Aristocypha spuria Selys, 1879

Sharma, Manoj, Oli, Buddhi Ram & Gautam, Ishan, 2024, Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta, Odonata) from the western region of Nepal with new records of four species, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (3), pp. 535-546 : 540

Aristocypha spuria Selys, 1879 (Figs 14–16)

Material Examined. 1♂, 3♀♀, Karnali province, Dailekh district, River near Upper Dungeshwar (28°46'8.22"N, 81°37'41.19"E, 626 m a.s.l.), 6-v-2022. Coll. M. Sharma.

Field diagnosis (♂). This species closely resembles the Aristocypha quadrimaculata (Selys, 1853) . It can be diagnosed by an apical vitreous spot large, lying almost entirely proximal to the line of pterostigma; mid row of spots consisting of well separated four spots (vs apical vitreous spot moderately large lying partly proximal to line of pterostigma (Fig. 14); mid row of spots well separated, almost always three in number in Aristocypha quadrimaculata ).

Ecology. A single male was observed in fast-flowing river stream in May 2022. It was perching on broken twigs of tree. Later on in August 2023 two males and a single female were perching on stone. This species was observed during May–August.

Distribution. China, India, Myanmar ( Mitra, 2018; Kalkman et al., 2020), and Nepal (new record).