Protosticta shambhaveei Sawant, Chandran A. V., Ogale, Rane & Kunte, 2025

Chandran, Ayikkara Vivek, Sawant, Dattaprasad, Chandran, Reji, Koparde, Pankaj, Ogale, Hemant, Rane, Abhishek Ashok & Kunte, Krushnamegh, 2025, Two new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats, India, Zootaxa 5679 (4), pp. 451-483 : 463-475

Protosticta shambhaveei Sawant, Chandran A. V., Ogale, Rane & Kunte sp. nov.

Holotype. 1♂ (IBC-CD342), Vanoshi , Dodamarg Taluka, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India (15.7225° N, 73.9790° E, 21 m a.s.l.), 11.viii.2024, Abhishek Rane leg.

Paratypes. 1♂ (IBC-BN825), Papdi , Nene village, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India (15.9247° N, 74.0245° E, 776 m a.s.l.), 10.vi.2021, Hemant Ogale leg. ; 2♂♂ (IBC-CD341 and IBC-CD343), the location, date of collection, collector same as holotype; 2♀♀ (IBC-CD344 and IBC-CD345), the location, date of collection, collector same as holotype.

Etymology. The species epithet shambhaveei is a noun in genitive case, derived from the Sanskrit word Shambhavee meaning ‘beloved of Lord Shiva,’ a principal deity in Hindu mythology. This species was first observed at Hiranyakeshi area of Amboli, which holds religious significance as a sacred site dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Proposed English name. Konkan Shadowdamsel. This vernacular name is proposed to honour the rich biodiversity of the Konkan region, located at the foothills of the Western Ghats.

Description of holotype IBC-CD342 ( Figs. 9–10).

Head ( Fig. 9a–b). Labium brown; labrum, anteclypeus, base of mandible bluish white; mandible, postclypeus black; frons dark brown; occiput black; ocelli dark brown to black; postocular area dark brown; antennae pale brown. Eyes bottle green with a narrow brown band in the middle in life, darker or paler post–mortem with obscure middle band.

Thorax. Prothorax ( Fig. 9d–e). Dark brown in life with sky–blue marking on lateral of middle lobe, black mark on mid part of posterior lobe. Post–mortem, all lobes brown; anterior lobe paler on side, dark in the middle; middle lobe with lateral faded sky–blue mark on each side, black on mid part, slight protuberance on each posterolateral aspect; posterior lobe with dark brown to black markings, posterior border with a wide cleft on either side.

Pterothorax ( Fig. 9f–g). Ground colour is dark brown in life, medium to dark brown post–mortem. Mesostigmal plates and mid–dorsal carina black; medial two thirds of mesepisternum dark olive, lateral one third medium to dark brown; mesepimeron medium to dark brown; upper half of metepisternum bluish white, lower half medium brown; metepimeron bluish white in life, pale yellow post–mortem; metapleural suture black. Mesinfraepisternum medium to dark brown, pale towards coxa; metinfraepisternum and ventral thorax pale yellow.

Legs. Coxae pale yellow. Femora pale brown with dark brown line in extensor surface, brown mark on lower one third part. Tibiae and tarsi pale brown to brown; tibio–femoral joints black; spines brown.

Wings ( Fig. 10a). Hyaline; venation dark brown to black; Pt dark brown, rectangular, covering one cell; a very small indentation on the posterior border of wing apex. One cell between RP 3+4 -IR 2 and RP 2 -IR 1 in FW and HW. 2 Ax in all wings. 15 Px in both FW, 14 Px in both HW.

Abdomen ( Fig. 9c). Medium brown to black with pale yellow and bluish white markings. S1–2 dorsally medium brown with darker posteriorly, ventrally pale yellow; S3 medium brown with obscure pale yellow annular mark at anterior end, black posteriorly; S4–5 medium to dark brown with broad pale yellow mark at anterior end, black posteriorly; S6–7 dark brown to black with broad pale yellow mark at anterior end; S8 black with bluish white mark anterolaterally separated by a thick black band on dorsum; S9–10 black without any markings. S8 gradually broadens towards posterior end, then again narrow downs from S9. S10 very short.

Accessory genitalia ( Fig. 10b–e). Lamina depressed. Anterior hamuli broad with blunt ends. Posterior hamuli short and setaceous. Vesica spermalis elongated. Proximal segment of genital ligula blackish brown ventrally, pale dorsally, with moderate setae. Middle segment brown, short. Apical segment flattened, spatula–shaped, pale yellow to amber, with two filaments ending with reniform tips in dorsal or ventral view. The upper corners of apical segment are pointed. Middle projection is broad, roughly triangular.

Caudal appendages ( Fig. 10f–h). Black. Cerci approximately thrice the length of S10, bears a sharp prominent spine at anterior one-third, upper border of spine making ~160° angle with the cerci.The cerci apex is broad, flattened and ending with pincer–like tip resembling thumb and fingers shape. The inner fork is short, with somewhat rounded border, resembling thumb. The outer fork is longer, with a shallow notch. A small tubercle on the dorsal surface of the cerci apex (marked with arrow). Paraprocts black, curved inwards, half the length of cerci, broad at base, tapering towards apex; apex narrow, rounded; a conspicuous tubercle at the base of inner border of paraproct.

Measurements. Abdomen without appendages 35; HW 20; total length 42.5.

Variation in males ( Figs. 11–12). IBC-BN825 is slightly darker than the holotype with reduced blue markings probably due to post–mortem changes. The apical segment of genital ligula of IBC-BN825 has prominent horns at the upper corners ( Fig. 12e–g). Rest of the characters are similar to the holotype. IBC-CD 341 male has 14 Px in both FW and 11 Px in both HW.

Measurements.

IBC-BN825: Abdomen without appendages 35; HW 21; total length 42.

Description of paratype female IBC-CD345 ( Figs. 13–14).

Head ( Fig. 13a–b). Similar to male, except the labrum, anteclypeus being more vivid blue; the brown band of the eye slightly broader and overall darker head.

Thorax. Prothorax ( Fig. 13d–e). Medium brown to dark brown, faint pale blue mark on lateral of middle lobe in life, obscure post–mortem. Anterior and middle lobe medium brown with central darker portion. Posterior lobe medium brown to dark brown with central part black, posterior border with two processes, the upper one longer, lower one very short, both the processes better seen in dorsal view.

Pterothorax ( Fig. 13f–g). Similar to male except overall darker colouration.

Legs. Coxae, femora, tibiae and tarsi pale brown; narrow dark brown streak on extensor surface of femora; tibio–femoral joint and spines dark brown.

Wings ( Figs. 13c, 14a). Hyaline; venation dark brown to black; Pt brown, rectangular, covering one cell. One cell between RP 3+4 -IR 2 and RP 2 -IR 1 in FW and HW. 2 Ax in all wings. 15 Px in both FW, 14 Px in both HW.

Abdomen ( Figs. 13c, 14e–f). Medium brown to black with pale yellow and bluish white markings. S1–2 dorsally medium brown, ventrally pale yellow; S3–4 medium brown, pale yellow at anterior end and middle of anterolateral part, black at posterior end; S5–6 black, pale marks similar to previous segments; S7 black, bluish white broad annular mark at anterior end separated by thin black line on dorsum; S8–10 black, without any markings. S1–8 are of equal breadth, S9 bulkier with transverse bulge, S10 narrow.

Caudal appendages ( Fig. 14b–d). Cerci dark brown to black, conical, approximately equal to S10, cerci apex slightly curved outwards. Paraprocts very short and globular. Vulvar scale dark brown, robust, extending beyond the abdomen.

Measurements. Abdomen without appendages 22; HW 16; total length 27.