Two new species of Metaleptobasis from Central Ecuador (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Abstract

Two new species of Metaleptobasis from Ecuador are described and illustrated. Metaleptobasis gibbosa (holotype ♂, allotype \female: Ecuador, Pastaza Province, forest wetlands, Los Copales, between Mera and Shell, 01° 29′ 30^′′ S, 078° 04′ 19^′′ W, elevation 1070 m, 20–22 September 2005, leg. K. J. Tennessen; deposited in Florida State Collection of Arthropods) appears related to M. mauffrayi based on large, scythe-shaped posterior hamules; it differs by having cerci about 0.8 times the length of paraprocts, paraprocts wide in proximal half and posterior margin of S10 straight in dorsal view; the female has small denticles on the posteroventral margin of S8 but lacks a distinct vulvar spine. Metaleptobasis knopfi (holotype ♂, allotype \female: Ecuador, Sucumbios Province, swamp-forest and stream, 52 km NE of Chaco, 00° 00′ 04^′′ S 077° 24′ 07^′′ W, elevation 685 m, 18 August 1980, leg. K. W. Knopf; deposited in Florida State Collection of Arthropods) appears related to M. minteri based on color pattern, small posterior hamule and morphology of the genital ligula; it differs by having rear of head completely tan, S10 produced posteromedially and cerci more than half as long as paraprocts; the female of M. knopfi has larger, more erect mesepisternal horns than M. minteri.

Keywords: damselfly, Metaleptobasis, new species, taxonomy, Ecuador

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