Phylloneura rupestris Chandran, Chandran and Jose, 2024
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2024.1917259 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2D25DB6F-C044-296D-FFA9-FBA15DC8FB9C |
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Felipe |
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scientific name |
Phylloneura rupestris Chandran, Chandran and Jose |
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sp. nov. |
Phylloneura rupestris Chandran, Chandran and Jose sp. n.
( Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 , 6–10 View Figure 6 View Figure 7 View Figure 8 View Figure 9 View Figure 10 )
Type material
Holotype ♂
Labelled “ Holotype Phylloneura rupestris Chandran, Chandran, Jose , India, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Ponmudi [8.749690° N, 77.127098° E], elevation 850 m above MSL, 28 vi 2023, Coll. A. Vivek Chandran ” ( WGRC, ZSI) GoogleMaps .
Paratypes
2 ♂♂ and 1 ♀, same data as the holotype GoogleMaps .
Diagnosis
Phylloneura rupestris sp. n. can be distinguished in the field from its only congener, P. westermanni , by the broad azure blue marking on S7 that extends to 3/4 of the segment dorsolaterally (S7 has only an azure blue apical ring occupying 1/5 of the segment in P. westermanni ) ( Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ). The following features become evident upon close inspection of specimens and, in combination, help to distinguish P. rupestris sp. n. from P. westerman- ni ( Figs 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 ): Pt rectangular with a length of 1.5 mm (Pt squarish with a length of 1 mm in P. westermanni ). Cerci thicker and with broad ventral processes (cerci thinner and with narrower ventral processes in P. wes- termanni). Tips of paraprocts rounded (tips of paraprocts taper to acute points in P. westermanni ). In the apical part of the male’s genital ligula, the two outer processes are hammer-shaped, and the two inner processes are thicker (tips of the two outer processes end as small lobes and the two inner processes are thinner in P. westermanni ).
It must be noted here that in the original description of P. westermanni by Fraser (1922, 1933), the “apical half” of S7 is said to be azure blue. This, however, is not correct, and as is evident from photographs published later on ( Gopalan et al., 2022; Nair et al., 2021; Subramanian, 2009, 2018; Subramanian et al., 2022; all from north of the Palghat Gap) and specimens collected in this study, only the apical fifh of S7 is azure blue. To verify this further, we obtained images of the holotype of P. westermanni from the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA ( Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). It was thus confirmed that only the apical fifh of S7 is azure blue in P. westermanni and Fraser had erroneously stated that the apical half of S7 is blue. This error was probably carried forward from the original description by Selys (1860) who stated, “moitié finale du 7e et les trois derniers bleus” [final half of the 7 th and the last three segments blue]. The watercolour painting in the Selys collection states “après la description”, which indicates that the illustration was made based on the description and without revisiting the holotype and thus explains why this illustration shows the apical half of segment 7 being blue as well ( Verspui & Wasscher, 2016).
Description of the holotype ( Figs 6 View Figure 6 & 7 View Figure 7 )
Male. Total length 60 mm; abdomen 49 mm; FW 37.5 mm; HW 36 mm.
Repository reference number: ZSI/WGRC/I.R.-INV 25601.
Head. Middle and lateral lobes of labium white, tipped with black; labrum, anteclypeus and postclypeus steely blue-black, outer margin of postclypeus projecting as short horns at both ends; bases of mandibles black, with a central blue spot; genae blue, with a black band which is confluent with the black of the clypeus; antefrons black, but the blue of the genae spreads onto it narrowly; postfrons black throughout; rest of the head black, including its ventral side; lower 2/3 of the eyes ultramarine blue, capped with black; ocelli translucent white.
Prothorax. Posterior lobe black throughout; middle lobe almost completely black dorsally, but with a short ingress of azure blue from the anterior lobe, azure blue laterally; propleuron azure blue; anterior lobe almost completely azure blue, but with a short ingress of black from the middle lobe at two points dorsally.
Pterothorax. Jet black marked with azure blue as follows: middorsal carina and mesepisternum black; very narrow antehumeral blue stripes; mesepimeron black with a white spot at the anterior end on each side; metepisternum black with a broad blue stripe; mesinfraepisternum black, with only its lower end being blue; metepimeron blue; underside of thorax bluish white.
Legs. Black, coxae and basal halves of trochanters blue; extensor face of tibiae pale yellow.
Wings. Hyaline, lightly smoky; Ab complete, arched at origin, inclining towards the rear border of the wing distally; Pt dark reddish brown, rectangular, 1.5 mm in length, covering 3 cells, braced between thick, black nervures; Ax 2 in all wings; Px 33 in lef FW, 32 in right FW, 29 in both HWs; many double cells in all wings, mostly towards the tips of the FWs.
Abdomen. Black, marked with blue as follows: S1 broadly blue, with black basal and apical margins, the former turning into a median spot dorsally; S2 with a broad blue ventrolateral spot; S3 and S4 have very narrow basal annules; S5 has an almost invisible basal spot; S6 fully black; S7 with a broad black apical margin from where a large blue stripe extends to 3/4 of the segment towards its base, this stripe is split centrally from half its length; S8 and S9 entirely blue on dorsum, except for very narrow basal black annules, laterally almost fully blue, but with irregular infusions of black towards the bases and apices; S10 blue on dorsum, black laterally.
Caudal appendages. Black, 1.5 times the length of S10, covered irregularly with light brown hairs; cerci broad at their bases, with an upper obtuse tubercle at the base and another at the tip, a broad ventral process at its apical 3/4 portion; paraprocts broad at their bases, sloping downwards and tapering gradually, tips round- ed and directed upward.
Paratype 1
Male. Total length 60 mm; abdomen 49 mm; FW 37 mm; HW 35 mm.
Repository reference number: ZSI/WGRC/I.R.-INV 25602.
Px 30 in both FWs, 27 in lef HW and 26 in right HW; the rest agreeing with the holotype.
Genital ligula. As illustrated in Fig. 3D View Figure 3 , first segment broad and curved; second segment short and featureless; tip of third segment projecting into four filaments, the two outer ones hammer-shaped, the two inner ones thick, conical, curved slightly at tips.
Paratype 2
Male. Total length 60 mm; abdomen 49 mm; FW 36 mm; HW 34.5 mm.
Repository reference number: ZSI/WGRC/I.R.-INV 25603.
Px 31 in lef FW, 30 in right FW, 29 in lef HW, and 26 in right HW; the rest agreeing with the holotype.
Paratype 3 ( Fig. 8 View Figure 8 )
Female. Total length 58 mm; abdomen 47 mm; FW 36.5 mm; HW 34.5 mm.
Repository reference number: ZSI/WGRC/I.R.-INV 25604.
Similar to the male, except for sexual dimorphic differences and blue markings on the terminal abdominal segments. Abdomen shorter and more robust; S7 with an
apical blue ring, thinner on the dorsum, expanding later-
ally, but not joining ventrally; S8 and S9 with large trian-
gular dorsal blue spots; dorsum of S10 completely blue.
Caudal appendages. Black, covered with light brown
hairs; cerci short and conical; vulvar scale blue, tipped
with black, not reaching the end of the abdomen; ovi-
positor black, robust.
Annotations
Male Phylloneura rupestris sp. n. can at once be told apart in the field from male P. westermanni by their extensive blue marking on S7, which in the latter is reduced to a thick apical ring. Female P. rupestris sp. n. have a distinctive apical blue ring on S7 as well, which is obscure in the female P. westermanni . When a male specimen is held in the hand, a close look at the caudal appendages with a magnifying lens helps with confirming its specifics identity, as P. rupestris sp. n. has considerably thicker cerci and rounded tips of its paraprocts. Moreover, as per current knowledge, the ranges of these two species do not overlap.
Etymology
The species epithet rupestris is derived from Latin and signifies “that lives on cliffs or rocks”, acknowledging this species’ habitat predilection.
Distribution
Presently, the new species is known only from the type locality (Ponmudi Hills, southern Western Ghats), but it could be present in similar habitats (seasonal streams flowing over rocky cliffs at mid-altitudes) in the Agasthyamalai Hills, as these form a continuous chain of forested hills in the southern Western Ghats.
Temporal distribution. Recorded in June (30) and July (2).
Natural history
A population of 30 individuals was seen perched on vegetation around a steep rocky cliff over which rills of a seasonal stream flowed ( Fig. 9 View Figure 9 ). The average depth of the stream, measured with a tape, was 0.14 m. The sky was overcast and there was light drizzle. Most of the observed individuals were males, and females were seen only while mating. They occasionally made short, slow flights, probably chasing flying insect prey, before returning to their perches.
Reproductive behaviour
Oviposition was observed in six pairs seen, but photographs, and times of the entire sequence of reproductive activities could be taken for only one pair ( Fig. 10 View Figure 10 ). The duration of each activity is given in parenthesis: first, the male descended from its perch very slowly, hovered just above the stream, and dipped its abdomen in the water. Thereafer, it flew back in the direction of its former perch and caught a female in tandem (22 s). The male performed intra-male sperm translocation with the female held in tandem (10 s). Next, the pair flew around in tandem over the stream and slowly descended (18 s). The female oviposited on a submerged mat of moss in the stream, with the male holding it in tandem (10 min). The pair took to flight again, perched on another patch of moss in the stream about 3 m away, and oviposited again (4 min). Thereafter, the male, with the female held in tandem, hung on streamside vegetation (41 s). Afer this, the pair separated and flew off in different directions. The entire reproductive activity of the observed pair thus lasted for 15.51 minutes.
All six observed pairs oviposited on moss growing in the seasonal rills in the rocky cliff. This oviposition technique is in sharp contrast to that of P. westermanni , four pairs of which were observed by AVC ovipositing on the surface roots of riparian trees ( Fig. 11 View Figure 11 ).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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