Coeliccia pyriformis Laidlaw, 1932

Steinhoff, Philip O. M. & Uhl, Gabriele, 2015, Taxonomy and nomenclature of some mainland SE-Asian Coeliccia species (Odonata, Platycnemididae) using micro-CT analysis, Zootaxa 4059 (2), pp. 257-276 : 265-267

Coeliccia pyriformis Laidlaw, 1932

As pointed out by Dow (2011a), the original description of Coeliccia pyriformis by Laidlaw (1932) lacks drawings as well as a sufficiently detailed description. Here, we redescribe the holotype and discuss inaccuracies in the original description. The potential synonymy of C. pyriformis and C. acco Asahina, 1997 , is discussed.

Material examined. 1♂ Holotype: “Bao Ha, Tonkin ”, 21. July 1924, leg. H. Stevens [ BMNH, NHMUK 010266914].

Description. Head and prothorax ( Fig. 7 A): Head black, anteclypeus, antefrons and genae cream white; two pale spots between lateral ocelli and base of antennae. Prothorax entirely black, hindlobe slightly raised. Synthorax ( Fig. 7 B–C): Black with grey-purplish markings that are nearly faded away. Dorsally with two inward curved stripes ( Fig 7 C); mesepimeron mostly black, metepisternum and metepimeron covered by large markings.

Wings ( Fig. 7 G–H): Hyaline, with black Pt, covering about 1¼ cells. 16 Px in both Hw, 17 Px in left Fw and 18 Px in right Fw. RP 2 arising at Px 6 in both Hw, at Px 7 in left Fw and at Px 8 in right Fw. IR1 arises slightly distal to Px 10 in both Fw and slightly distal to Px 9 in both Hw. IR2 arises distal to subnodus and is inserted at subnodal vein.

Abdomen: Black, long and slender; ventral part of the abdomen cream white, the white extending upwards at the end of the segments, forming lateral spots that are visible from S3–7, the spot at S7 being notably smaller (and not visible dorsally) than those on S3–6. Segments 9 and 10 ochre.

Anal appendages ( Fig. 7 D–F): Ochreous, cerci slightly shorter than paraprocts. Cerci with ventromedial tooth that is rather difficult to see from lateral view, obvious from dorsolateral and dorsal views.

Genital ligula ( Fig. 8 A–B, Supplementary Fig. 4 ): First segment simple, distally curved; second segment with internal, but without terminal fold; third segment with two laterally placed flagella. Ends of the flagella turned inwards and thickened in lateral view.

Measurements (mm): Total length: 42, Abd.: 36, Wingspan: 43, Fw/Hw (right): 21.

Remarks. The original description of the holotype of C. pyriformis ( Laidlaw 1932) does not mention the pale spots between lateral ocelli and base of antennae. Additionally, Laidlaw (1932: 26) described two “...pyriform marks of pale blue…” dorsally on each side of the synthorax. He noted that these markings “...faded...the whole dorsum being uniformly black...” ( Laidlaw 1932: 26) after a while. However, during the examination of the holotype, we noted that the markings are still clearly visible, when the specimen is viewed under good lighting. Furthermore, the markings on the synthorax do not have a pyriform shape but are rather simple inwardly curved stripes (cf. Fig. 11 A–C for photographs in life of C. pyriformis ).

Laidlaw (1932: 26) declared that the superior appendages did not have any “...marked projection...”. This is, however, not the case. There is a ventromedial tooth that is rather difficult to see from lateral view, but obvious from dorsolateral and dorsal view.

Comparison of the holotype of C. pyriformis with the original description of C. acco by Asahina (1997) and the recent redescription of this species, based on new material, by Steinhoff & Do (2013), shows that C. acco agrees with C. pyriformis in all diagnostic characters. Only the number of Px given for C. acco by Steinhoff & Do (2013) differ from the holotype C. pyriformis , which has 3 Px less in all wings. Therefore we propose the following synonymy:

Coeliccia pyriformis Laidlaw, 1932

Syn. Coeliccia acco Asahina, 1997 , syn. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Coeliccia hainanense Lectotype. A head dorsolateral, B prothorax and thorax dorsolateral, C anal appendages dorsal, D prothorax and thorax dorsal, E anal appendages dorsolateral, F appendages lateral, G left Fw, H left Hw. Scale bars: 500 Μm.

FIGURE 7. Coeliccia pyriformis Holotype. A head dorsolateral, B prothorax and thorax dorsolateral, C prothorax and thorax dorsal, D anal appendages dorsolateral, E anal appendages lateral, F anal appendages dorsal, G left Fw, H left Hw. Scale bars: 500 Μm.

FIGURE 8. Genital ligulae as reconstructed from micro-CT (orientation bars: dl dorsolateral, l lateral, p posterior, v ventral, vl ventrolateral). A – B Genital ligula of C. pyriformis holotype, B – C genital ligula of C. cyanomelas.

FIGURE 11. Photos in life of Coeliccia pyriformis and Coeliccia cyanomelas. A Coeliccia pyriformis, male, Tam Đ ảo, northern Vietnam. B Coeliccia pyriformis, tandem, Tam Đ ảo, northern Vietnam. C Coeliccia pyriformis, male thorax and head dorsal, Tam Đ ảo, northern Vietnam. D Coeliccia cyanomelas, male head and thorax dorsolateral, Tam Đ ảo, northern Vietnam. E Coeliccia cyanomelas, male with four dorsal synthorax markings, Tam Đ ảo, northern Vietnam. F Coeliccia cyanomelas, male with two dorsal synthorax markings, Tam Đ ảo, northern Vietnam. All photos by Sebastién Delonglee.