Odonatologica 15 (I): 61-76 January 28, 1986 Diceratobasis melanogasterspec. nov., a new damsel- fly from the DominicanRepublic (Zygoptera: Coenagri- onidae), with taxonomicand distributionalnotes on the Odonata of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico R.W. Garrison 1030 Fondale Street, Azusa, California 91702-0821, United States Received August 9, 1985 /Accepted September 17, 1985 D. Tra- melanogaster sp. n., Ischnura capreola, Anax amazili, Tholymis citrina, recorded for viriditas, mea binotata arenewly Hispaniola; Coryphaeschna Miathyria Tramea T. simplex, Tauriphila australis, Tholymis citrina, binotata, and calverti are newfor Puerto Rico. — D. melanogastersp. n. (Dom. Rep.; La Vega Prov., roadside cuts along Constanza Rd, 15 km E of Autopista Duarte, elev. 1000 m, 8 Aug. 1983, D. in horns thebasal of R.W. Garrison) differs from macrogaster lacking on segment the and in IR recessed to the third or fourth crossvein of the second penis having 2 series just proximal to the pterostigma in both wings(recessed to first orsecond in D. macrogaster). The generic status of Diceratobasis is discussed, and a key is presented for most neotropical coenagrionids which lack postocular spots. — Extended discussions are given on inter-island variability of Telebasis dominicana and T. well the the vulnerata, as as validity of subspecies Cannaphila insularis funerea. INTRODUCTION From 1979 to 1982, I lived in Puerto Rico and collected there and in Hispani- ola. The odonate fauna of Puerto Rico is relatively well known and has been documentedin detail by KLOTS (1932) and GARCIA-DIAZ( 1938). Hispaniola is still poorly known. No works specifically treat its Odonata, but certain species from the Dominican Republic were discussed by NEEDHAM (1941a, 1941b) and WESTFALL (1964b, 1976). PAULSON (1982) tabulated 54 species for Hispaniola and 42 for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, respectively, based on in his collection. is twofold: to literature records and material My purpose here (1) describe of extended the a new species Diceratobasis, give comments on genus, 62 R.W. Garrison for and provide a key most neotropical coenagrionids lacking postocular spots, and (2) to supplement Paulson’s list with new records, in some cases elaborating on poorly known species from the two islands. DICERATOBASIS MELANOGASTER SPEC. NOV. Figures I, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14 Material — Holotype rj: DOM. REP.: La VegaProv., roadside cuts alongConstanza Rd, 15km elev. 1000 8 — Same data E of Autopista Duarte, m, August 1983 (R.W. Garrison). Allotype $. as Same data and holotype. — Paratype $. as holotype. Holotype allotype in collection of United States National Museum, Washington, D.C. Paratype in author’s collection. Male. — Head: Labrum, clypeus, frons and vertex entirely matte black with slight cupreous luster, a small orange tear-shaped spot advancing 45° anteriorly distad between median and posterior ocelli (Fig. 1); labium pale ivory, rear of for small behind head black except pale yellow area directly occiput; antennae black. Thorax: Dorsum of prothorax matte black with slight cupreous luster and with small red spot on lateral margin of anterior lobe and at anterolateral margin of middle lobe, posterior lobe as shown in Fig. 3; sides ofprothorax ivory with slight reddish cast. Dorsum of synthorax entirely matte black with metallic overtones (Fig. 1) and with small trace ofred-yellow along humeral suture; all of mesepimer- on and anterior part of mesinfraepistemum black, rest ofthorax ivory but with black from mesepimeron extending over to distal anterior margin of metepister- and lateral Metastemum with num along second suture. pale ivory narrow black line of of running between metacoxae halfway to base abdomen, a touch black also distal of Coxae present along posterior margin metepimeron. and trochan- ters ivory; exterior surfaces of femora washed with brown, especially at apices, inner surfaces paler, tibiae smoky yellow with lateral margins brown; armature and tarsi black. Wings hyaline; venation black, pterostigma dark brown, paler along inside borders. Wings petioled to just beyond Ac (Fig. 7), arculus slightly distal to 2nd antenodal in all K before5th wings; postnodals; |y jy ; 3 arising just antenodal in forewings, beyond 4th and just before 3rd antenodalin hind wings; vein IR arising at 4th antenodalofsecond series before pterostigma in forewings; 2 at 4th and 3.5 before pterostigma in hind wings. metallic sides with Abdomen: Segments 1-2 black on dorsum, pale ivory along distinct reddish cast along black margin; segments 3-7 like 1 and 2 but with ivory anterior of extending dorsally along margin segment, not quite meeting ivory 1-9. and lateral Figs (Figs I, 3, 5, 7-8): Diceratobasis melanogaster sp. n.: (I) Thorax head, view (holotype); — (3a) prothorax, dorsolateral view. (3b) posterior lobe of prothorax, dorsal view; — same as — (5a, b) 3a, b. but for paratype 2; (7a) base of forewing (paratype), (7b) forewing — (paratype); — (8a) (Jcaudal appendages, lateral view, (8b) same, dorsal view. (Figs 2,4, 6. 9): D. macrogaster (Selys), $ & 2: Jamaica, Trelawncy Parish, Windsor Estate about 12 mi S ofFalmouth, 20 August I960, M.J. Westfall, Jr and P. Drummond (FSCA): Figure legends as forD. melanogaster. Diceratobasis melanogaster sp. n. 63 64 R.W. Garrison fromother 8-10 similar 1 and 2. side; segments to segments Appendages (Fig. 8) smoky brown; superior appendages small, blunt, conical, with decurved tips when viewed dorsally (Fig. 8b); inferior appendages about twice as long as superiors, curvilinear and slightly bent ventrally toward tip. Penis similar thatof but with distal (Fig. 10) to D. macrogaster (Selys) (Fig. 11) end less concave and emarginate. In ventral view, penis of D. melanogaster with sides more parallel than those of D. macrogaster. Basalsegment ofpenis (Fig. 12) entire and lacking the divergent horns present in D. macrogaster (Fig. 13). Measurements (in mm). — Holotype: abdomen 37, hind wing 23. Female. — Overall colorationand patternas in male. Hind lobe ofprothorax similar of as shown in Figure 5. Ovipositor (Fig. 14) to that D. macrogaster(Fig. cerci. 15) but more slender and extending beyond Postnodals: allotype: ; paratype: R (allotype) arising just before5th -jj • 3 antenodal in before 4th in hind for vein IR forewings, wings, same paratype; 2 (allotype) arising at 4th antenodalof second series in forewings, at 4th and 3rd in hind in IR at 5th antenodal ofsecond series to wings; paratype, 2 arising proximal pterostigma in forewings, at 4th and 3rd postnodals in hind wings. Figs 10-15. (Figs 10, 12, 14): Diceratobasis melanogastersp. n.: (10a) Penis, lateral view, (10b)same, — — abdominal ventral view; (12) abdominal segments 1-3, ventrolateral view; (14) segments 8-10, — for lateral view. (Figs II, 13, 15); D. macrogaster (Selys): Figure legends as D. melanogaster. Diceralobasis melanogaster sp. n. 65 Measurements (in mm). — Allotype and paratype: abdomen 37, hindwing 24. Etymology:"melanogaster”: Greek for black abdomen. The namealludes to the large amountof the abdomen. black present on the body, including DISCUSSION male of is The D. melanogaster easily distinguished from its only congener, D. macrogaster, by the absence ofthe forked process at the base of the penis vesicle (Figs 12, 13). D. melanogaster has only a small, thin pale humeralstripe, while the is entire humeral area in D. macrogaster reddish-brown(Figs 1,2). The prothora- cic hindlobe ofthe males(Figs 3,4) and females(Figs 5,6) is also diagnostic: these structures are not as ornate in D. melanogaster. The caudalappendages of the males are similar, but the superior appendages are, in lateral view, blunter and thicker in D. melanogaster than in D. macrogaster. A most distinctive venation location of of difference is the the IR . In D. its is origin 2 melanogaster, origin recessed to the 3rd or 4th crossvein of the second series just proximal to the in both fore and hind pterostigma wings (Fig. 7). In the pair of D. macrogaster I have examined, this vein recesses to the 1st or 2nd postnodal crossveins of the second series just proximal to the pterostigma in fore and hind wings. is far from Diceratobasis melanogaster thus known only the type locality, and I presume it is endemic to Hispaniola. I encountered this species unexpectedly as I was collecting and photographing specimens of the endemic satyrid butterfly, Calisto chrysaoros Bates. The butterflies were alighting on fern tips by a road cut, first and I soon saw my specimen of D. melanogaster. Because it did not hang with its it pendant wings outspread, 1 recognized as new. I discovered another after extensive found specimen, but an search, only one more female. The species fern water observed in perched on tips or grass. No nor other odonates were the vicinity. The life history of D. melanogaster is unknown, but the larva may be bromeliadicolous, as is the larva of D. macrogaster. THE GENUS DICERATOBASIS described Originally by Selys as Agrion macrogaster in 1857, the species was transferred to Leptobasis? by SELYS in 1877, to Agrion (Nehalennia) by GUND- LACH in 1888, to Telebasis by CARPENTER in 1896 and 1897; and finally KENNEDY (1920) erected a new genus, Diceratobasis, to include this unusual defined species. KENNEDY (1920) the genus briefly: "Characters as in Metalep- tobasis, but male without thoracic horns, while a large pair of horns occur on the seminal vesicle”. undescribed of However, an species Metaleptobasis I have from thoracic Ecuador has minute horns uncharacteristicof the genus. The inclusion of D. melanogaster, which, in my opinion, represents the more generalized form of the two species in the genus, also invalidates the use of the horns of the seminal 66 R.W. Garrison vesicle as a generic character. The two genera differ principally in two characters: Metaleptobasis lacks a supplementary tarsal claw, while Diceratobasis possesses and one; Metaleptobasis possesses mesepistemal horns, while Diceratobasis lacks them. When I began to study D. melanogaster, 1 seriously doubted the validity of the genus despite the fact that WESTFALL (1964a, 1976) had no doubts about its validity after studying the larva of D.