Mnesarete

Abstract: 2 INTRODUCTION 2 METHODS AND MATERIAL 3 SYSTEMATICS 5 Key to genera of Calopterygidae of the New World 6 Key to species of Iridictyon 7 Bryoplathanon new genus 7 Bryoplathanon globifer (Hagen in Selys) new combination 8 Ormenophlebia new genus 8 Key to species of Ormenophlebia 9 Ormenophlebia imperatrix (McLachlan) new combination 10 Ormenophlebia regina (Ris) new combination 11 Ormenophlebia rollinati (Martin) new combination 12 Ormenophlebia saltuum (Ris) new combination 12 Mnesarete Cowley sensu stricto 13 Key to males of Mnesarete 14 Key to females of Mnesarete 16 Mnesarete aenea (Selys) 18 Mnesarete astrape De Marmels 18 Mnesarete borchgravii (Selys) new combination 19 Mnesarete cupraea (Selys) 20 Mnesarete devillei (Selys) 21 Mnesarete drepane new species 23 Mnesarete ephippium new species 25 Mnesarete fulgida (Selys) 26 Mnesarete fuscibasis (Calvert) new combination 27 Mnesarete grisea (Ris) 28 Mnesarete guttifera (Selys) 29 Mnesarete hauxwelli (Selys) 30 Mnesarete hyalina (Hagen in Selys) 31 Mnesarete lencionii new species 32 Mnesarete loutoni new species 34 Mnesarete machadoi new species 35 Mnesarete marginata (Selys) 37 Mnesarete mariana Machado 37 Mnesarete metallica (Selys) 37 Mnesarete pruinosa (Hagen in Selys) 38 Mnesarete pudica (Hagen in Selys) 39 Key to subspecies of males of Mnesarete pudica 39 Mnesarete pudica phryne Costa 39 Mnesarete pudica pudica (Hagen in Selys) 40 Mnesarete rhopalon new species 40 Mnesarete smaragdina (Selys) 41 Contributions in Science, Number 506, pp. 1-84 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 2006 2 Contributions in Science, Number 506 Garrison: Synopsis of Mnesarete Mnesarete williamsoni new species 41 DISCUSSION 42 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 44 LITERATURE CITED 44 EIGURE CAPTIONS 47 EIGURES 48 ABSTRACT. This synopsis of the exclusively South American genus Mnesarete includes keys to both sexes based primarily on morphology of the caudal appendage in males and the posterior margin of the prothorax and intersternite in females, diagnoses, distribution maps, and diagnostic illustrations. Two new genera, Bryoplathanon (type species: Lais globifer Hagen in Selys) and Ormenophlebia (type species: Lais imperatrix McLachlan) are described. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: M. regina (Ris), M. roUinati (Martin), and M. saltuum (Ris) are transferred to Ormenophlebia; and Hetaerina borchgravii Selys and H. fuscibasis Calvert are transferred to Mnesarete. Seven new species (M. drepane, M. ephippium, M. lencionii, M. loutoni, M. machadoi, M. rhopalon, and M. williamsoni) are described. A generic key to all New World Calopterygidae and a discussion of the generic concepts of Hetaerina and the 24 species of Mnesarete are presented, and descriptions for the last larval stadium of M. grisea and O. imperatrix are This synopsis of the exclusively South American genus Mnesarete includes keys to both sexes based primarily on morphology of the caudal appendage in males and the posterior margin of the prothorax and intersternite in females, diagnoses, distribution maps, and diagnostic illustrations. Two new genera, Bryoplathanon (type species: Lais globifer Hagen in Selys) and Ormenophlebia (type species: Lais imperatrix McLachlan) are described. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: M. regina (Ris), M. roUinati (Martin), and M. saltuum (Ris) are transferred to Ormenophlebia; and Hetaerina borchgravii Selys and H. fuscibasis Calvert are transferred to Mnesarete. Seven new species (M. drepane, M. ephippium, M. lencionii, M. loutoni, M. machadoi, M. rhopalon, and M. williamsoni) are described. A generic key to all New World Calopterygidae and a discussion of the generic concepts of Hetaerina and the 24 species of Mnesarete are presented, and descriptions for the last larval stadium of M. grisea and O. imperatrix are

Abstract: The courtship behavior in calopterygid damselflies is well documented; however, the behavior of the large Neotropical genus Mnesarete is still unknown. Thus, here we present the first description of male–female interactions in Mnesarete pudica, a common damselfly in the Neotropical Savanna. The male–female interactions were composed of courtship displays, mounting, and chasing. The courtship behavior lasted 5.23 ± 1.65 s and is very different from other calopterygids, consisting of hovering flights and the cross display made in front of females rather than on the oviposition site. The arrival and presence of females on a male territory are not sufficient to initiate sexual interactions; the male usually interacts with the female only after a patrolling flight. The females may present three distinct behaviors in response to male approach: (a) warding off signal (31.53%), (b) escape (28.83%), (c) and wing flipping (39.64%), which seems to stimulate male courtship. Females also may sit still, which induces males to react as if females were signaling they are willing to mate. In this paper, we also suggest that male courtship behavior is mediated by female signals.