Odonata from the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico
Dennis+R. Paulson
Washington State Museum DB-10, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
Abstract —- Sixty-eight spp. of Odon. are at based on collections that were extensive but
present known from the Yucatan Peninsula, the nevertheless made by nonspecialists. Thirty-five
from and present paper adding 25 spp. and mahy .new species were reported Campeche
localities the record. Protoneura Yucatan in that and to published paper, essentially nothing
corculum, Argia gaumeri, Anax concolor, A. has been published about the region subse-
junius, Coryphaeschna new. sp. Macrodiplax quently.
balteata, Micrathyria hageni, Perithemis inten- GLOYD (1938), CALVERT (1956) and
sa, P. mooma, Tramea binotata and T. lacerata LEONARD (1977) renamed Belonia crocei-
discussed in Aeshna are greater detail. pennis, cornigera and Acanthagrion
gracile of earlier publications asLibellula gaigei,
Introduction Aeshna psilus and Acanthagrion quadratum
Details on the distribution of Odonata in respectively. BORROR (1942), DONNELLY &
Mexico remain much as they were when the ALAYO (1966), PAULSON & GARRISON
Biologia Centrali-Americana was published (1977) and DE MARMELS & RACENIS
(CALVERT, 1901-1908). The entire Yucatan (1982) each added another species to the list of
Yucatan and Peninsula (Campeche. Quintana those known to occur on the peninsula.
remained terra I visited this in Roo) incognita odonalologica region twice, oncevery briefly
until of and the publication WILLIAMSON'S July 1965 again for a longer period in
(1936) paper on the dragonflies of the region. November 1983. I collected 219 specimens of 45 34 No. 1984 Notul. odonatol., Vol. 2, 3, pp. 33-52, June 1,
species, and, in addition, I observed 11 species roadside 6.3. mi. SW Sabancuy, 5 July 1965; -
1 did that not collect but am confident of their (3) CAMPECHE, rain ponds 24.7 mi. NE
identification. Sabancuy, 9 July 1965; — (4) CAMPECHE,
E rain pond 11.3 mi. Castamay, 8 July 1965; —
Localities (5) CAMPECHE, rain ponds 0.7 mi. E Ichek, 8
These numbered with the — are to correspond July 1965; (6) YUCATAN, estuary and
listed Table I. The numbers after each species in ponds at Celesttin, 6 November 1983; — (7)
localities listed the the are from base to tip of YUCATAN, ponds and forest edge at Uxmal,
the peninsula. 7, 15 & 16 November 1983; — (8) YUCATAN,
Pedro San N (I) CAMPECHE, Rio San at aguada 8.8 mi. Muna, 8 July 1965; — (9)
9 — Pedro, July 1965; (2) CAMPECHE, YUCATAN, M6rida, 8 July 1965; — (10)
Table I — List of the Odonata recorded from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Stales Years „ States Years c _ SpeciesSpec,es ReCOrdSRecords C Y QR 65 83
Lestidae
• Lestes 7 forficulaforfícula xxX X XxxX 3, 4, 5, 7
L. L. lenualustenuatus xxX X Xx L, 8
**L **L. tikalustikalus xX xX 7
Protoneuridae
Neoneura amelia xX L
ProtoneuraProloneura corculum Xx Xx xX L,L, 8, 1111
Coenagrionidae
••*• AcanthagrionAcanlhagrioninexpectuminexpedum xxX X XxxX 5, 7,8
A. A. quadratumquadratum Xx L
Anomalagrion hastatumhastalum Xx L
Argia gaumeri xxX X xxX X L,L, 7, 8
A. A. translatatransíala Xx LL
*• minutum Argiallagma minulum xxX X xxX X 5, 7, 8
EnacanthaEnacanlha caribbea xxX X xX xX L,L, 5,5,77
*hchnura*Ischnura capreola xX xX 5
I.1. ramburi 8 tamburi XxxX xxX X L, 3, 4, 5, 6S, 7, 8
Leptobasis vacillansvacilians xX LL
•* •* cultellatum 8 Neoerythrommacullellalum Xx xX Xx 3, 8
Telebasis collopistescollopistes xX L
T. filiolafilióla xxX X xxX X L
T. salva xxX X xxX X L, 5S, 7, 8
Aeshnidae
L Aeshna psilus xX L
*Anax amaziliamazili Xx xX 5
*A.*/4. concolorconcolor xX Xx 7
• *A.A. junius xxX X xX 6S,6S, 7, IOS,I0S, I2SI2S
•* Coryphaeschna adnexa xX xX 8S
*C. viriditasviridii as xX xX xX 7,7, I2S, I3S
•• 7S Coryphaeschna sp. n. xX xX
• mexicana 7 GynacanthaGynacanlha xX xX 7
*G. 7 *G. nervosanen'osa xxX X xxX X 2, 6S, 7
* *TriacanthagynaTriacanthagyna caribbea Xx Xx 2
• T. septimaséptima Xx xX 2 "Notul. No. odonatol., Vol. 2, 3, pp. 33-52, June I, 1984 35
Table I —(continued)
Stales Years „ Years • SpeCICSSpecies ReCOrdsRecords CC Y QR 65 83
Libellulidae
* *Anal normalis 7 Anatyaya normalis XxxX 7
Brachymesiafurcata xxX X Xx L, 3S, 8
B. herbida xxX X xxX X L, 3S, 7, 8
Cannaphila insularis xX xX L, 8
DythemisDylhemis sterilissrerilis xxX X xX L, 9
*Erythemis attalaaliala xX xX 7S
E. E. haematogastrahaemalogaslra xX L
E. E. mithroides xxX X xX L, 7S
E. E. plebejapleheja xxX X xX L, 3,3,5,5, 8
E. simplicicollis xxX X Xx L, 3S, 8
E. vesiculosavesiculosa xxxX X X XxxX L, 3, 5S, 6S, 7S, 8, IOS, I2S,12S, I3SI3S
bereniceBerenice ErylhrodiplaxErythrodiplax xxxX X X XxxX L, 3,6S,3, 6S, IOS, I3S
E. E. fervida xxX X XxxX L, 7S, 8S, IOS
E. E. fusca xxX X Xx L, 5,5,88
E. umbrata E. umbrala xxxX X X xxX X L, 3S.3S, 5, 6S, IIS,IIS, 12, I3SI3S
cubensis *Idiataphe*ldialaphe XxxX xX 3S, 8S
LibellulaLibellula L gaigei xX L
L. L. herculeahercúlea xX L
Macrodiplax balteataballeala xX xx X X L, 6S, 8S, IOS10S
cella *Miathyria mar xX xX 7S
Micrathyriaaequalis xxX X Xx L, 3
M. M. debilis xxX X Xx L, 3,83, 8
M. M. didyma xxX X xX L, 8
M. hageni xxX X xxX X L, 3,5,73, 5, 7 OrthemisOnhemis ferruginea ferruginea xxxX X X xxX X L, 3S, 5, 6S, 7, 8, IIS, 13S
O. levis xX Xx L, 8S
PantalaPanlala ßavescensflavescens xxxX X X X xxX L, 2, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7S, 8S,8S, IOS,IOS, I1 IS,
I2S, I3S
*P. hymenaea xxX X xxX X 2,4S,2, 4S, 5,6S5, 6S
PerithemisPerilhemis domitiadomilia xxX X xxX X L, 7, 8, I3S13S
P. intensa P. xX L
P. P. mooma xxX X xxX X L, 7, 8
Planiplax xx sanguinivetrissanguinivenlris X X Xx L, 8
*TholymisTholymis citrina xX citrina Xx xxX X 2, I3SI3S
Tramea abdominalis 7 xxX X xxX X L.L, 5, 7
*T.*T binotatabinatala xX xX I3S
T. calvenicalverti xxxX X X XxxX L, 1,3,I, 3, 5S,5S, 6, 7, 8,8, IOS, I2S
• *T.T. lateratalacerala xxX X xX 6S,6S, I3S
*T. onusta xxX X xX 6S.6S, 7, IOS, 12S, I3S
States: = = C = Campeche, Y Yucatan, — QR Quintana Roo, Years: 65 = July 1965, 83 = No-
vember 1983. — Records: L = literature, numbers as indicated = in text; S sight record only. — * = ••
first record for Yucatan Peninsula. — = first specified locality for Mexico. 36 Notul. odonatol., Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 33-52, June 1, 1984
YUCATAN, coastal scrub and mangroves east were not exhaustive, 1 did look for Odonata at
of — Chicxulub, 14 November 1983; (II) ponds and ditches representative of all the
YUCATAN, cenote and rain habitats the puddles at aquatic seen on island, and I was
5 November — Chichen-ltzi, 1983; (12) surprised at the relatively low diversity of
QUINTANA ROO, rain puddles and forest species there, in particular the lack of
edge at Canctin airport, 17 November 1983; — Zygoptera. In addition to the species recorded
Table (13) QUINTANA ROO, Isla Cozumel, 3 in 1, I saw an unidentified Anax and
November 1983. members of the group of red species of Tramea
with narrow wing markings (abdominalis,
List of species calverti and insularis); thus at least 13 species
Table I lists all the species presently known to occur occur on island, and future visits will
on the Yucatan Peninsula, with records from doubtless add others.
each of the three indicated. states They total 68 The following species merit additional
species, of which 25 (37%) are first recorded comment.
from the herein. Five of them are first Protoneura peninsula corculum and Argia gaumeri —
recorded from in Mexico, Unlike other oftheir in a specified locality members genera Middle
all were listed PAULSON these and thus although by (1982) America, are pond species are
with localities 8 no specified. The occurrence of adapted for distribution on the streamless
species ofAnisoptera is based solely on my sight Yucatan Peninsula, Even more interesting is the
records, but all they are species that are readily apparent abundance of Argia translata at
identifiable in the field and with which I have Xtoloc Cenote, Chichen-It/a (WILLIAMSON,
had considerable experience. Sight records of as this is in 1936), species always on streams my
Odonata should be as readily acceptable (and as experience.
critically as those of at least for Anax and judged) birds, concolor Micrathyria hageni —
These many species. two species were abundant at forest
ponds at Uxmal, and I was surprised to see both
Discussion species on territory and mating at 17:20 hours
Both visits were during the the rainy season, after sun had disappeared behind the forest
the although 1983 one took place during an and light levels were so low that it was difficult
unusual prolongation of that season, perhaps to see them very well. I thought at first the Anax another of the effects of far-reaching ”E 1 Nino" were Gynacantha until I saw them more clearly, of that I travelled lush I other Anax year. Everywhere was and have never seen any on and grean, many dragonflies were on territory territory so late in the day. MAY (1980) found
and of of the and mating, young individuals some hagenito be one species of Micrathyria species indicated continued In most that and low emergence. began flying early at relatively
it would be drier in I nevertheless years November, and temperatures, but was amazed to
Odonata be activity might more reduced by that see what I considered a normally heliophilic time in a normal year. Forty-three species were libellulid reproductively active under such low recorded in July 1965 and 37 species in light intensity.
the M ales November 1983. Only 24 species (35% of Anax junius — were seenon territory at
both 19 localities total) were observed on visits, were seen 7 and 12. and a pair oviposited in in but November, tandem at the latter. Individuals July not and 13 were seen in were seen
These coastal scrub November but not July. differences may flying over at localities 6 and 10.
the that records be stem primarily from fact different These are the first to published ofthis localities were visited on each trip, but some species breeding in tropical Mexico (I have species the visit similar records for Mazatlan, Sinaloa, present during July may well on 31 have ended and their flight seasons by November, August 1965) furnish support for the and certain species ( Anax junius. Tramea hypothesis that individuals of A. junius, after lacerata and in November in the North, perhaps onusta) seen emergence migrate south in fall to
not in breed in southern United arc probably present July. States and parts of
I Although my observations on Isla Cozumel tropical America. suspect that the offspring of Notul. Vol. No. June 1984 37 odonatol, 2, 3, pp. 33-52, 1,
these individuals emerge in late winter or spring of Nannothemis bella, generally considered the and migrate north, providing the early records smallest western hemisphere anisopteran. Only that well-known of the of from the smallest are a part phenology Nannophya pygmaea Asia, this species in northern North America anisopteran in the World, is smaller than this
(CALVERT, 1934; TROTT1ER, 1966). My individual P. mooma.
southern Tramea observations in Florida (PAULSON, binotata — This is the black species
1 have RAM 1966) and information accumulated of BUR (1842), renamed as Tramea wal- subsequently (Paulson, ms.) about emergence keri by WHITEHOUSE (1943), not the red and that flight seasons support this hypothesis, but Antillean species should be known as larvae have not been followed through the Tramea insularis HAGEN (1861) but has been
is winter in any southern locality so far, nor called binotata throughout the literature. This there direct evidence of this migration based on black species occurs at least as far north as marked individuals. central Veracruz (17.6 mi. N & E Huatusco, II
and Coryphaeschna new species — This species, August 1965, specimens in my collection) larger than C. viriditas and with brown widely in Middle and northern South America. abdomen is The red be and green, brown-flecked thorax, species appears to restricted to the
from known at present from six specimens West Indies and southern Florida.
— A southern Mexico and Costa Rica. A female that Tramea lacerata few were seen at ponds cruised by me at Uxmal was unmistakable. at both Celestiin and the east side of Isla Cozu-
Macrodiplax balteata — At Celestiin, males mel, appearing to be on territory along with
other Tramea. Known were common and on territory over extensive species of previously
I have beds of Chara in a brackish estuary. often in Mexico only from Matamoros, Tamaulipas
the seen this species associated with Chara and (HAGEN, 1861), at United States border, consider it an important larval habitat. The this species probably occurs regularly in far
northern observation at locality 8, a fresh-water pond 80 Mexico, as it is common in the border km from the coast, was unusual for this states (I have collected it just north ofthe border primarily coastal species. in both California and Texas), but I had never
intensa — This observed the Perithemes species, recorded it before in course of travels from Yucatan by both CALVERT (1901-08) throughout Mexico. The Yucatan Peninsula
and WILLIAMSON (1936), has otherwise not populationis surely isolated from the rest ofthe
been collected east of Puebla and Guerrero North American range, T. lacerata is thought to
1 (R1S, 1930; my collections) have found it be a fall emigrant from southern Canada
in the lowlands of Mexico and & EDA, and it have in common western (CORBET 1969), may
the but on Mexican Plateau never in the Gulf part a life cycle like that of Anax junius
the Isthmus lowlands, of Tehuantepec pr postulated above. If so, the Yucatan Peninsula
Chiapas. Perhaps an isolated population ofthis may receive at least a fraction of the individuals
species occurs in Yucatan, but I suggest that the that migrate south through eastern North
records be anomalous nature of these kept in America.
mind pending reexamination of the specimens
I in question. Acknowledgements — thank LYNN ERCK-
Perithemis mooma — Two of the specimens MANN for her assistance and companionship
from locality 8 are extremely small, much in 1965. and JOSEPH VAN OS. MARK DI
smaller than other of the 175 of any specimens GIROLAMO and S1EVERT ROHWER for
in collection and smaller mooma my than any sharingexpenses and experiences in 1983.
other I have Perithemis seen. The hind wing
II length of 13.5 mm and abdomen length of References BORROR. D.J.. 1942, A revision
of the smaller individual mm make it smaller of the lihelluline genus Erylhrodiplax. Ohio St.
than any specimen examined by RIS (1930). Univ.. Columbus; — CALVERT. P.P., 1901-
the South American including specimens that he -1908. Biologia Cenlrali-Americana. Vol. 50:
considered small. From very direct comparison, Neuroptera (Odonata). Porter. Dulau & Co.,
than that its wing area is less of most specimens London; — 1934. Proc. Am.phil, Soc. 73: 1-70: Notul. Vol. No. 38 odonatol., 2, 3, pp. 33-52, June 1, 1984
— 1956, Mem. Am. em. Soc. 15: 1-251; — Villalobos-Figueroa, [Eds], Aquatic biota of
CORBET, P.S., & S. EDA, 1969, Tombo 12:4- Mexico, Central America and the West Indies,
— DE -11; & J. San St. — MARMELS, J., RÁCENIS, pp. 249-277, Diego Univ.;
R.W. 1982, Odonalologica Il: 109-128;— DONNEL- PAULSON D.R. & GARRISON, 1977,
LY, T.W., & P. ALAYO D., 1966, Fla Em. 49: Pan-Pacif. Em. 53: 147-160; RAMEUR,
107-114; — GLOYD, L.K., 1938, Occ. Pap. M.P., 1842. Histoire naturelle des insecles
Mus. zooi Univ. Mich. 377: — HAGEN. — 1-4; nevropteres, Roret, Paris; RIS, F., 1930,
H.A.. 1861, Synopsis of the Neuropiera of Misc. Pubis Mus. Zooi Univ. Mich. 21: 1-50;
North America. Smithsonian Mise. Coll,, TROTTI ER, R„ 1966, Can. Em. 98: 794-
— Washington; LEONARD, J.W., 1977, Misc. -798; — WHITEHOUSE, F.C., 1943, Bull. Inst.
Pubis Jamaica Mus. Zooi Univ. Mich. 153: 1-173; — (Sci.) 3: 1-69; — WILLIAMSON,
9: MAY, M.L., 1980, Odonalologica 57-74; — E.B., 1936, Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pubi 457:
PAULSON. DR., 1966, The dragonflies 139-143.
(Odonala: Anisoplera) of southern Florida,
Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. Miami, Coral Gables; Received December 12, 1983
— 1982, Odonata, in: S.H. Hurlbert & A.