Damselflies of the genus Argia Rambur, 1842 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Mexico, Central America and the Lesser Antilles with descriptions of five new species.

A total of 73 species of Argia Rambur, 1842 are reported as present from Mexico, Central America and the Lesser Antilles, of which five are new to science and are described here: Argia annae n. sp. (holotype ♂: MEXICO, Veracruz, Puente Texolo, roadside seepages near bridge, 19.4028°N, 96.9867°W, 1065 m, 17 June 2009, Rosser W. Garrison & Natalia von Ellenrieder leg., in CSCA), Argia gonzalezi n. sp. (holotype ♂: MEXICO, Chiapas, 3.5 mi east of Rayón, stream, approximately 17.2058°N, 92.9700°W, 1676 m, 16 July 1965, Dennis R. Paulson leg., in CNIN), A. noveloi n. sp. (holotype ♂: MEXICO, Veracruz, Puente Texolo, 19.4028°N, 96.9867°W, 1065 m, 26 August 1988, Rosser W. Garrison leg., in INECOL), A. paludicola n. sp. (holotype ♂: U. S. A., Arizona, Apache County, Bog Tank, north of Highway 260, 34.0467°N, 109.683°W, 1400 m, 1 July 2016, Pierre Deviche leg., in CSCA) and A. paulsoni n. sp. (holotype ♂: COSTA RICA, San José, 7.5 km northeast of Londres, on road to Rancho Tinamú Lodge, 9.4856°N, 83.9911°W, 700 m, 5 July 2019, William A. Haber leg., in UNH). Redescriptions of male and female are provided for the following species: Argia calida (Hagen, 1861), A. chelata Calvert, 1902, A. deami Calvert, 1902, A. fulgida Navás, 1934, A. herberti Calvert, 1902, A. johannella Calvert, 1907, A. mayi González-Soriano, 2012, A. percellulata Calvert, 1902, A. pocomana Calvert, 1907, A. rogersi Calvert, 1902, A. talamanca Calvert, 1907, A. terira Calvert, 1907, A. underwoodi Calvert, 1907, and A. variabilis Selys, 1865. All 73 species are measured, illustrated, and distinguished from their congeners. The following synonymies are suggested based on examination of type material: A. wilsoni Calvert, 1902, a junior synonym of A. calida (Hagen, 1861), A. plana Calvert, 1902, a junior synonym of A. funebris (Hagen, 1861), and A. trifoliata Fraser, 1942 (Fig. 736), a junior synonym of A. variegata Förster, 1914. Lectotypes are designated for Agrion calidum Hagen, 1861, Agrion funebris Hagen, 1861, and Argia variabilis Selys, 1865. Keys to the 73 known Argia species from Mexico, Middle America and the Lesser Antilles are provided as well as distribution maps based on an examination of over 16,000 specimens.

Phylogeny of the Synlestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera), with an emphasis on Chlorolestes Selys and Ecchlorolestes Barnard.

The Synlestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera) of southern Africa comprise some highly localized species. All but one species are endemic to South Africa, and many to the Cape Floristic Region. Here we present the first phylogenetic reconstruction of the southern African Synlestidae using nuclear and mitochondrial molecular data. The genera Ecchlorolestes and Chlorolestes are monophyletic, and we propose that the Neotropical family Perilestidae consisting of two genera, Perilestes and Perissolestes, be sunk within Synlestidae. We discuss the intra-familial relationships for the southern African Synlestidae.

Darwin Returns to the Galapagos: Genetic and Morphological Analyses Confirm the Presence of Tramea darwini at the Archipelago (Odonata, Libellulidae).

The status of the Tramea species present in the Galapagos Islands (Odonata, Libellulidae) has been the subject of a long-standing debate among odonatologists. Here, we use molecular and morphological data to analyze a series of specimens from this genus collected in 2018 from the Islands of San Cristobal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz, with the aim of determining their relationship with Tramea calverti Muttkowski and with their currently considered senior synonym T. cophysa Hagen. We combined sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA with morphological examination of several specimens of Tramea, including representatives of continental T. cophysa and T. calverti. Our molecular analyses place the Tramea from Galapagos in the same clade as T. calverti, with T. cophysa as a closely related species. The morphological analyses found only one consistent difference between T. cophysa and T. calverti: the presence of an accessory lobe in the male vesica spermalis of T. cophysa that is absent in T. calverti and in the Tramea from Galapagos. In agreement with our genetic results, the overall morphological differences documented by us indicate that the Galapagos material examined is conspecific with T. calverti. In light of this, and following the principle of priority in taxonomic nomenclature, Tramea calverti Muttkowski, 1910 should hereafter be considered a junior synonym of Tramea darwini Kirby, 1889.

Argia nataliae n. sp. from Colombia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

Argia nataliae n. sp. (Holotype ♂: COLOMBIA, Antioquia Department, Estación Cristalina, about. 28 km west of Puerto Berrio, ca. 6.41 N, 74.58 W, 16 ii 1917, Jesse Hunter Edward Bruce Williamson leg., in University of Michigan [UMMZ]) is described and illustrated and compared with similar species.

Argia mauffrayi n. sp. from Ecuador (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

Argia mauffrayi n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Pichincha Province, San Miguel de Los Bancos Cantón, Recinto Milpe, Milpe Bird Sanctuary, Mirador Uno Trail, 0.0333° N, 78.8661 W, 4 ix 2018, William F. Mauffray leg., in Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre USFQ [ZSFQ]) is described and illustrated and compared with similar species.

Damselflies of the genus Argia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Ecuador with descriptions of five new species.

Treinta y una especies de Argia son registradas de Ecuador, de las cuales dos, A. huanacina Förster y A. jocosa Hagen, constituyen nuevos registros para el país, y cinco son nuevas para la ciencia y son descriptas aquí: Argia acridens n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Manabí, 79 km al oeste de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 0°20' S, 79°46' O, 260 m, 7 Mayo 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., en USNM), Argia cuspidata n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: 19 km al este de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 0°18'49'' S, 79°1'44'' O, 740 m, 7 Mayo 1975, A. Langley J. Cohen leg., en USNM), A. philipi n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: BOLIVIA, Dept. Cochabamba, Prov. Chapare: arroyo 5 km al sur de Villa Tunari, mediodía, 16°59'49" S, 65°24'28" O, 350 m, 4 Noviembre 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., en FSCA), Argia selysi n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Napo: Jatun Yacu, Cuenca del Río Napo, 1°1' S, 77°50' O, 700 m, 18 Abril 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., en UMMZ) y A. tennesseni n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Orellana: arroyo 8.5 km al este de Loreto, 0°37' 6" S, 77°17' 42" O, 360 m, 14 Septiembre 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., en FSCA). Las nuevas especies son ilustradas y diagnosticadas de sus congéneres, y sus áreas de distribución conocidas son mapeadas. Para ayudar en su identificación, se proveen también ilustraciones y /o mapas de distribución de especies relacionadas, incluyendo a: A. adamsi Calvert, A. difficilis Selys, A. dives Förster, A. huanacina Förster, A. fulgida Navás, A. infrequentula Fraser, A. jocosa Hagen en Selys, A. joergenseni Ris, A. limitata Navás, A. medullaris Selys, A. orichalcea Hagen en Selys y A. ulmeca Calvert. Argia columbiana Navás y A. rectangula Navás son tratadas como sinónimos junior subjetivos de Argia medullaris Selys. Se proporciona una clave para las ocho especies conocidas metálicas rojas de Argia de América del Sur.

A synopsis of the Neotropical genus Protoneura (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

A synopsis of the Neotropical genus Protoneura is presented, including an identification key to its 22 species accompanied by illustrations of diagnostic characters, and characterizations, diagnoses, and distribution maps for all species. A lectotype is designated for P. peramans Calvert in Skinner, 1902.

New species of the damselfly genus Argia from Mexico, Central America and Ecuador with an emphasis on Costa Rica (Insecta: Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

Seven new species of Argia are described, five of which occur in Costa Rica: Argia calverti n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Costa Rica, Cartago Prov., Tapantí Reserve, 1,310 m, 6 vii 1963, F. G. Thompson leg., in FSCA); Argia carolus n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Costa Rica, San José Prov., El Rodeo Biological Reserve, 7 km W of Villa Colón, 9°54' N, 84°16' W, 561 m, 10-13 vii 1990, T. W. Donnelly leg., in FSCA); Argia elongata n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Costa Rica, Cartago Prov., Reventazón river, SE of Turrialba by highway 10, 9°52'56'' N, 83°38'49'' W, 561 m, 10 viii 1979, R. W. & J. A. Garrison leg., in CSCA); Argia haberi n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Costa Rica, San José Prov., Bosque del Tolomuco, km 118 on Pan American highway, in seeps and trickles through brushy pasture on forested hillside, 9°28'18'' N, 83°41'48'' W, 1,710 m, 27 iii 2006, F. Sibley leg., in FSCA); Argia schorri n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Costa Rica, Puntarenas Prov., 2.8 mi E of Golfito, 8°39' N, 83°7' W, 35 m, 4 vii 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr. & M. A. Ortiz B. leg., in USNM), and two which are so far only known from Mexico and Ecuador respectively: Argia rudolphi n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Mexico, Puebla State, Zihuateutla, Sierra de Huauchinango, La Unión, in drainage area, 20°14'25'' N, 97°53'38'' W, 596 m, 21 v 1987, R. Novelo & A. Gómez leg., in CSCA) and Argia schneideri n. sp. (Holotype ♂, Ecuador, Napo Prov., Las Palmas, on Anzu river in Napo river watershed, 11 xii 1936, W. Clark-MacIntyre leg., in UMMZ). All the new species, as well as closely related species needed for diagnosis including A. anceps Garrison, A. cupraurea Calvert, A. cuprea (Hagen), A. extranea (Hagen), A. fissa Selys, A. fulgida Navás, A. oenea Hagen in Selys, A. popoluca Calvert, A. rhoadsi Calvert, and A. westfalli Garrison, are illustrated and diagnosed from their congeners and their known distribution areas are mapped.

Damselflies of the genus Argia of the Guiana Shield (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

This revision of all 21 species of Argia known to occur within the Guiana Shield includes descriptions of new species, synonymies, keys to both sexes based primarily on morphology of caudal appendages and genital ligula in males and of the mesostigmal plates in females, diagnoses accompanied by illustrations and distribution maps for all species. Twelve new species are described: A. appendiculata (Holotype ♂: Venezuela, Amazonas State, Cerro de la Neblina, Base Camp, 0°50' N, 66°10' W, 18 ii 1985, P.J. & P.M. Spangler, R.A. Faitoute leg., in USNM), A. azurea (Holotype ♂: Guyana, Potaro-Siparuni Region, Kaieteur Ravine, about 5°10' N, 59°28' W, 11 iv 1912, J.M. Geddes leg., in UMMZ), A. cuneifera (Holotype ♂: Venezuela, Amazonas State, Cerro de la Neblina, Base Camp, 0°50' N, 66°10' W, 20-24 iii 1984, O.S. Flint, Jr. & J.A. Louton leg., in USNM), A. deceptor (Holotype ♂: French Guiana, Cayenne Department, Régina Commune, Saut Athanase, 4°10'59" N, 52°20'6" W, 9 x 2001, L. Juillerat leg, in MHNN), A. donnellyi (Holotype ♂: Venezuela, Bolívar State, small marsh and creek on plateau surface above Coñac River, 10 km E of El Paují; about 4°31' N, 61°31' W, 5 viii 1990, RWG leg., in CSCA), A. gemella (Holotype ♂: Brazil, Amazonas State, Reserva Ducke, 26 km E Manaus (3°0'15'' S, 59°56'23'' W, 120 m), 2-4 ii 1979, O.S. Flint Jr. leg., in USNM), A. guyanica (Holotype ♂: Venezuela, Amazonas State, Cerro de la Neblina, Camp IV, 0°58' N, 65°57' W, 15-18 iii 1984, O.S. Flint, Jr. leg., in USNM), A. joallynae (Holotype ♂: Venezuela, Bolívar State, Canaima, palm marsh, 6°14'30" N, 62°50'53" W, 22-25 ix 1980, R.W. & J.A. Garrison. leg., in CSCA), A. loutoni (Holotype ♂: Brazil, Amazonas State, Purus River, Nova Olinda, about 3°30' S, 57°56' W, 6 ii 1979, O.S. Flint, Jr. leg., in FSCA), A. meioura (Holotype ♂: Brazil, Amazonas State, Manaus, about 2°55' S, 59°59' W, 26 vi 1922, J.H. Williamson & J.W. Strohm leg., in UMMZ), A. palmata (Holotype ♂: Brazil, Amazonas State, Manaus, about 5 miles N of Flores on route to Campos Sales, small creek in virgin forest, about 3°0'S, 60°1' W, 15 vi 1922, J.H. Williamson & J.W. Strohm leg., in UMMZ), and A. recurvata (Holotype ♂: Venezuela, Amazonas State, San Carlos de Río Negro, 1°55' N, 67°4' W, 97 m, 14-21 iii 1984, J. De Marmels leg., in MIZA). The status of Argia impura Rambur, 1842, is discussed and the following nomenclatural changes are proposed: Argia stigmatica Navás, 1934 and A. umbriaca Fraser, 1946 are considered junior synonyms of Argia indicatrix Calvert, 1902, and Argia eliptica Selys, 1865 and A. icterica Navás, 1934 are considered junior synonyms of A. oculata Hagen in Selys, 1865.

Mitragomphus ganzanus Needham, 1944, a geographically misplaced dragonfly, is a junior synonym of Gomphidia kirschii Selys, 1878 (Odonata: Gomphidae).

Based on comparison of specimens and descriptions, Mitragomphus ganzanus Needham, 1944, described from Braganza [Bragança], Pará State, Brazil, and known only from the holotype, is found to be a junior synonym of Gomphidia kirschii Selys, 1878, a species from the Philippines. The monotypic genus Mitragomphus Needham, 1944, is synonymized with the genus Gomphidia Selys, 1854. 

Review of Oxystigma Selys with the synonymy of Oxystigma williamsoni Geijskes (Odonata: Heteragrionidae).

Oxystigma williamsoni Geijskes, 1976 is synonymized with Oxystigma petiolatum (Selys, 1862), based on a reexamination of an extensive series of both taxa identified by D. Geijskes in the RMNH. Illustrations of the variability for both taxa and illustrations, maps, and keys for all species are provided.

Population structure of the rare damselfly, Ischnura gemina (Kennedy) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

The population structure of the endemic San Francisco Bay Area damselfly, Ischnura gemina, is examined using mark-recapture methods. Average daily movements, sex ratios, population size, maturation times, survivorship, and dispersion patterns, were recorded and calculated from two small (each less than one hectare) sites 150 m apart in Glen Canyon, San Francisco. Of 563 adults marked over 36 days, 412 (73%) were recaptured at least once. Average daily movements for males and females were less than 6 m, suggesting local movements. However, directional movements of 150 m were observed from one site to the other, indicating dispersal potential. One of the populations was a satellite composed entirely, of emigrating individuals from the other site; no larvae or teneral adults were found at the satellite area. Males were more aggregated than females at both sites. Both sexes were highly clumped at one site but were nearly randomly dispersed at the other site. Total population size for both sexes tended to be constant throughout the sampling period, at about 250. Adult population estimates showed more males were present than, females, but larval counts at one site indicated only a slight excess of males. Average life span estimates ranged from 6.5 days (females) to 23.3 days (males). One male lived at least 36 days. Maturation time for males was about 5-7 days, 7-10 days for females. A long life span and long flight season (March to November) are probably adaptations to the foggy San Francisco climate. All populations of I. gemina located to date are small, possibly originating from founders from nearby demes, and may be subject to different selection pressures. The dispersal potential of I. gemina may increase its chance of survival should small urban demes be threatened with destruction.