2’ Medial portion of cerci irregular, without spines (Fig. 10C); apophyses of paraprocts reaching basal portion of cerci (Fig. 10D)....................................................................................... A. grandis .

3 (1’) Cerci without basal tooth (Fig. 11E, I)..................................................................... 4

3’ Cerci with basal tooth (Fig. 11A, C, G, K, M, O)............................................................ 5

4 (3) Secondary curvature type II (Fig. 11F)........................................................ L. dichrostigma

4’ Secondary curvature type III (Fig. 11J)............................................................... L. helix

5 (3’) Paraprocts slightly developed, distal apophyses not reaching basal portion of cerci (Fig. 11A–F, I–J, O–P)............... 6

5’ Paraprocts well developed, distal apophyses exceeding basal portion of cerci (Fig. 11G–H, K–L, M–N)................. 8

6 (5) Secondary curvature type II (Fig. 11C–D); paraproct apophyses short (Fig. 11D)........................... L. curvatus

6’ Secondary curvature type I (Fig. 11B, P); paraproct apophyses reaching distal end of basal portion of cerci (Fig. 11B, P)... 7

7 (6’) Basal tooth acute, projected at 45°; medial portion straight without denticles (Fig. 11A).................. L. apollinaris .

7’ Basal tooth blunt, projected at 90°; medial portion with a row of denticles (Fig. 11O)...................... L. tenuatus .

8 (5’) Medial portion of cerci with an acute subapical tooth (Fig. 11M); total length <32mm ....................... L. minutus .

8’ Medial portion of cerci without an acute subapical tooth (Fig. 11G, K); total length> 35mm .......................... 9.

9 (8’) Tips of cerci and paraprocts not concave (Fig. 11G); paraprocts almost as long as cerci (Fig. 11H)............ L. forficula .

9’ Tips of cerci and paraprocts concave (Fig. 11K); paraprocts as long as 2/3 of cerci length (Fig. 11L)............. L. jerrelli .

Females

1 Total length> 55 mm; pterothorax as long as high; anterior side of quadrangle (a) about 1–2 of posterior side (b) (Fig. 3A) ( Archilestes)......................................................................................... 2.

1’ Total length <50 mm; pterothorax longer than high; anterior side of quadrangle (a) about 1/3 of posterior side (b) (Fig. 3B) ( Lestes)............................................................................................. 3.

2 Mesepisternum and mesepimeron entirely metallic green; metepisternum largely yellow; row of denticles in ovipositor valvae of same size.............................................................................. A. chocoanus .

2’ Metallic green confined to a small area of mesepisternum; row of denticles in ovipositor valvae increasing in size towards the apex........................................................................................ A. grandis .

3 Dorsal side of basal plate with apical process (AP) (Fig. 14F–G)................................................ 4.

3’ Dorsal side of basal plate without apical process (AP) (Fig. 14A–E, H)........................................... 5.

4 (3) Total length <32 mm .......................................................................... L. minutus .

4’ Total length> 35 mm ......................................................................... L. forficula .

5 Dorsal side of basal plate longer than ventral side; posterior and ventral sides entire (Fig. 14D, E)..................... 6.

5’ Dorsal side of basal plate almost the same length as ventral side; posterior and ventral sides divided in two sections (Fig. 14C, H)................................................................................................. 7.

6 (5) Cerci longer that S10 (Fig. 14D); posternum pale yellow with black apex on metapostepimeron (Fig. 12L)..... L. curvatus .

6’ Cerci shorter than S10 (Fig. 14E); posternum with two black dots (Fig. 13C).......................... L. dichrostigma .

7 (5’) A wide longitudinal black band occupies 2/3 of mesepisternum (Fig. 12J); posternum with two black central dots and two ovoid marks (Fig. 12I)........................................................................... L. apollinaris .

7’ A slender longitudinal green band occupies 1/3 of mesepisternum (Fig. 13J); posternum pale yellow without dark pattern (Fig. 13L)...................................................................................... L. tenuatus .