Three new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with taxonomic notes on P. mortoni Fraser, 1922 and rediscovery of P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958

Abstract

Three new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in India: P. cyanofemora sp. nov. (wet evergreen forests in Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kollam, Kerala and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu), P. myristicaensis sp. nov. (Myristica swamp at Kathalekan, Shivamogga, Karnataka) and P. sholai sp. nov. (montane sholas of Upper Manalar, Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Theni, Tamil Nadu) are described and illustrated. We compare these three new species with other Protosticta spp. from the Western Ghats based on new material and provide comprehensive differential diagnoses with determination key for males of all species occurring in the Western Ghats. The taxonomic validity of P. mortoni Fraser, 1922 is established with fresh specimens from Hassan, Karnataka, and rediscovery of P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958 is reported from Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu.

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Western Ghats, India

“…Nomenclature follows Subramanian & Babu (2017) and Paulson et al (2022). Taxonomic keys to the species have been modified based on Fraser (1933) and Joshi et al (2020). The morphological description follows Garrison et al (2010).…”

“…The morphological description follows Garrison et al (2010). The known distribution of the species follows Subramanian et al (2018) and Joshi et al (2020). The wing venation terminology follows Riek & Kukalová-J TT Peck (1984).…”

“…The genus has 53 extant species distributed from Pakistan, through the Indian subcontinent to Indo-China and southeastern Asian islands (Paulson et al 2022). There are 15 species of Protosticta in the Indian region and 12 of them inhabit the Western Ghats: P. gravelyi Laidlaw, 1915, P. hearseyi Fraser, 1922, P. sanguinostigma Fraser, 1922, P. antelopoides Fraser, 1924, P. mortoni Fraser, 1924, P. davenporti Fraser, 1931, P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958, P. ponmudiensis Kiran, Kalesh & Kunte, 2015, and P. monticola Emiliyamma & Palot, 2016(Kiran et al 2015Emiliyamma & Palot 2016;Joshi et al 2020). Protosticta myristicaensis Joshi & Kunte, 2020; P. sholai Subramanian & Babu, 2020; and P. cyanofemora Joshi, Subramanian, Babu & Kunte, 2020 were recently described from the Western Ghats (Joshi et al 2020).…”

“…Odonates of this genus have relatively small interspecific differences which are as follows: the coloration of the head, thoracic and abdominal markings, the structure of the prothorax, and anal appendages in the male. Diagnostic characters of females include the structure of prothorax and anal appendages (van Tol 2009;Bedjanič et al 2016;Joshi et al 2020). During the faunal exploration of Anamalais near the Palghat gap in the southern Western Ghats, the authors came across an undescribed species inhabiting the mid-elevation streams.…”

On the diversity and abundance of riparian odonate fauna (Insecta) of the midstream Chalakkudy River, Kerala, India

“…The relevant works among them include that of Rao & Lahiri (1982), Mathavan & Miller (1989), Radhakrishnan (1997), Emiliyamma & Radhakrishnan (2002), Emiliyamma (2005), Palot et al (2005), Adarsh et al (2014), Varghese et al (2014), Nair (2017), and Susanth & Anooj (2020). Recent works further added up the rich odonate diversity of Kerala to 174 species (Emiliyamma et al 2020;Joshi et al 2020). The seasonal and habitat distribution of Odonata diversity of riparian habitats such as Mula and Mutha river basins in Maharashtra was studied by Kulkarni & Subramanian (2013).…”