Mesopodagrion yachowensis Chao, 1953

Yu, Xin & Bu, Wenjun, 2009, A Revision of Mesopodagrion McLachlan, 1896 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Megapodagrionidae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 59-68 : 67

Mesopodagrion yachowensis Chao, 1953 , new status

Mesopodagrion tibetanum: McLachlan, 1896: 372 –273, “Ƥ from Siao-Lon (now in Sichuan, China)”; Lieftinck, 1948: 7, “ Burma, China (Shaanxi)” (in part); Asahina, 1955: 130 –133, figs. 1–6, “ Burma, China (Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Yunnan)” (in part); Asahina,1956: 207, “Zhejiang”; SUI & SUN, 1986: 294 –295, Fig. 201, “ Burma, China (Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang)” (in part); Chao, 1987: 112, 120; “ Burma, China (Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang)” (in part).

Mesopodagrion yachowensis Chao, 1953: 330 –334, figs. 5–8, type locality: “Beh Luk Din, Sichuan, China ”; Kalkman, 2008: 187, key to species.

Material. 1 3, China, Gansu, Kangxian, Qinghe forestry centre, 1400m, 14-VII-1998, Shuyong Wang leg., IOZ(E)830140 ( IZAS); 1 3, China, Henan, Songxian, Mt. Baiyun, 18-VII-2002, Xiujuan Yang leg. (CHU); 1 Ƥ, China, Henan, Huixian, Baligou, 13-VII-2002, Xiujuan Yang leg. (CHU); 2 3, 19 -VII-2002, ditto.; 1 3, China, Shaanxi, Liuba, Miaotaizi, 1400m, 22-VII-1998, Guangzhi Yu leg., IOZ(E)830116 ( IZAS); 1 Ƥ, same data., 1600m, 21-VII-1998, Jian Yao leg., IOZ(E)830139 ( IZAS); 1 3, China, Shaanxi, Ningshan, Huoditang, 1820m, 28-VII-1998, Jun Chen leg., IOZ(E)830120 ( IZAS); 1 3, China, Shaanxi, Fengxian, Qinling railway station, 1500m, 27-VII-1994, Jianzhen Dong leg. ( NKUM); 1 3, China, South Shensi, 16-VI-1936, E. Sueson leg. ( BMNH); 1 Ƥ, China, Sichuan, Siao-Lou, 189? ( BMNH) [paratype of M. tibetanum ]; 1 3, 1 Ƥ, China, South Shensi, 16-VI-1936, E. Sueson leg. ( CUMZ).

Description. Male. As in M. tibetanum by color pattern though larger. Differs from M. t. tibetanum as follows: Rear of head entirely black ( Fig. 3 a). Antehumeral stripe excavated at upper fourth and with small anteriorly directed offshoot ( Fig. 4 a). S10 pale dorsally ( Fig. 5 a); basal half of cerci distinctly dilated, almost twice as wide as abruptly narrowed distal half ( Figs. 5 a, 8–10); bifurcate process short, not longer than 1/2 width of S10, outer margin concave, hemline of bifurcate process less than 1/3 width of S10 ( Figs. 8–10 ). Apical lobs of genital ligula bifurcate at base ( Fig. 1 , d & e).

Female. Similar to male in color pattern but slightly shorter in body length and more robust ( Fig. 1 c). Antehumeral stripes broader than in male. Terminus of abdomen similar to female of M. t. tibetanum except ovipositor shorter, ending at about level of end of S10 ( Fig. 6 a).

Remarks. Acknowledging the inaccuracy of illustrations of M. tibetanum by Fraser (1933), Chao (1987) later synonymized his own species with M. tibetanum . We doubt that Chao had seen the syntype male of M. tibetanum or had a specimen of true M. tibetanum , otherwise he would seen the distinct differences between these two species. We concur with Kalkman (2008) in treating M. yachowensis as a separate species.

Distribution. A more northerly species than M. tibetanum species occurring in mountainous areas along a largely east-west arc from central Sichuan (apparently sympatric with M. tibetanum there), Gansu north to Henan and east to Zhejiang provinces. This species occurs at lower elevations from about 1400m (Tianmu), to about 3000m (Qinling, Fig. 7 ). We have been unable, despite intensive search, to locate Siao-lou [Xiaolou] for McLachlan's female in Sichuan Province.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mesopodagrion yachowensis (China, Henan, Songxian, Mt. Baiyun): (a) body and wings, dorsal view, 3; (b) abdomen, lateral view, 3; (c) abdomen, lateral view, Ƥ; (d) genital ligula, ventral view, 3; (e) genital ligula, lateral view, 3.

FIGURE 3. Color pattern of rear of head. a, Mesopodagrion yachowensis (China, Shaanxi, Ningshan, Huoditang); b, Mesopodagrion tibetanum tibetanum (China, Sichuan, Wolong Nature Reserve); c, Mesopodagrion tibetanum australe ssp. Nov. (China, Yunnan, Lijiang, Mt. Yulong).

FIGURE 4. Pale occipital bar and antehumeral stripe. a, Mesopodagrion yachowensis (China, Henan, Songxian, Mt. Baiyun); b, Mesopodagrion tibetanum tibetanum (China, Sichuan, Wolong Nature Reserve); c, Mesopodagrion tibetanum australe ssp. Nov. (China, Yunnan, Lijiang, Mt. Yulong); d, Mesopodagrion tibetanum australe ssp. Nov. (China, Yunnan, Yuanjiang, Nanxi).

FIGURE 5. Color pattern of 3 S 10 and appendages, dorsal and lateral. a, Mesopodagrion yachowensis (China, Henan, Songxian, Mt. Baiyun); b, Mesopodagrion tibetanum tibetanum (China, Sichuan, Wolong Nature Reserve); c, Mesopodagrion tibetanum australe ssp. Nov. (China, Yunnan, Lijiang, Mt. Yulong); d, Mesopodagrion tibetanum australe ssp. Nov. (China, Yunnan, Yuanjiang, Nanxi).

FIGURE 6. FAE. a, (China, Henan, Huixian, Baligou); b, Mesopodagrion tibetanum tibetanum (China, Sichuan, Wolong Nature Reserve); c, Mesopodagrion tibetanum australe ssp. Nov. (China, Yunnan, Dali).

FIGURE 7. Distribution of Mesopodagrion.

FIGURES 8 – 20. SEM photos for cerci and bifurcate process of 3 Mesopodagrion, all specimens from China (8 – 15 dorsal, 16 – 19 ventro-lateral, and 20 Ƥ pronotum, dorsal): 8) Gansu, Kangxian; 9) Henan, Songxian; 10) Shaanxi, Ningshan; 11) Sichuan, Wolong nature reserve; 12) Yunnan, Mt. Ailao; 13) Yunnan, Dali; 14) Yunnan, Lijiang; 15) Yunnan, Yuanjiang; 16) Henan, Songxian; 17) Shaanxi, Ningshan; 18) Sichuan, Wolong; 19) Yunnan, Yuanjiang; 20) Sichuan, Wolong. FJ = false joint, EP = epiproct. (Scale bar = 1 mm).