Search

The behaviour and ecology of an elusive dragonfly, Lyriothemis acigastra (Insecta: Odonata: Libellulidae) based on observations from Kadavoor Village, Ernakulam District, Kerala are detailed. Range extension of the species within Kerala after its first report in 2013 is also discussed.

Lyriothemis pallidistigma sp. nov. (holotype male: Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam) is described. This species is reminiscent of L. defonsekai van der Poorten, 2009 and L. elegantissima Selys, 1883, but can be separated by the shape of its secondary genitalia and its patterning. Information on its biology and ecology is provided.

Lyriothemis pallidistigma sp. nov. (Figs 1B, 2, 3, 4, 5 B���D) Type specimens. Holotype: ��, 11.4416 N, 107.4291 E, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 5.VIII.2014, TK leg. Paratypes: 1 ♀, same locality, date and collector as holotype (used for description); 2 ���� 1 ♀, 11.4418 N, 107.4289 E, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 4.VIII.2018, JH leg.; 2 ���� 1 ♀, 12.7525 N, 102.2368 E, Makham, Chantaburi Prov., Thailand (19 m alt.), 14.VII.2018, NM leg.; 2 ���� 1 ♀, same locality and collector, 30. VI.2019. Additional observations: 1 ♀, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 19.VII.2014, JH; 1 ��, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 24.VII.2014, JH; 3 ���� 1 ♀, 11.4416 N, 107.4291 E, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 5.VIII.2014, TK; 1 immature ��, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 14. VI.2017, JH; 1 ��, same date and location as previous, 9.VII.2017, JH; 1 �� 1 ♀, Makham, Chantaburi Prov., Thailand, 15.VII.2018, NM; 10 ♀♀, 12.4556 N, 102.4199 E, Khao Saming, Trat Prov., Thailand (12 m alt.), 18.VII.2020, Udomsak Sribal. Etymology. The species epithet pallidistigma refers to the cream-white pterostigmata of the male, rare amongst Lyriothemis. From Latin, meaning ���pale mark���., Published as part of Kompier, Tom, Holden, James & Makbun, Noppadon, 2021, A new species of Lyriothemis Brauer, 1868 from Vietnam and Thailand (Odonata Libellulidae), pp. 586-594 in Zootaxa 4933 (4) on page 587, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4933.4.9, http://zenodo.org/record/4556807

Lyriothemis pallidistigma sp. nov. (Figs 1B, 2, 3, 4, 5 B–D) Type specimens. Holotype: ³, 11.4416 N, 107.4291 E, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 5.VIII.2014, TK leg. Paratypes: 1 ♀, same locality, date and collector as holotype (used for description); 2 ³³ 1 ♀, 11.4418 N, 107.4289 E, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 4.VIII.2018, JH leg.; 2 ³³ 1 ♀, 12.7525 N, 102.2368 E, Makham, Chantaburi Prov., Thailand (19 m alt.), 14.VII.2018, NM leg.; 2 ³³ 1 ♀, same locality and collector, 30. VI.2019. Additional observations: 1 ♀, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 19.VII.2014, JH; 1 ³, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 24.VII.2014, JH; 3 ³³ 1 ♀, 11.4416 N, 107.4291 E, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 5.VIII.2014, TK; 1 immature ³, Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam, 14. VI.2017, JH; 1 ³, same date and location as previous, 9.VII.2017, JH; 1 ³ 1 ♀, Makham, Chantaburi Prov., Thailand, 15.VII.2018, NM; 10 ♀♀, 12.4556 N, 102.4199 E, Khao Saming, Trat Prov., Thailand (12 m alt.), 18.VII.2020, Udomsak Sribal. Etymology. The species epithet pallidistigma refers to the cream-white pterostigmata of the male, rare amongst Lyriothemis. From Latin, meaning “pale mark”.

Lyriothemis defonsekai van der Poorten, 2009 is a nationally Critically Endangered odonate species in Sri Lanka. It is endemic to the country and was known only from the type locality, Kudawa, Sinharaja Forest Reserve and its vicinity thus it was considered to be a point endemic. We report the first ever record of the species outside Sinharaja extending the known range of the species. The present observations were recorded from Yagirala Forest Reserve where an immature male and one or two mature females of the species were observed. We also discuss the observations on its habitat and distribution range.

1. Lyriothemis kameliyae spec. nov. (Figs. 1 B, 1E, 2B���C, 2F, 3, 4A-B, 5C, 6B) Type specimens. Holotype male: Xuan Son National Park, Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam (21.159 N, 104.926 E), 29.VI.2015, T. Kompier leg, (deposited at RMNH).; Allotype female: same location, date and collector; Paratype 1♂: same location and collector as holotype male, 01.VIII.2016; 1♀: same location and collector as allotype female, 31.VII.2016; 1♂: Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam (21.708 N, 106.374 E), 24.V.2014, T. Kompier leg. Etymology. The species is named after Kameliya Petrova in gratitude for her assistance with my book ���Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Serra dos Orgaos��� and unrelenting support for my continuing research on Odonata in Vietnam. Kameliyae, a noun in the genitive case. Description of male holotype. (Fig. 1 B) Head. (cf. Fig 1 F). Labium black. Labrum, anteclypeus, postclypeus and antefrons white, postfrons metallic dark green, squarish. Vertex metallic dark green, with two small tubercles, antennae black, occiput black. Compound eyes blackish grey, chestnut brown dorsally. Prothorax. Black. Synthorax. (Fig. 1 B) Blackish brown with markings as follows: a vague brown dorsal stripe on either side of dorsal carina, mesepimeron with a broad oblong yellow stripe, and metepimeron almost completely yellow. Legs black. Femora with short spines growing progressively longer distally, tibiae with longer black spines. Wings (Fig. 1 B) hyaline. Two brown streaks above and below median space in both fore- and hindwing as follows: first two cells between subcosta and radius blackish brown, third cell tinted brown and cubito-anal space blackish brown until first crossvein. Veins black. Membranule brown. Anal loop 20���21 celled. 2 bridge crossveins in all wings, last antenodal crossvein complete. Forewing with 1 cubito-anal crossvein, triangle 2-celled, subtriangle 3-celled. Hindwing with 2 cubito-anal crossveins, triangle 2-celled. Nodal index in forewing 12���17:18���11 and in hindwing 12���14:14���13. Pterostigma black, covering 2.5 cells in all wings, 4 times longer than wide. Abdomen. (Fig. 1 B) As broad as thorax in dorsal view, S3 broadest. S1 yellow with black dorsum, S2 dorsally bright red to somewhat above lateral carina, lower part yellow with some blackish blotches, lateral carina black. Hamulus (cf. Fig. 5 C) black, large, shaped like a rectangular dish, with a backward-directed spine on inner posterior corner and a large v-shaped incision approximately in middle of inner edge. Pale yellow genital lobe very slender, pointed and about 4 times as long as wide. S3 dorsally bright red to black lateral carina, dorsal carina black, ventrally yellow. S4���7 bright red dorsally, with black lateral, dorsal and posterior carina, ventrally yellow. S8 bright red, with broad blackish borders along dorsal and posterior carina. Lateral carina and venter black. S9���10 black. Anal appendages. Cerci black, twice length of S10, extending just beyond epiproct, pointed, subapically with 5 small ventral teeth. Epiproct of normal type, brown. Measurements (mm): Abdomen incl. appendages 26.5, hindwing 35, pterostigma 3.5. Variation in paratypes. Male from Huu Lien (Figs. 2 C, 3D, 5C) with much reduced yellow stripe (only on ventral half) on mesepimeron. S1���2 with extensive black on ventral half, including genital lobe. One cercus with only 4 small ventral teeth. Nodal index in forewing 10���19:17���10 and in hindwing 10���14:13���9, one forewing with 3 bridge crossveins. Anal loop 19���20 celled. Male from Xuan Son (Fig. 3 A) with somewhat reduced yellow stripe on mesepimeron, constricted dorsally. Wings lightly tinted amber; brown streaks at base not extending past 2nd cell between subcosta and radius. Nodal index in forewing 9���19:18���10, in hindwing 10���14: 14���9. 4 bridge crossveins in all wings. Anal loop 20���24 celled. Measurements (mm): Abdomen incl. appendages 28���29, hindwing 33���34, pterostigma 3���3.5. Description of female allotype (Figs. 4 B, 6B). Head. Labium and labrum black. Anteclypeus brownish white, postclypeus dark brown with off-white dorsolateral corners. Antefrons brownish white in middle, off-white towards sides, postfrons metallic dark green, rounded. Vertex metallic dark green, with two small tubercles, antennae black, occiput black. Compound eyes blackish brown. Prothorax. Black, but anterior lobe with anterior edge pale yellow. Synthorax. (Fig. 4 B) Blackish brown with markings as follows: indistinct pale brown dorsal stripe on either side of dorsal carina, mesepimeron with a broad oblong pale yellow stripe, somewhat narrower in dorsal half, metepimeron almost completely pale yellow. Legs black. Femora with short spines growing progressively longer distally, tibiae with longer black spines. Wings (cf. Figs. 1 E, 2B) hyaline, slightly tinted amber, apices darkest. Two brown streaks above and below median space in both fore- and hindwing as follows: first three cells between subcosta and radius blackish brown, fourth cell tinted brown, cubito-anal space blackish brown until first crossvein. Veins black. Membranule brown. Anal loop 23 celled. 2 bridge crossveins in left wings, 3 in right wings. Last antenodal crossvein complete. Forewing with 1 cubito-anal crossvein, triangle 2-celled, subtriangle 3-celled. Hindwing with 2 cubito-anal crossveins, triangle 2-celled. Nodal index in forewing 11���18:19���11 and in hindwing 12���14:15���11. Pterostigma brown, covering 3 cells in all wings, 4 times longer than wide. Abdomen. (Fig. 4 B) S1 blackish brown, yellow towards venter. S2 pale yellow, with black carinas and broad black line running parallel to the dorsal carina halfway down towards the lateral carina. S3���6 pale orange with black carinas, a broader black line over dorsal carina and another black line parallel to it halfway down towards lateral carina. Ventrally yellow. S7 with more extensive black, but ventrally yellow. S8 virtually black with only a tiny pale orange spot towards anterior margin and ventrally black, S9���10 and conical cerci all black, cerci slightly longer than S10. S8 somewhat dilated. Vulvar lamina (Fig. 6 B) short, slightly curled, relatively widely incised. Measurements (mm): Abdomen incl. appendages 27.5, hindwing 37, pterostigma 4. Variation in paratype (Figs. 1 E, 2B, 4A). Dorsal stripes on synthorax paler and more distinct. Abdomen with reduced blackish striping, S2���7 brownish orange dorsally, carinas only thinly black. S8���10 and cerci completely black. Streaks at wing bases reduced, only covering first 2 cells between subcosta and radius and only half of first cell in cubito-anal space. Wings only slightly tinted amber. 3���5 bridge crossveins, anal loop 25���26 celled. 12��� 18:18���12 ante- and postnodal crossveins in forewing, 12���12:12��� 12 in hindwing. Measurements (mm): Abdomen incl. appendages 27, hindwing 36, pterostigma 3.5., Published as part of Kompier, Tom, 2017, The riddle of Lyriothemis bivittata (Rambur, 1842): Lyriothemis kameliyae spec. nov. (Odonata: Libellulidae), pp. 315-326 in Zootaxa 4250 (4) on pages 316-320, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/495277

2. Lyriothemis bivittata (Rambur, 1842) (Figs. 1 A, 1D, 2A, 2D, 4C, 5B, 6A, 7) Specimens used for description. Male: Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam (21.662 N, 106.373 E), 23.VII.2016, T. Kompier leg; Female: Xuan Son National Park, Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam (21.110 N, 104.994 E), 31.VII.2016, same collector. Description of male (Figs. 1 A, 5B). Head. Labium yellowish white, with brown inner edge. Labrum, anteclypeus, postclypeus and antefrons white, postfrons metallic dark green, corners somewhat rounded. Vertex metallic green, with two small tubercles, antennae black, occiput orange-brown. Compound eyes blackish grey, chestnut-brown dorsally. Prothorax. Black, but center of posterior lobe pale brown and anterior lobe pale. Synthorax. (Fig. 1 A) Blackish brown with markings as follows: dorsal side uniform warm brown, but close to antehumeral suture blackish brown like sides. Mesepimeron with an oblong yellow spot on ventral half, metepimeron almost completely yellow. Legs black. Femora with short spines growing progressively longer distally, tibiae with longer black spines. Wings. (Fig. 1 A) Slightly tinted amber, somewhat stronger at apices. Two brown streaks above and below median space in both fore and hindwing as follows: First two cells between subcosta and radius blackish brown, third and fourth cell tinted brown and cubito-anal space blackish brown until first crossvein and brownish to second. Veins black. Membranule brown. Anal loop 19���21 celled. 2���3 bridge crossveins in all wings, last antenodal crossvein complete. Forewing with 2 cubito-anal crossveins, triangle 2- celled, subtriangle 3-celled. Hingwing with 2 cubito-anal crossveins, triangle 2-celled. Nodal index in forewing 9��� 17:15���9 and in hindwing 10���12:13���10. Pterostigma black, covering 2.5-3 cells, slightly over 5 times longer than wide. Abdomen. (Fig. 1 A) Slightly broader than thorax in dorsal view, S3 broadest. S1 ochre-yellow. S2 dorsally bright red to somewhat above lateral carina, lower part orange, lateral carina thinly black. Hamulus (Fig. 5 B) black, large, shaped like a rectangular dish, clearly depressed in center, with a backward-directed spine somewhat lateral of its inner posterior corner and a large curved incision slightly anterior of middle of inner edge. Orange genital lobe very slender, pointed and nearly 4 times as long as wide. S3 dorsally bright red to thinly black lateral carina, ventrally orange. S4���8 bright red dorsally, with almost imperceptibly black lateral, dorsal and posterior carina, ventrally orange. S9 red dorsally and orange ventrally, but with some darker blotches and black carinae. S10 black but dorsally red. Anal appendages. Cerci dark brown, twice length of S10, extending just beyond epiproct, pointed, subapically with 4 small ventral teeth. Epiproct of normal type, brown. Measurements (mm): Abdomen incl. appendages 32, hindwing 36, pterostigma 5. Description of female (Figs. 1 D, 2A, 4C, 6A). Head. Labium black, but anterolateral corners whitish. Labrum black. Anteclypeus brownish white, postclypeus blackish brown. Antefrons, postfrons and vertex metallic dark green, antefrons with whitish edges along compound eyes. Vertex with two small tubercles, antennae brown, occiput orange brown. Compound eyes grayish black with chestnut top. Prothorax. Black, but anterior lobe with anterior edge pale yellow and middle and posterior lobe with brown spot on center. Synthorax. (Figs. 1 D, 4C) Blackish brown with markings as follows: dorsal side uniform warm brown, but close to antehumeral suture blackish brown like sides. Mesepimeron with an oblong yellow band, more brownyellow on its dorsal half, metepisternum more warm brown towards its dorsal edge, metepimeron almost completely yellow. Legs black. Femora with short spines growing progressively longer distally, tibiae with longer black spines. Wings. (Figs. 1 D, 2A) Tinted amber, strongest at apices. Two brown streaks above and below median space in both fore- and hindwing as follows: first three cells between subcosta and radius blackish brown, fourth to sixth cell tinted brown, cubito-anal space blackish brown until first crossvein. Veins black. Membranule brown. Anal loop 33���34 celled. 5 bridge crossveins in forewings, 2���3 in hindwings. Last antenodal crossvein complete. Forewing with 1 cubito-anal crossvein, triangle 3-celled, subtriangle 5���6 celled. Hindwing with 2 cubito-anal crossveins, triangle 2-celled. Nodal index in forewing 11���17:19���12 and in hindwing 11���13:14���13. Pterostigma dark brown, covering 2���3 cells, 6 times longer than wide. Abdomen. (Figs. 1 D, 2A, 4C) S1 ochre yellow. S2���7 red dorsally and yellow-orange ventrally, carinae thinly blackish. S8 dorsally red, but carinae somewhat thicker black, and ventrally black. S9 dorsally with a red triangle on either side of a black line over dorsal carina, remainder black. S10 and cerci black, slightly longer than S10. S8 somewhat dilated. Vulvar lamina (Fig. 6 A) short, slightly curled, only narrowly incised. Measurements (mm): Abdomen incl. appendages 34, hindwing 41, pterostigma 6. Diagnosis. Van der Poorten (2008) provided an overview of all known Lyriothemis species. Lyriothemis kameliyae spec. nov. can be separated from almost all other Lyriothemis species on the basis of the combination of red abdomen (in the male), dark streaks at the wing base, and thoracic pattern with two yellow lateral markings. These characters are shared with Lyriothemis bivittata, but it can be separated from that species on the basis of many clear differences, as described below. There are two other similar species. The first occurs also in Vietnam and is most likely another undescribed species (Figs. 2 E, 4D). It can readily be separated by its distinct dorsal thoracic stripes, which are absent in L. bivittata or vague and more rectangular in L. kameliyae. See also the discussion section. The other is Lyriothemis tricolor Ris, 1919 (Figs. 1 C, 1F, 5A). That species is thought to range from India in the west to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan in the east, although currently not known from Vietnam, and can be separated on the basis of, amongst others, distinct yellow dorsal stripes on the thorax, a black line over its abdomen, its more orange abdominal color and differently shaped hamulus, of which the inner edge is completely straight without incision (Fig. 6 A). Note that contrary to the key in Fraser (1936, p. 265), L. tricolor sometimes displays dark streaks at the wing base and has 3 rows of cells at the beginning of the discoidal field, rendering these characters useless for identification purposes (Figs. 1 C, 1F). Males of L. kameliyae differ from L. bivittata by having black labium and occiput, and more square-shaped postfrons marking, black prothorax and blackish-brown dorsum of the thorax, sometimes with hard to discern indication of dorsal stripes. The abdomen is as wide as the thorax, S1���2 are yellow with black markings, S8 is distinctly marked with black, S9���10 are all black, and the ventral side of the abdomen is yellow. Structurally they are distinctly smaller, with proportionally shorter pterostigma and differently shaped hamulus (Fig. 6 C) with vshaped incision and posterior tooth at inner corner. The differences in wing venation seem too variable to be of much use. The male of L. bivittata by contrast has white labium and brown occiput, rounded corners to the postfrons marking, pale markings on anterior and posterior lobes of prothorax, and warm brown thoracic dorsum. The abdomen is wider than the thorax, S1���2 are ochre yellow to orange, unmarked, and S3���10 are red dorsally and orange ventrally. Structurally L. bivittata is larger, with proportionally longer pterostigma and hamulus with curved incision and a small posterior tooth in different position (fig. 6B). Females of L. kameliyae have black labium and occiput. Anterior lobe of prothorax with pale marking, remainder black. Dorsum of prothorax blackish brown with vague somewhat paler dorsal stripes. Abdomen yellow and pale orange to brownish orange, with more or less distinct longitudinal stripes, S8���10 all black, ventral side of S1���7 yellow. In L. bivittata the labium has pale edges, occiput is brown, and the middle and posterior lobes of prothorax have brown markings. Dorsum of thorax is warm brown without dorsal stripes. S1 is ochre yellow and unmarked, S2���7 are dorsally red, ventrally orange. S8���9 are dorsally red with black markings, but black ventrally. S10 is black. Structurally L. bivittata is much larger bodied, with relatively longer pterostigma and the vulvar lamina only narrowly incised. Finally, in both males and females of L. bivittata the dark streaking at the base of the wings tends to be more extensive. The characters are summarized in Table 1. Discussion. Thanks to the help of Professor Jean Legrand I was able to study photos of Rambur���s type (Fig. 7). It displays warm brown dorsum to the thorax, pterostigmata approximately 6 times longer than wide, and unmarked abdomen with orange visible on S8. These characters enabled me to identify my Vietnamese specimens. In his description of specimens in Selys���, Martin���s, and British Museum���s collections Ris (1909) described two males from Tonkin (���a. 2♂ ���) that are characterized, amongst others, as follows: ���Thorax vorne kupferbraun���Abdomen anfangs sehr breit���leuchtend karminrot���unterseite 1���8 gelbrot, 9���10 dunkel���.��� (Front of thorax copper-brown���Abdomen first very broad���bright red���ventral side S1���8 yellow-red, 9���10 dark). He notes abdomen 33���37mm and pterostigma 4.5���5mm, respectively. According to him a third male (from Darjeeling) also belongs to this group on the basis of coloration. It measures 30 resp. 4.5mm. Although the description of the hamulus mentions a triangular incision, the accompanying drawing shows a hamulus identical to that of the male of L. bivittata here described from Vietnam. It is likely these males were indeed L. bivittata. In his description of the second group (���b. 3♂ ���) Ris does not further discuss the hamulus. It is not clear he noticed differences, nor is it evident to which of the two groups the hamulus in his drawing belongs. The three males under ���b. 3♂ ��� he describes as ���Thorax vorne ganz schwarz, eine bronzebrauner Schulterstreif nur undeutlich erkennbar���Abdomen schlanker, Segment 9���10 oben, 8���10 unten schwarz���vordere H��lfte van Segment 2 schw��rzlich.��� (Dorsum of thorax completely black, a bronze-brown shoulderstripe only just noticeable���Abdomen more slender, S9���10 black above, S8���10 black below���First half of S2 blackish.) Measurements are 28, 30, 32 for abdomen and 3, 3.5 and 3.5 for pterostigmata, respectively. The illustration of the wings of the specimen from Than-Moi (p. 112) shows a pterostigma that is 4x longer than wide. It seems that although he described the underside of the abdomen as bright red, these smaller males therefore most likely refer to L. kameliyae spec. nov. kameliyae spec. nov. and L. bivittata (Rambur, 1842). The five female specimens described by Ris are all somewhat different. Female ���a.��� (from Sibsagar, Assam) has yellowish brown dorsum to the thorax and bright red abdomen (although S7���10 are missing). The pterostigma is with> 4mm possibly short for L. bivittata, but the coloration seems to suggest this species. Female ���b.��� (from Than-Moi, Tonkin) has similar dorsum, but with vague shoulder stripes (sic.) and S1 black dorsally, S2��� 7 brownish and S8���10 black. Its abdomen is 29mm, pterostigma 4mm. This likely is L. kameliyae. Female ���c.��� (from Tonkin) has a darker thorax, but with a vague copper-brown stripe. S1 is black dorsally, S2 black with yellow spots, S3���7 are yellow with black dorsal and posterior carinae and black longitudinal stripe, S8���10 black. Below S1 is black, S2���7 are yellow and 8���10 are black. Its abdomen is 30, pterostigma is 4mm. This is unmistakenly L. kameliyae. Female ���d.��� (from Tonkin) has S1���8 bright red, S8 with black sides, S9���10 black. Its abdomen is 33mm and pterostigma L. bivittata. Female ���e.��� (from Tonkin) has S2���7 brown, S8���10 black and is again smaller, abdomen 29 and pterostigmata 4.5mm, respectively. This is another L. kameliyae candidate. Fraser (1936) provided a more extensive description of L. bivittata. His description of the male is based on large (33���37mm) specimens and mentions bright yellow labium, prothorax with posterior lobe ferruginous at middle, bright red abdomen with black borders on S9���10, all suggesting L. bivittata. The illustration of the wings on p. 264 shows a pterostigma 5x longer than wide and extensive dark streaks at the wing base, also supporting L. bivittata. His description of the female contains characters of at least two specimens from widely different origin (Assam and Laos), but does not contain definite characteristics of L. kameliyae, or it must be the statement that in some cases S8���10 are black. It is possible that some of the characteristics he mentions do not belong to L. bivittata but concern another species. Asahina (1969, 1996, 1988) provides us with something of a puzzle. Asahina (1988) features a Thai male from Chanthaburi that is relatively large (abdomen 31mm) with entirely red abdomen. However, important parts of the description are not provided, and the illustration of the hamulus is very sketchy (and does not show the posterior tooth). It is possible this specimen is true L. bivittata. It illustrates the hamuli of a male from Nepal and a male from Thu Duc in southern Vietnam but does not further describe these. The male from southern Vietnam had earlier been described in his 1969 paper. The illustrations of the hamuli in his 1988 paper for both specimens suggest L. kameliyae. Likewise, the description of the male specimens from southern Vietnam in his 1969 paper (p. 13���14) refers to ���front side of pterothorax uniformly dark brownish��� and abdomen length 26���29.5mm. This also indicates L. kameliyae. The depiction of the hamuli in this (1969) paper shows the posterior tooth in a different position from that in Asahina (1988). Either one of the illustrations must be incorrect, or a different individual (from Trang Bom in southern Vietnam?) is illustrated in his 1969 paper. If the illustration is correct, the identity of the concerned specimen is best left undecided. It is also not likely that it is L. sp. (see below), of which at least the female has bright yellow markings on the dorsum of the thorax. The 4 Thai females (also from Chanthaburi) Asahina (1988) describes are relatively small, 25���29mm, and have shining black labium and chocolate brown thorax. Their abdomen is described as orange yellow when young, reddish brown when aged, with black edges on S8���9 and black S10. Although somewhat of a mix, it is well possible these females belong to L. kameliyae. The female depicted in Asahina (1996, p. 76���77) from Cuc Phuong in Ninh Binh Province looks very much like L. kameliyae. It has yellowish abdomen with black stripes and very dark dorsum to the thorax. The streaks at the wing bases seem short for L. bivittata too and more in line with L. kameliyae. But the large size (abd. 39mm) is puzzling. It seems plausible this is a mistake. Lastly, the immature female mentioned in Asahina (1969) is, based on wing pattern, size, coloration of thorax and labium a good candidate for L. kameliyae, although he does not mention distinct striping. Lahiri (1987) reported a possible L. bivittata female from Meghalaya in India. Judging from the size (abdomen 33mm and hindwing 42mm) in combination with the extensive dark streaking at the wing base, it is certainly not L. kameliyae. Do et al. (2011, p. 15) also recorded L. bivittata from Cuc Phuong National Park, but it is obvious from the photo provided that this is in fact L. kameliyae. Many of these old descriptions cannot be conclusively attributed to either species, although some can. It is evident that both species had been lumped into one for over a century. It is thus necessary to check specimens in collections to ascertain their true identity. The male L. bivittata specimens made available on the website of the British Museum of Natural History (www.data.nhm.ac.uk; BMNH (E)1201870 & 1201871) are clearly true L. bivittata. Other females from Chanthaburi and one female from Kanchanaburi not discussed here can for instance be found in the collection of Bro. Amnuay Pinratana in Bangkok (M. H��m��l��inen in litt.). Within Vietnam there is one more Lyriothemis species that looks like both L. kameliyae and L. bivittata and is somewhat intermediate in size. The male still eludes capture. The female (Figs. 2 E, 4D) shares the lateral thorax pattern and dark streaks on the wing bases with both species, and a bright red unmarked abdomen (S1���7) with L. bivittata. But it has all black S8���10 and two bright yellow dorsal stripes on an otherwise blackish brown dorsum of its thorax. Although these dorsal stripes are similar to those of L. tricolor (Figs. 1 C, 1F), the abdomen pattern does not fit that species. Until its male is found, this species remains an enigma. In addition to the specimen illustrated here I have recorded it also from Ha Tinh Province. Note on behavior and occurrence. Males and females of both species inhabit tropical rainforest habitats in mountainous areas, where they occur in very low densities. They often perch on branches in areas of tree fall, or otherwise sunny open spots inside the forest. Some individuals were observed striking pools of water on hot afternoons, likely to cool off. L. kameliyae has been verified from reserves in northern Vietnam, especially with karst mountains. In Xuan Son National Park it was found at approximately 1000m asl, but in Huu Lien Nature Reserve the elevation is only 200���300 meters. At both these locations it occurs together with L. bivittata. In addition to the other records mentioned previously, L. kameliyae has also been photographed at Cuc Phuong National Park and Tam Dao National Park by S��bastien Delongl��e (pers. comm.). Both species appear in early April. L. bivittata has been recorded at least into September and L. kameliyae into early August. The range of L. kameliyae possibly extends westward to Nepal (Asahina, 1988), but it certainly occurs in the south-east of Yunnan in China, judging from photos of both a male and female published on http://nc.kl.edu.tw/bbs/ showthread.php?t=45178. Van der Poorten (2008) called L. bivittata widespread in the southern part of continental Asia, known from Bangladesh, N, Published as part of Kompier, Tom, 2017, The riddle of Lyriothemis bivittata (Rambur, 1842): Lyriothemis kameliyae spec. nov. (Odonata: Libellulidae), pp. 315-326 in Zootaxa 4250 (4) on pages 320-325, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/495277, {"references":["Rambur, M. P. (1842) Histoire naturelle des insectes. Nevropteres. Libraire Encycl. de Roret, Paris, xvii + 534 pp.","Fraser, F. C. (1936) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Odonata. Uol. III. Taylor & Francis, London, 448 pp.","Ris, F. (1909) Libellulines 1. Collections zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps, Catalogue systematique et descriptif, 9, 1 - 120.","Asahina, S. (1969) South Vietnam Odonata taken by Mr. Y. Inoue. Japanese Journal of Zoology, 16 (1), 1 - 19.","Asahina, S. (1996) Records of the northern Vietnamese Odonata taken by the expedition members from National Science Museum, Tokyo 3. Aeschnidae, Corduliidae and Libellulidae. Bulletin National Science Museum Tokyo, Series A, 22 (2), 69 - 80.","Asahina, S. (1988) A list of the Odonata from Thailand Part XI, Libellulidae- 1. Tombo, 31, 9 - 26.","Lahiri, A. R. (1987) Studies on the odonate fauna of Meghalaya. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper 99, 1 - 402.","Do, M. C., Bui, M. H., Nguyen, T. H. & Phan, Q. T. (2011) Anisoptera of Cuc Phuong National Park, North Vietnam. International Dragonfly Fund, Report 33, 1 - 18.","Zhang, H. (2011) Karst Forest Odonata from Southern Guizhou, China. International Dragonfly Fund, Report 37, 1 - 35."]}

Lyriothemis kameliyae spec. nov. from northern Vietnam is described and illustrated for both sexes, and descriptions are given of male and female specimens of L. bivittata collected in Vietnam. A comparison of their distinguishing characteristics is provided, and differences from similar L. tricolor are discussed. Earlier descriptions and some records of L. bivittata are evaluated. Evidently these contain at least some L. kameliyae specimens, and therefore historic records of L. bivittata require evaluation. The ranges of the two species overlap considerably. Some information is provided on the biology of L. kameliyae.

Worldwide many species of odonates are known to use phytotelmata as a breeding habitat. Hitherto, no species are known to breed in phytotelmata in India. However, field studies conducted in the southern Western Ghats revealed that Lyriothemis tricolor Ris, 1919 (Libellulidae) uses tree holes as a larval habitat. Here we report the range extension of L. tricolor to southern Western Ghats and describe morphology of the larva, exuvia, and adult female. Based on the present study, we describe the larval habitat of L. tricolor in the southern Western Ghats. Our findings reveal that L. tricolor breeds in the tree holes of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests in the southern Western Ghats.

No abstract available. Erratum An erratum for the second paragraph of the second column (page 73), in the article “Emiliyamma, K. G., Md. J. Palot, C. Radhakrishnan and V. C. Balakrishnan, 2013. Lyriothemis acigastra: a new addition to the odonata fauna of Peninsular India, 5 (1): 73–74”: “Van der Poorten (2009) compares L. defonsekai with L. acigastra mentioning a more pronounced anterior lamina for L. defonsekai….”. This is a misquote. In her paper, van der Poorten (2009) states (page 17), with respect to L. defonsekai, “Secondary genitalia (Figs. 2–3). Anterior lamina blackish and flat;”. With respect to L. acigastra (page 22), she states, "anterior lamina of secondary genitalia [of L. acigastra] more pronounced…” DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tapro.v5i1.5672 TAPROBANICA , April, 2013. Vol. 05, No. 01: pp. 73-74 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.4038/tapro.v5i2.6298 TAPROBANICA , December, 2013. Vol. 05, No. 02: pp. 163 Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE

83. Lyriothemis cleis Brauer. - Eastcoast Gvt.: Deli, Soekaranda (Kruger). Benkoelen Res.: Lake Ranau, 1 ♂, Sept. 6, 1932, Muller leg. S. Lampoeng Res.: Mt. Tanggarnoes. Talangpadang, 200 m, 1 ♂. March 31. 1929. Drescher leg.; Gisting, 500 m. 1 ♂. Sept. 26. 1933 and Semangkabay. Kotaagoeng, sea-level, 1 ♂. July 5, 1934. Toxopeus leg., Published as part of Lieftinck, M. A., 1935, A Synopsis of the Odonata (Dragonflies) of Sumatra, pp. 1-23 in Miscellanea Zoologica Sumatrana 1 on page 13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3251875, {"references":["Kruger. L. Die Odonaten von Sumatra. I ~ III. Stett. ent. Zeitg. 59 - 63. 1898 - 1902."]}

82. Lyriothemis biappendiculata (Selys) - Eastcoast Gvt.: Deli. Soekaranda (Kruger). Westcoast Res.: Airbangis (Ris). Djambi Res.: Djambi Exped., 1925. 1 ♀. O. Posthumus leg. Benkoelen Res.: Lake Ranau distr.. Banding Agoeng. 1 ♂. Oct. 27. 1929. van Steenis leg. S. Lampoeng Res.: Mt. Tanggamoes. Oeloebeloe. 500 m. 1 ♀. June 2. 1929. Drescher leg.; Semangkabay, Kotaagoeng. sea-level. 1 ♀, 1 ♂, June 27 and Dec. 26, 1934; Wailima, 1 ♀ July 3.1934, Toxopeus leg., Published as part of Lieftinck, M. A., 1935, A Synopsis of the Odonata (Dragonflies) of Sumatra, pp. 1-23 in Miscellanea Zoologica Sumatrana 1 on page 13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3251875, {"references":["Kruger. L. Die Odonaten von Sumatra. I ~ III. Stett. ent. Zeitg. 59 - 63. 1898 - 1902.","Ris. F. Odonaten von Sumatra, gesammelt von Edward Jacobson. Zool. Meded. Leiden. 10. 1927."]}

31. Lyriothemis tricolor Ris, 1916 = Lyriothemis flava Oguma, 1922 Lyriothemis flava Oguma, 1922, p. 101, “Formosa” (syn. nov.). The male labelled “Gyochi, 1. X. 1908 ” and the female labelled “Formosa” were used by Oguma for the original description, consequently these specimens represent the hololectotype and the allolectotype respectively. L. flava is, however, clearly a synonym of L. tricolor Ris (1916, p. 1063, Type: 1 ♂ 1 ♀ Sokotsu, Formosa, V. 1912, H. Sauter)., Published as part of Syoziro Asahina, 1961, The Type Specimens of the Odonata in the Entomological Institute, Hokkaido University, pp. 57-65 in Insecta matsumurana 24 on page 63, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3516659, {"references":["Ris, F. 1916: Libellulinen, Coll. Zool. Selys-Longchamps, Fasc. XlV-b.","Oguma, K. 1922: The Japanese dragonfly-fauna of the family Libellulidae. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. 1922, 96 - 112, 1 pi."]}

84. Lyriothemis magnificata (Selys). - Eastcoast Gvt.: Mt. Sinaboeng (Kruger)., Published as part of Lieftinck, M. A., 1935, A Synopsis of the Odonata (Dragonflies) of Sumatra, pp. 1-23 in Miscellanea Zoologica Sumatrana 1 on page 13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3251875, {"references":["Kruger. L. Die Odonaten von Sumatra. I ~ III. Stett. ent. Zeitg. 59 - 63. 1898 - 1902."]}

**85. Lyriothemis salva Ris. - Westcoast Res.: Korintji. 1 ♂ Pantjoerangading, 1000 m, Sept.. 1915, Jacobson leg. (Ris). S. Lampoeng Res.: Mt. Tanggarnoes, 1900 m, 1 ♂. in crater-marsh, Jan. 1, 1935. Author leg. Not differing from the description of the type. The insect was flying at the edge of a small sheltered pool. with an abundant growth of rush and sedges, on the bottom of the old crater; no o ther specimens were seen. The very high altitude is noteworthy. as the members of Lyriothemis usually inhabit low country., Published as part of Lieftinck, M. A., 1935, A Synopsis of the Odonata (Dragonflies) of Sumatra, pp. 1-23 in Miscellanea Zoologica Sumatrana 1 on page 13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3251875, {"references":["Ris. F. Odonaten von Sumatra, gesammelt von Edward Jacobson. Zool. Meded. Leiden. 10. 1927."]}