A new species of Euphaea Selys, 1840 (Odonata, Euphaeidae) from Wayanad, Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Abstract

A new species of Euphaea Selys, 1840 (Odonata, Euphaeidae) is described from the Wayanad landscape of Western Ghats of Kerala State based on integrated taxonomy. Euphaea wayanadensis sp.nov. is differentiated morphologically from the closely similar E. pseudodispar Sadasivan & Bhakare, 2021, based on the longer black hind wing patch; broader humeral and antehumeral stripes of males, which are never interrupted and not significantly tapering towards the alar sinus; humeral stripes not terminating in a distinct spot; S10 distal margin wavy at mid-ventrum and apex of the dorsal keel on S10 stepped in lateral view; and the difference in length ratios of male aedeagus and structure of the male genital vesicle. Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mt COI) region showed 12.9 per cent nucleotide divergence between the two species. Phylogenetic analysis with Maximum Likelihood method using MEGA 11 also revealed the distinctiveness of E. wayanadensissp. nov. The habitat, distribution and ecology of the new species are discussed, and a key to Euphaea species of Western Ghats is also provided.