Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922

Sadasivan, Kalesh, Nair, Vinayan P., Palot, Muhamed Jafer, K., Abraham Samuel & Shereef, Anzil, 2022, Taxonomic notes on the genus Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922 (Odonata: Gomphidae), with a redescription of H. kalarensis Fraser, 1934 from southern India, International Journal of Odonatology 25, pp. 107-120 : 109

Genus Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922

Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922 , Rec. Ind. Mus. vol. xxiv, pp. 378, 379

Type species: Heliogomphus selysi Fraser (as Leptogomphus nietneri Selys ).

Species from the Western Ghats. Heliogomphus promelas ( Selys, 1873) and H. kalarensis Fraser, 1934 .

Diagnosis

Males with moderately long hind femora, not armed with long spines; apex of the distal segment of vesica spermalis disk-like, without a flagellum; anterior hamulus not bifurcate; cerci lyrate, tip curled and with one or more less robust spine near the base. ( Fraser, 1942; Chao, 1990).

Key to Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922 of the Western Ghats, peninsular India, based on males

1. Lateral horns of the epiproct angulated dorsally at its middle, its posterior half tapering and directed dorsolaterally, tip bulbous; in dorsal view, the cerci are directed posterolaterally, the lateral profile of the cerci a straighter, short, lateral spine is directed posterolaterally in its basal third, its tip curled in on itself then laterally; secondary genitalia with the middle segment of the vesica spermalis with a triangular extension posteriorly in lateral view; auricle on S2 semicircular in outline ........................................................ H. promelas

2. Lateral horns of the epiproct straight, directed posterolaterally, tip finely tapered; in dorsal view, the male cerci are directed laterally, in lateral profile, the cerci are sinuous, with a short lateral spine in its basal third directed straight laterally, its extreme tip curved laterally then in on itself; secondary genitalia with the middle segment of the vesica spermalis with a rectangular extension posteriorly in lateral view; auricle on S2 elliptical in outline ............................................. H. kalarensis