Abstract
Two new Brazilian Protoneurinae damselflies,Forcepsioneurareguasp. nov. (holotype male deposited in DZRJ: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro State, Cachoeiras de Macacu municipality, RPPN Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) andForcepsioneuraserrabonitasp. nov. (holotype male deposited in DZRJ: Brazil, Bahia State, Camacan municipality, RPPNs Serra Bonita) , are described, illustrated and diagnosed based on males and females. The bluish and smallerF.reguasp. nov. has been confused with at least three previously described species, being very similar to the type species ofForcepsioneura,F.garrisoniLencioni, 1999, but lacking a defined tubercle-like process on the posterolateral margin of the median lobe of the prothorax in both sexes, which allows it to be distinguished from all other known species. The shape of the cercus of the male ofF.serrabonitasp. nov. is similar to that ofF.grossiorumMachado, 2001 andF.luciaMachado, 2000, two species with very short ventrobasal process. However, it differs from them mainly by the mediobasal process of the cercus, which is rounded in dorsal view and almost not visible in lateral view. The taxonomic status ofForcepsioneurais discussed and a comparison with the other species of the genus is provided. Based on size, habitat and coloration,Forcepsioneuracan be informally divided into two groups: (1) large, orange-black and montane species, includingF.grossiorum,F.itatiaiae(Santos, 1970),F.luciaandF.serrabonitasp. nov.; (2) small, bluish and lowland species, includingF.garrisoni,F.haerteliMachado, 2001,F.reguasp. nov. andF.sancta(HageninSelys, 1860). Our findings highlight the urgency in directing collecting efforts to unexplored areas, as well as the importance of private preserves that harbor the type localities as guardians of the threatened and diverse Atlantic Forest diversity. Together these two localities surveyed account for more than 210 species of odonates, representing almost 24% of the number of Brazilian species. Brazil has the greatest number of known species of odonates in the world. This study shows that further research is required in order to fully understand the diversity ofForcepsioneura.
Highlights
“...forest cover must be important for adults of the majority of neotropical Odonata
The domain, most often referred to as a biome, is composed by herbaceous-arbustive restinga vegetation at sea level, trade off by pluvial forests with tall canopies in the lowland, up to highland fields known as Campos Rupestres of the Southeastern Brazilian Páramos (Safford 1999, Ribeiro et al 2009)
Its original cover corresponds to the most densely populated part of the country, and encompasses, for instance, huge metropolitan areas such as the megacities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, that are among the thirty largest urban centers of the world (UN 2015)
Summary
“...forest cover must be important for adults of the majority of neotropical Odonata. All of them have cubitus anterior (CuA) and cubitus posterior plus anal anterior (CuP&AA) veins indistinct (except in Lamproneura), antennifer non-carinated dorsally, and male cercus with ventrobasal process and genital ligula with long recurved lateral lobes (Pessacq 2008) The monophyly of this group, as well as that of other formerly erected taxa in Protoneurinae, is uncertain and currently under investigation (Pimenta et al 2015). In recognition of conservation efforts to protect AF remnants, we describe here two previously unknown damselflies of “Protoneuridae s.s.” (Coenagrionidae: Protoneurinae) recently collected in the states of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil These new damselflies were discovered in protected areas maintained thanks to private associations. The Brazilian AF is one of the most threatened biotic domains of the biosphere, and given its fragmentation and fragility, all conservation actions, including private sector initiatives, must be applauded for their contribution to both the scientific community and society in general
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