Abstract
The Neotropical genus Leptagrion Selys is composed by 16 species, mainly distributed in northern and central South America (Costa & Garrison 2001; De Marmels & Garrison 2005; Lencioni 2006). Only phytotelmic habitats were recorded for its larvae, exclusively in bromeliads, e.g., Vriesia, Neoregelia, Quesnelia, Portea, Bilbergia, Canistrum, Aechmea (Santos 1966, 1968, 1978, 1979; Lounibos et al. 1987; Corbet 1999). However, no final stage larva of any species of Leptagrion has been described to date. De Marmels (1985) described that of L. fernandezianum Rácenis, but this species was transferred to the newly erected and related genus Bromeliagrion De Marmels in De Marmels & Garrison (De Marmels & Garrison 2005). In addition, Torreias et al. (2008) described the final instar larva of B. rehni Garrison from Guzmania bromeliads. Leptagrion andromache Hagen in Selys belongs to the porrectum species group and was previously recorded from Brazil (Espirito Santo) (Costa & Garrison 2001; Lencioni 2006). In this paper we describe the final instar larva of L. andromache based on reared specimens of both sexes collected in Misiones province, Argentina and we compare them with that of B. fernandezianum and B. rehni.References
Cabrera, A.L. & Willink, A. (1973) Biogeografía de América Latina. O.E.A., Serie Biología, Monografía 13.
Corbet, P.S. (1999) Dragonflies, behavior and ecology of Odonata. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, xxxii + 829 pp.
Costa, J.M. & Garrison, R.W. (2001) Description of the female of Leptagrion aculeatum Santos, 1965 with keys to the known species (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Odonatologica, 30 (4), 381–394.
De Marmels, J. & Garrison, R.W. (2005) Review of the genus Leptagrion in Venezuela with new synonymies and descriptions of a new genus, Bromeliagrion, and a new species, B. rehni (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Canadian Entomologist, 137, 257–273.
De Marmels, J. (1985) La náyade del Leptagrion fernandezianum Rácenis, especie bromelícola (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), y consideraciones sobre la posible relación filogenética del género Leptagrion Selys. Boletin de Entomología Venezolana, 4 (1), 1–8.
Lencioni, F.A.A. (2006) Damselflies of Brazil. An illustrated identification guide. 2 - Coenagrionidae. All Print Editora, São Paulo, viii + 419 pp.
Lounibos, L.P., Frank, J.H., Machado-Allison, C.E., Navarro, J.C. & Ocanto, P. (1987) Seasonality, abundance and invertebrate associates of Leptagrion siquerai Santos in Aechmea bromeliads in Venezuelan rain forest (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Odonatologica, 16 (2), 193–199.
Santos, N.D. (1966) Contribução ao conhecimento da fauna do Estado da Guanabara. 56 – Notas sobre Coenagriideos (Odonata) que se criam em bromelias. Atas da Sociedade Biologica do Rio de Janeiro, 10 (3), 83–85.
Santos, N.D. (1968) Descrição de Leptagrion siquerai sp. n. (Odonata, Coenagrionidae). Atas da Sociedade Biologica do Rio de Janeiro, 12 (3), 137–139.
Santos, N.D. (1978) Descrição de Leptagrion vriesianum sp. n. cenagrionideo bromelicola (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). Boletim do Museu Nacional (Nova Serie) Zoología, 292, 1–6.
Santos, N.D. (1979) Descrição de Leptagrion bocainense Santos, 1978 cenagrionideo bromelicola (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil, 8 (1), 167–173.
Torreias, S.R.S., Neiss, U.G., Hamada, N., Ferreira-Keppler, R.L. & Lencioni, F.A.A. (2008) Description of the larva of Bromeliagrion rehni (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) with bionomic notes concerning its phytotelmic habitat in central Amazonas, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 25 (3), 479–486.
Watson, M.C. (1956) The utilization of mandibular armature in taxonomic studies of anisopterous nymphs. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 81, 155–205.