Description ofPhylloneura rupestrissp. nov. (Odonata, Platycnemididae) from the Western Ghats, India with notes on its reproductive behavior

Abstract

ABSTRACTPhylloneuraFraser, 1922 is a genus of damselflies which was till date regarded monotypic. It is represented by the nominate species,Phylloneura westermanni(Hagen in Selys, 1860) which is endemic to the Western Ghats in India. In our study, we came across a population ofPhylloneuranear Ponmudi hills, Thiruvananthapuram, which displayed morphological and behavioral differences fromP. westermanni. We describe it as a species new to science with detailed photographs and illustrations. We also provide notes on its reproductive behavior.