Search

Argia koroivarum sp. nov. Vilela (Figs. 1–4) Argia sp.: Vilela et al. 2019b: 592 (♂ and ♀ mentioned in the Habitat and Ecology section as a species sympatric with Heteragrion denisye Vilela, Koroiva & Guillermo-Ferreira, 2019). Holotype. ♂ BRAZIL, Minas Gerais state, São Roque de Minas, Parque Nacional Serra da Canastra, 9.iv.2019, (- 20.2323, -46.6084, 1306m asl), D.S. Vilela, R. Guillermo, R. Koroiva leg., LESTES. Paratypes. 1♂ BRAZIL, Minas Gerais state, Uberlândia, Fazenda Experimental do Glória (Universidade Federal de Uberlândia), ix.2019, (-18.9546, -48.2063, 860m asl), H. Venâncio leg., RWG; 1♀ same data as holotype (in tandem). Etymology. Named koroivarum after Osamu Koroiva and Takeko Kuroiwa (in memorian, 1917–2017), nature lovers especially of odonates and beloved family members of the last author., Published as part of Vilela, Diogo Silva, Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer & Koroiva, Ricardo, 2023, Argia koroivarum sp. nov. (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Minas Gerais state Southeastern Brazil, pp. 58-66 in Zootaxa 5296 (1) on page 59, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5296.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7970173, {"references":["Vilela, D. S., Koroiva, R. & Guillermo-Ferreira, R. (2019 b) Heteragrion denisye sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Heteragrionidae), a notable species from Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Zootaxa, 4671 (4), 589 - 594. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4671.4.10"]}

Datto-Liberato, Felipe H., Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer (2022): A new species of Gomphoides Selys, 1854 (Odonata: Gomphidae) from the Environmental Protection Area of the Uberaba River, Brazil. Zootaxa 5165 (2): 287-293, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5165.2.8

Ageniella (Priophanes) erythroptera (Banks, 1946) Priophanes erythroptera Banks, 1946: 443 ��� 444. We observed A. erythroptera transporting a young female of an undetermined species of wolf spider (Trochosa sp.) (Figs 9 ��� 10, Video 1). The wasp was carrying the paralyzed wolf spider forward, grasping its spinneret with the mandibles. The spider had its dorsal side to the ground. The spider���s hind legs were amputated at the coxa-trochanter joint. The ethological sequence we recorded for this species is represented by the formula VPT., Published as part of Lopez, Vinicius M., Cardoso, Renan Kobal De Oliveira Alves, Cez��rio, Rodrigo R., Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer & Dos Santos, Eduardo F., 2021, New Species of Entypus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) and notes on the natural history of some Atlantic Forest spider wasps, pp. 361-368 in Zootaxa 5061 (2) on page 364, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5061.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/5649663, {"references":["Banks, N. (1946) Studies of South American Psammocharidae. Part 1. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 96 (1 - 3), 311 - 525."]}

Poecilopompilus On two occasions, a female Poecilopompilus sp. was observed transporting an adult female of an undetermined species of crab spider (Misumenops sp.) (Video 3). The wasp dragged the paralyzed crab spider with its dorsal side upwards. The wasp carried her host by grasping a foreleg with the mandibles and deposited the spider near the nest entrance (approx. 1m). After depositing the host (see from 05sec in Video 4), the wasp probably started to search for the nest entrance. This behavior continued for 2min05sec (Video 4). When the wasp located the nest, it entered and left the nest, possibly inspecting it. In sequence, the wasp returned to the site where the paralyzed host was left, grasped it again (i.e., in the same manner as described above) and carried it directly into the nest. The nest was simple, a 16 cm tunnel angled downwards ~45�� in relation to the surface, with 2 cm diameter. The nest was located on the edge of low vegetation (i.e., grass) (Figs 13���14) surrounding the trail. There was no construction of a temporary closure to protect the nest during the hunting period. However, throughout the permanent closure, the wasp filled the nest with soil from the previous excavation, using the forelegs, and compacted the soil by pressing the pygidial plate against the burrow walls (Video 5). In the final step, the wasp started biting the edge of the burrow with the mandibles to remove loose soil. The wasp also manipulated the soil with its forelegs and compacted it with the pygidium. We did not find egg laying on the spider. Finally, the recorded ethological sequence can be categorized as VPTC., Published as part of Lopez, Vinicius M., Cardoso, Renan Kobal De Oliveira Alves, Cez��rio, Rodrigo R., Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer & Dos Santos, Eduardo F., 2021, New Species of Entypus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) and notes on the natural history of some Atlantic Forest spider wasps, pp. 361-368 in Zootaxa 5061 (2) on page 366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5061.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/5649663

Entypus renata sp. nov., Santos and Lopez, 2021 (Figs 3���8) Material examined. Type material: Holotype, f#, Brazil, Jundia�� ���SP, Biological Reserve of Serra do Japi, 28.III.2019, Kobal, R. et al., col. (LESTES collection��� UFTM, voucher n�� Hym���006/0001). Diagnosis: FEMALE. This species can be distinguished from all other species of Entypus by the following combination of morphological characteristics: body black without metallic reflections; antenna dark brown with F1 (distal third), F2, F3 and F4 orange; wings amber with tip slightly lighter; clypeus apical margin very slightly emarginate; mesosternum with small and angulated process; propodeum and metapleuron striated; hind tibia with dorsal face serrate and inner brush interrupted prior to the distal apex; 3rd submarginal cell larger than 2nd one; S2 with tubercles very little developed and looking integumentary bumps. This new species is somewhat similar to Entypus nitidus (Banks), but it can be differentiated by the clypeus, antennae coloration, wing venation and coloration. E. nitidus has the apical margin of the clypeus stronger emarginated, antennal flagellum completely orange, 3rd submarginal cell with similar size to 2nd one, and wing tip infuscate (photos of the holotype of E. nitidus are available in the MCZ specimen database and can be accessed searching for Priocnemioides nitidus Banks in: https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/SpecimenSearch.cfm). Description. FEMALE, holotype. Body length 14.0 mm. Color. Body black; distal third of F1 orange, F2���F4 fully orange; wings amber with tip slightly lighter (Fig. 3). Body covered by dark pubescence; head and mesosoma densely cover with long dark setae. Head. HW: HH = 1.19; MID: HW = 0.57. Eyes convergent above, with UID: LID = 0.84. Ocellar triangle small; POD: OOD = 0.43. Gena well developed. Malar space very short, latero-inferior margin of the head margin close to the eye margin, but not touching it. Clypeus large, regularly convex; width 2.39x its height; apical margin carinate, very slightly emarginate centrally (Fig. 4). Mandible stout, with two teeth, one on the inner margin and the other on the apical margin. Labrum not exposed, apical margin slightly emarginated and with long setae. Maxillary palpi IV���VI with subequal length. Antenna elongated, with cylindrical flagellomeres and ratio of the five first antennomers length (scape: pedicel: F1: F2: F3) 2: 0.6: 3.5: 2.8: 2.6; F1 length 5.5x its most distal width; F10 length 6.2x its most proximal width, pointed apically. Mesosoma. Mesosoma length: 4.88 mm; forewing: 6.89 mm. Pronotum short, without a distinct dorsal surface and with posterior margin angled. Mesoscutum convex, notaulus distinctly impressed. Mesoscutellum and metanotum strongly convex. Mesopleuron strongly convex. Mesosternal process small and angulated (Fig. 5). Metaposnotum longitudinally striated, distinctly shorter than metanotum (0.24x the metanotum length), emarginated postero-medially. Propodeum strongly convex and striated (Figs 3, 6). Metapleuron striated (Fig. 6). Third submarginal cell larger (i.e., longer and wider) than second; R at the sector between 2r-m and 3r-m longer than it at between 1r-m and 2r-m (Fig. 3). Procoxa with distal inner margin strongly emarginated (Fig. 7); hind tibia with two lines of tegumental projection on the proximal fourth and one line on the rest of the tibia length; inner hind tibial brush interrupted prior to the distal apex; last tarsomere of all legs with two lines of spiniform setae and with dentated claws. Metasoma. T1 with distinct lateral groove; T6 covered with several stout setae. S2 with tubercles slightly elevated, such as swellings (Fig. 8); S3 ��� S5 with long backward setae irregularly distributed on the posterior half; S6 with similar setae of anterior sternum (i.e., S5) on the posterior two thirds. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Biological Reserve of Serra do Japi, Jundia�����SP. Etymology. Named in honor of Renata Aparecida de Andrade Cavallari, employee of the Graduate Program in Entomology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeir��o Preto���University of S��o Paulo in honor to her great contributions to Brazilian Entomology, a beloved friend that took part on the formation of hundreds of entomologists. Host. Ctenus ornatus Keyserling (Araneae: Ctenidae)., Published as part of Lopez, Vinicius M., Cardoso, Renan Kobal De Oliveira Alves, Cez��rio, Rodrigo R., Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer & Dos Santos, Eduardo F., 2021, New Species of Entypus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) and notes on the natural history of some Atlantic Forest spider wasps, pp. 361-368 in Zootaxa 5061 (2) on pages 363-364, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5061.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/5649663

Entypus bituberculatus (Gu��rin-M��neville, 1838) Pompilus bituberculatus Gu��rin-M��neville, 1838: 258. Entypus bituberculatus was observed dragging the paralyzed wandering spider (Ctenus ornatus) backwards, grasping it with its mandibles at the base of the spider���s foreleg (Video 2). The spider had its dorsal side to the ground (Figs 11���12, Video 2). The ethological sequence we recorded for E. bituberculatus is represented by the formula VPT., Published as part of Lopez, Vinicius M., Cardoso, Renan Kobal De Oliveira Alves, Cez��rio, Rodrigo R., Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer & Dos Santos, Eduardo F., 2021, New Species of Entypus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) and notes on the natural history of some Atlantic Forest spider wasps, pp. 361-368 in Zootaxa 5061 (2) on page 366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5061.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/5649663, {"references":["Guerin-Meneville, F. C. (1838) Crusataces, Arachnides et Insectes. In: Duperrey, M. L. I. (Ed.) Voyage Autour du Monde, Execute par Ordre du Roi, sur la corvette de Sa Majeste, la Coquille, pendant les annees 1822, 1823, 1824, et 1825. Tome 2 °. Partie 2. Premiere Division. Libraire-Editeur, Arthus Bertrand, Paris, 258 pp."]}

Cezário, Rodrigo Roucourt, Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer (2021): RODRIGO ROUCOURT CEZÁRIO & RHAINER GUILLERMO-FERREIRA (2021) Heteragrion gorbi sp. nov. (Odonata: Heteragrionidae) from southeastern Brazil. Zootaxa, 4965: 078-086. Zootaxa 4991 (3): 597-597, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4991.3.11

Heteragrion gorbi sp. nov. Cez��rio & Guillermo-Ferreira, 2020 (Figs. 1���5) Holotype. ♂ (LESTES) BRAZIL, S��o Paulo, S��o Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 29-ix-2020, Cez��rio & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg. Paratypes. 5 ♂♂ and 1 ♀ (LESTES). 2♂♂ (LESTES) BRAZIL, S��o Paulo, S��o Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 29-ix-2020, Cez��rio & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg; 2♂♂ and 1♀ (LESTES) BRAZIL, S��o Paulo, S��o Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 2-x-2020, Cez��rio & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg (one male and female caught in tandem); 1♂ (LESTES) BRAZIL, S��o Paulo, S��o Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 31-x-2019, Cez��rio & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg. Etymology. In honor of Stanislav N. Gorb for his mentorship and contribution to odonatology. Description of Holotype Head. Labrum black with a medial blue spot; base of mandibles and genae light blue; postclypeus bluish; antenna and antefrons black; pale spots lateral to each lateral ocellus; pigmented ocellus; black postocular lobes; posterior margin of head dark (Fig. 1b). Thorax. In lateral view, anterior lobe of prothorax blue with an anterior pale spot; middle lobe blue with a pale spot; propleuron blue with a posterior pale spot anteriorly; posterior lobe dark (Fig. 2a). Pterothorax black dorsally; mesepisternum black middorsally, while blue along mesopleural suture; mesepimeron with a black wide stripe; metepisternum black with blue margins; metepimeron black with a blue ventral stripe (Fig. 2a���b). Legs: pro- and mesocoxa blue; metacoxa pale with black spots; profemur black laterally with a few pale spots; meso- and metafemur black laterally; metatibia pale laterally; spines of equal length along femur and tibiae; in anterior leg, spines longer than the space between them; while in medial and posterior legs, spines shorter than the space between them (Fig. 1a). Wings. Hyaline, Hw almost reaching S8; dark venation; pterostigma dark brown covering almost two cells in hindwings, and one cell entirely and part proximally of the posterior and anterior cells in forewings; proximal side of pterostigma obliquely projected in both wings; 15 Px in Fw, 12 in Hw (Fig. 2c). Abdomen. S1 dorsally black and bluish laterally; dark on S2���9; pale basal rings on S3���7; pale distal ring in S8; S10 ventrally pale; two distinguishable denticles in mid-ventral portion of S10 (Figs. 1a, 5a). Anal appendages. Cercus in lateral view: small dorsobasal and ventrobasal expansions present; medial portion of cercus slightly shorter than apical portion (Figs. 1 c���g, 7a). Cercus in medio dorsal view: ventrobasal expansion curving inwards proximally, forming a semi-ellipsoid lobe; medial portion of cercus dilated almost forming a semicircular tube, ventral branch of medial process bilobed with a peak-like apex and straight ridge; apical portion curved inwards, with acute ending (Figs. 1 c���g, 7a). Cercus in ventral view: ventrobasal apophysis not present. Lacking elongated paraprocts (Figs. 1 c���g, 7a). Measurements (in mm). Fw 23.0; Hw 22.7; Abdomen 27.9; Cerci 1.1; Total 36.7. Variation in male paratypes. Wings: Fw with 13���15 Px; Hw 11���14 Px. Hw reaching S8 sometimes half of the S7. Two male paratypes are currently stored in the dry collection of the LESTES laboratory; in dorsal view the pterothorax of these two males presents two distinct copper stripes on each side (possibly postmortem effects). Description of female Head. Labrum black with a medial yellow spot; anteclypeus yellow; postclypeus black with a yellow spot in center and yellow spots in lateral region; antefrons yellow with a dark spot extending from postclypeus to its medial region; yellow spots lateral to each lateral ocellus; pigmented ocellus; posterior region of the head yellow with wide dark spot in medial region (Fig. 3b). Thorax. Prothorax in dorsal view: anterior lobe black with yellow spots in lateral region; middle lobe black with two elliptical yellow spots; posterior lobe black with yellow spots in lateral region (Fig. 4a���b). Prothorax in lateral view: entirely yellow. Pterothorax black dorsally with two thin copper stripes from anterior to posterior region; mesepisternum black middorsally, while blue along mesopleural suture but not reaching the edge of the posterior region; mesepimeron black with blue coloration along interpleural suture and along posterior half region of mesopleural suture; metepisternum bluish with a dark stripe medially and a greenish blue coloration along interpleural suture; mesinfraepisternum greenish blue in its upper portion and black in its lower portion; metinfraepisternum greenish yellow (Fig. 4a���b). Legs: pro-, meso- and metacoxa pale with scattered small black spots in center; femur and tibia pale laterally; spines increasing gradually in size from femur to tibia; two rolls of spines in tarsi; spines longer than the space between them (Fig. 3a). Wings. Hyaline, Hw reaching S9; dark venation; pterostigma dark brown; proximal side of pterostigma obliquely projected in both wings; 15 Px in right Fw, while 14 Px in left Fw; 13 Px in right Hw and 14 Px in left Hw (Fig. 4c). Abdomen. S1 pale; S2���10 dorsally black; pale basal rings on S3���7 (Figs. 3a, 5b). Denticles all along the distal edge of S10 (Fig. 3c). Genital valves of ovipositor with ventral edge containing teeth disposed in two rows; stylus black; cercus conical, yellow on its base and black apical tips (Fig. 3c���e). Measurements (in mm). Fw 24.2; Hw 23.0; Abdomen 27.1; Cerci 0.6; Total 35.4. Differential diagnosis. Males of Heteragrion gorbi sp. nov. lack elongated paraprocts (Figs. 1a, 1c���g; 5a), and females present several rows of teeth on the ventral surface of the genital valves (Fig. 3e); therefore, this species fits into Lencioni���s Group A (Selys���s group 1 and 2). Furthermore, along with H. cinnamomeum Selys, 1862, H. gracile Machado, 2006, H. ictericum Williamson, 1919, H. tiradentense Machado & Bed��, 2006, H. johndeaconi Lencioni, 2013, and H. denisye, H. gorbi presents the apical portion of cerci smaller than the medial and basal portion (see Lencioni 2013 for a revision of Heteragrion Group A). Heteragrion gorbi can be distinguished from H. cinnamomeum, H. gracile and H. ictericum by the presence of a prominent ventrobasal expansion in the basal portion of cercus (Fig. 1c). The presence of a bilobed process on the medial portion of cercus in H. gorbi (Fig. 1f) is an important feature that distinguishes this species from H. tiradentense and H. johndeaconi. Heteragrion gorbi exhibit Fw with 13���15 Px and Hw 11���14 Px (Fig. 2c), but never 18 Px in FW, 16 HW as in H. denisye. In respect to the other Heteragrion species that present blue color patterns, H. gorbi differs from H. cyane (Lencioni���s group A) mainly by its bilobed MP in medial process with the distal tip sharply pointed (Fig. 1f). Heteragrion azulum (possibly Lencioni���s group B) is known from one individual collected in Veracruz, Mexico, and can be diagnosed by its paraproctal spines hooked dorsally, differing from H. gorbi which does not present visible paraproctal spines. Lastly, because of the brief description of H. obsoletum (Lencioni���s group A) available in the literature and the fact that the holotype is lost, our comparison was restricted to the fact that H. obsoletum presents ��� un renflement ou dent interne arrondie apr��s leur milieu ��� (Selys 1886), in other words insinuating the existence of a rounded process after the mid portion of the cerci. With no more details available, we propose that H. gorbi can be distinguished from H. obsoletum by the presence of a bilobed MP with the distal arm sharply pointed. We also compared the holotypes of H. gorbi to H. denisye, which is another species with blue/black color patterns. Concerning the cerci, males of H. gorbi present a rounded angle between the medial portion and apical portion of the cercus, while in H. denisye an acute angle is present (Fig. 7a���b); also, the angle formed between the bilobed process of the medial portion is wider in H. gorbi than in H. denisye, and instead of a blunt bilobed tip on MP like in H. denisye, H. gorbi presents a sharply pointed distal tip of the MP (Fig. 7a���b). Finally, H. denisye was collected in Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, an open field Cerrado located 250���300 km from H. gorbi type locality, which is a riparian forest with closed canopy in S��o Carlos, S��o Paulo. Habitat and Ecology. The specimens were found perching on Pteridium sp. (Dennstaedtiaceae) and Hedychium coronarium J. K��nig (Zingiberaceae), in a stream (approximately 1 m wide) surrounded by riparian vegetation (Fig. 6). The area is formed by a natural spring and is predominantly shaded with a reasonable number of sunny patches. In the same habitat, we also collected Hetaerina longipes Hagen in Selys, 1853, H. rosea Selys, 1853, Mnesarete guttifera (Selys, 1873); Argia reclusa Selys, 1865; Acanthagrion lancea Selys, 1876; Oxyagrion evanescens Calvert, 1909; Tigriagrion aurantinigrum Calvert, 1909 and Telebasis carmesina Calvert, 1909 (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae); Heteragrion aurantiacum Selys, 1862; an unidentified gomphid and a Castoraeschna sp. (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae). Final remarks. Heteragrion gorbi was found in a Cerrado fragment with a singular vegetation and fauna due to its altitude and climate. Recent conservation efforts have insistently fought against threats to deforestation, all of which are projects of urbanization: the construction of a road, buildings for the Federal University of S��o Carlos and the expansion of residential areas. The urbanization process and sugar cane plantations around the area certainly affect local biodiversity, including H. gorbi, a species that was only found in a small and restricted site. The spring where H. gorbi was found is one of the major water sources for the city, and its conservation is not only crucial for biodiversity conservation but also for human daily water consumption. The discovery of H. gorbi in an area surrounded by monoculture and highways gives us hope for the conservation acts that have been protecting the area, but it also reminds us of the risks that natural environments and wildlife are going through today in Brazil. We hope that this new species becomes a flagship to support local efforts for the conservation of the Espraiado stream and the surrounding Cerrado fragments, which might become an example to state and even national politics for the conservation and maintenance of natural environments and wildlife of the Cerrado., Published as part of Cez��rio, Rodrigo Roucourt & Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer, 2021, Heteragrion gorbi sp. nov. (Odonata: Heteragrionidae) from southeastern Brazil, pp. 78-86 in Zootaxa 4965 (1) on pages 79-85, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4965.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4723149, {"references":["Lencioni, F. A. A. (2013) Diagnoses and discussion of the group 1 and 2 Brazilian species of Heteragrion, with descriptions of four new species (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae). Zootaxa, 3685 (1), 1 - 80. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3685.1.1"]}

Heteragrion gorbi sp. nov. Cezário & Guillermo-Ferreira, 2020 (Figs. 1–5) Holotype. ♂ (LESTES) BRAZIL, São Paulo, São Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 29-ix-2020, Cezário & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg. Paratypes. 5 ♂♂ and 1 ♀ (LESTES). 2♂♂ (LESTES) BRAZIL, São Paulo, São Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 29-ix-2020, Cezário & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg; 2♂♂ and 1♀ (LESTES) BRAZIL, São Paulo, São Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 2-x-2020, Cezário & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg (one male and female caught in tandem); 1♂ (LESTES) BRAZIL, São Paulo, São Carlos, Cerrado UFSCar, Espraiado (-21.981569, -47.873922), 845 m asl, 31-x-2019, Cezário & Guillermo-Ferreira, leg. Etymology. In honor of Stanislav N. Gorb for his mentorship and contribution to odonatology. Description of Holotype Head. Labrum black with a medial blue spot; base of mandibles and genae light blue; postclypeus bluish; antenna and antefrons black; pale spots lateral to each lateral ocellus; pigmented ocellus; black postocular lobes; posterior margin of head dark (Fig. 1b). Thorax. In lateral view, anterior lobe of prothorax blue with an anterior pale spot; middle lobe blue with a pale spot; propleuron blue with a posterior pale spot anteriorly; posterior lobe dark (Fig. 2a). Pterothorax black dorsally; mesepisternum black middorsally, while blue along mesopleural suture; mesepimeron with a black wide stripe; metepisternum black with blue margins; metepimeron black with a blue ventral stripe (Fig. 2a–b). Legs: pro- and mesocoxa blue; metacoxa pale with black spots; profemur black laterally with a few pale spots; meso- and metafemur black laterally; metatibia pale laterally; spines of equal length along femur and tibiae; in anterior leg, spines longer than the space between them; while in medial and posterior legs, spines shorter than the space between them (Fig. 1a). Wings. Hyaline, Hw almost reaching S8; dark venation; pterostigma dark brown covering almost two cells in hindwings, and one cell entirely and part proximally of the posterior and anterior cells in forewings; proximal side of pterostigma obliquely projected in both wings; 15 Px in Fw, 12 in Hw (Fig. 2c). Abdomen. S1 dorsally black and bluish laterally; dark on S2–9; pale basal rings on S3–7; pale distal ring in S8; S10 ventrally pale; two distinguishable denticles in mid-ventral portion of S10 (Figs. 1a, 5a). Anal appendages. Cercus in lateral view: small dorsobasal and ventrobasal expansions present; medial portion of cercus slightly shorter than apical portion (Figs. 1 c–g, 7a). Cercus in medio dorsal view: ventrobasal expansion curving inwards proximally, forming a semi-ellipsoid lobe; medial portion of cercus dilated almost forming a semicircular tube, ventral branch of medial process bilobed with a peak-like apex and straight ridge; apical portion curved inwards, with acute ending (Figs. 1 c–g, 7a). Cercus in ventral view: ventrobasal apophysis not present. Lacking elongated paraprocts (Figs. 1 c–g, 7a). Measurements (in mm). Fw 23.0; Hw 22.7; Abdomen 27.9; Cerci 1.1; Total 36.7. Variation in male paratypes. Wings: Fw with 13–15 Px; Hw 11–14 Px. Hw reaching S8 sometimes half of the S7. Two male paratypes are currently stored in the dry collection of the LESTES laboratory; in dorsal view the pterothorax of these two males presents two distinct copper stripes on each side (possibly postmortem effects). Description of female Head. Labrum black with a medial yellow spot; anteclypeus yellow; postclypeus black with a yellow spot in center and yellow spots in lateral region; antefrons yellow with a dark spot extending from postclypeus to its medial region; yellow spots lateral to each lateral ocellus; pigmented ocellus; posterior region of the head yellow with wide dark spot in medial region (Fig. 3b). Thorax. Prothorax in dorsal view: anterior lobe black with yellow spots in lateral region; middle lobe black with two elliptical yellow spots; posterior lobe black with yellow spots in lateral region (Fig. 4a–b). Prothorax in lateral view: entirely yellow. Pterothorax black dorsally with two thin copper stripes from anterior to posterior region; mesepisternum black middorsally, while blue along mesopleural suture but not reaching the edge of the posterior region; mesepimeron black with blue coloration along interpleural suture and along posterior half region of mesopleural suture; metepisternum bluish with a dark stripe medially and a greenish blue coloration along interpleural suture; mesinfraepisternum greenish blue in its upper portion and black in its lower portion; metinfraepisternum greenish yellow (Fig. 4a–b). Legs: pro-, meso- and metacoxa pale with scattered small black spots in center; femur and tibia pale laterally; spines increasing gradually in size from femur to tibia; two rolls of spines in tarsi; spines longer than the space between them (Fig. 3a). Wings. Hyaline, Hw reaching S9; dark venation; pterostigma dark brown; proximal side of pterostigma obliquely projected in both wings; 15 Px in right Fw, while 14 Px in left Fw; 13 Px in right Hw and 14 Px in left Hw (Fig. 4c). Abdomen. S1 pale; S2–10 dorsally black; pale basal rings on S3–7 (Figs. 3a, 5b). Denticles all along the distal edge of S10 (Fig. 3c). Genital valves of ovipositor with ventral edge containing teeth disposed in two rows; stylus black; cercus conical, yellow on its base and black apical tips (Fig. 3c–e). Measurements (in mm). Fw 24.2; Hw 23.0; Abdomen 27.1; Cerci 0.6; Total 35.4. Differential diagnosis. Males of Heteragrion gorbi sp. nov. lack elongated paraprocts (Figs. 1a, 1c–g; 5a), and females present several rows of teeth on the ventral surface of the genital valves (Fig. 3e); therefore, this species fits into Lencioni’s Group A (Selys’s group 1 and 2). Furthermore, along with H. cinnamomeum Selys, 1862, H. gracile Machado, 2006, H. ictericum Williamson, 1919, H. tiradentense Machado & Bedé, 2006, H. johndeaconi Lencioni, 2013, and H. denisye, H. gorbi presents the apical portion of cerci smaller than the medial and basal portion (see Lencioni 2013 for a revision of Heteragrion Group A). Heteragrion gorbi can be distinguished from H. cinnamomeum, H. gracile and H. ictericum by the presence of a prominent ventrobasal expansion in the basal portion of cercus (Fig. 1c). The presence of a bilobed process on the medial portion of cercus in H. gorbi (Fig. 1f) is an important feature that distinguishes this species from H. tiradentense and H. johndeaconi. Heteragrion gorbi exhibit Fw with 13–15 Px and Hw 11–14 Px (Fig. 2c), but never 18 Px in FW, 16 HW as in H. denisye. In respect to the other Heteragrion species that present blue color patterns, H. gorbi differs from H. cyane (Lencioni’s group A) mainly by its bilobed MP in medial process with the distal tip sharply pointed (Fig. 1f). Heteragrion azulum (possibly Lencioni’s group B) is known from one individual collected in Veracruz, Mexico, and can be diagnosed by its paraproctal spines hooked dorsally, differing from H. gorbi which does not present visible paraproctal spines. Lastly, because of the brief description of H. obsoletum (Lencioni’s group A) available in the literature and the fact that the holotype is lost, our comparison was restricted to the fact that H. obsoletum presents “ un renflement ou dent interne arrondie après leur milieu ” (Selys 1886), in other words insinuating the existence of a rounded process after the mid portion of the cerci. With no more details available, we propose that H. gorbi can be distinguished from H. obsoletum by the presence of a bilobed MP with the distal arm sharply pointed. We also compared the holotypes of H. gorbi to H. denisye, which is another species with blue/black color patterns. Concerning the cerci, males of H. gorbi present a rounded angle between the medial portion and apical portion of the cercus, while in H. denisye an acute angle is present (Fig. 7a–b); also, the angle formed between the bilobed process of the medial portion is wider in H. gorbi than in H. denisye, and instead of a blunt bilobed tip on MP like in H. denisye, H. gorbi presents a sharply pointed distal tip of the MP (Fig. 7a–b). Finally, H. denisye was collected in Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, an open field Cerrado located 250–300 km from H. gorbi type locality, which is a riparian forest with closed canopy in São Carlos, São Paulo. Habitat and Ecology. The specimens were found perching on Pteridium sp. (Dennstaedtiaceae) and Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae), in a stream (approximately 1 m wide) surrounded by riparian vegetation (Fig. 6). The area is formed by a natural spring and is predominantly shaded with a reasonable number of sunny patches. In the same habitat, we also collected Hetaerina longipes Hagen in Selys, 1853, H. rosea Selys, 1853, Mnesarete guttifera (Selys, 1873); Argia reclusa Selys, 1865; Acanthagrion lancea Selys, 1876; Oxyagrion evanescens Calvert, 1909; Tigriagrion aurantinigrum Calvert, 1909 and Telebasis carmesina Calvert, 1909 (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae); Heteragrion aurantiacum Selys, 1862; an unidentified gomphid and a Castoraeschna sp. (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae). Final remarks. Heteragrion gorbi was found in a Cerrado fragment with a singular vegetation and fauna due to its altitude and climate. Recent conservation efforts have insistently fought against threats to deforestation, all of which are projects of urbanization: the construction of a road, buildings for the Federal University of São Carlos and the expansion of residential areas. The urbanization process and sugar cane plantations around the area certainly affect local biodiversity, including H. gorbi, a species that was only found in a small and restricted site. The spring where H. gorbi was found is one of the major water sources for the city, and its conservation is not only crucial for biodiversity conservation but also for human daily water consumption. The discovery of H. gorbi in an area surrounded by monoculture and highways gives us hope for the conservation acts that have been protecting the area, but it also reminds us of the risks that natural environments and wildlife are going through today in Brazil. We hope that this new species becomes a flagship to support local efforts for the conservation of the Espraiado stream and the surrounding Cerrado fragments, which might become an example to state and even national politics for the conservation and maintenance of natural environments and wildlife of the Cerrado.

Female mimicry by males is a widespread phenomenon in several taxa and may be involved in aggression avoidance or facilitated access to resources. In early developmental stages, female mimicry may be a mechanism involved in signalling sexual maturity or, coupled with strategies related to visual camouflage, may be involved in the avoidance of male-male agonistic interactions. Here, we addressed whether the delayed colour maturation of a sexual ornament in males of Mnesarete pudica damselflies could be a case of crypsis, female mimicry or both. We analysed how the pigmented wings of juvenile males is perceived by conspecifics by contrasting the wing spectra against a Savannah visual background and the wings of both juvenile and sexually mature male and females. Our results based on the modelled visual system of conspecifics suggest that the color maturation of juvenile males could function as both crypsis and female mimicry. We discuss whether these results related to age- and sexual-dichromatism could be a mechanism to avoid unwanted intraspecific interactions or even to deceive territorial and aggressive males. We conclude that the female mimicry and crypsis in juvenile males of M. pudica are a mechanism involved in signalling sexual maturity and avoidance of unwanted intraspecific interactions.&nbsp