The genus Sympetrum Newman, 1833 is represented in Venezuela by five species, one of which is described below as new to science. Sympetrum gilvum (Selys, 1844) is widely distributed in the Andes and is the only species present in the Coastal Cordillera. Sympetrum evanescens De Marmels, 1992 and the new species are known each from two localities in the Cordillera of Mérida only, while the remaining two species, viz. S. chaconi De Marmels, 1994 and S. roraimae De Marmels, 1988 are restricted to Pantepui (Guayana Highlands).

The new species was collected in the Páramo life zone, between 3 500 and 3 650 m elevation, at natural lagoons high above tree line. Only Aeshna marchali
Rambur, 1842 was also observed at one of the collecting sites (3 500 m). The holotype and two paratypes are deposited at the MIZA; the remaining
two paratypes (males) are stored at the Museo de Artrópodos, La Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo(MALUZ).

Sympetrum paramo sp. n
(Figures 1- 10)

Material examined (4 ♂♂, 1 (). Holotype ♀: Venezuela (Mérida State): Sierra Nevada National Park, Páramo El Tisure, Laguna Tisure, 3 650 m, 29.xii.1994, J. Camacho and M. García (MIZA). Paratypes: 3 ♂♂, same locality, date and collectors as holotype (1 ♂ in MIZA, 2 ♂♂ in

The shape of the outer branch of the hamulus in S. paramo is unique in being slightly curved exad at tip. Otherwise the hamulus is similar to that of S. evanescens. The penis of all species is much alike, but most similar between S. paramo and S. evanescens. Noteworthy is the strong expression over its entire length of the first white lateral thoracic stripe in S. paramo, again a character shared with S. evanescens, although in mature males of the latter the stripe finally becomes totally obscured. In S. gilvum and in the two Pantepuyan species both white lateral stripes persist in the mature state, but only in their lower third (De Marmels 1988, 1992, 1994).

Sympetrum gilvum was given specific status by Tai (1967) on the basis of a careful comparative study. I was able to compare several specimens of S. illotum from the United States and Mexico with Venezuelan S. gilvum. This study has confirmed Tai's findings, and there can be no doubt that S. gilvum is indeed a species separate from S. illotum (Figures 11-22).

Key to the species of Sympetrum found in Venezuela

1. Andes and/or Coastal Cordillera ........................ 2

- Pantepui ............................................................ 4

2[1] No dark stripe in front of vertex; dark brown basal spot in subcostal field of HW reaching close to or beyond ax1; amber basal coloration in HW at least
to tip of triangle; tibiae pale brown. Tamá, Cordillera of Mérida, Coastal Cordillera .................. S. gilvum

- Dark stripe in front of vertex present; no dark brown basal spot in HW; amber basal coloration in HW restricted to extreme base, not reaching ax1; tibiae
and tarsi brown black ......................................... 3

3[2] Posterior half of dorsal surface of frons black, anterior half white; usually only 7.5 ax in FW; wing venation black; abdomen vividly patterned with black laterally and ochreous dorsally; male epiproct not reaching to apical spine of cerci. Cordillera of Mérida ........................................................................ S. paramo

- Posterior half of frons black only in front of middle ocellus and laterally along compound eyes, anterior half red or brown; usually 9.5 ax in FW; wing venation in male red, in female black; abdomen unicolorous (dark red in male) with conspicuous black dorsomedian spot on segments 8 and 9; male epiproct reaching to base of apical spine of cerci. Cordillera of Mérida ......................................... S. evanescens

4[1] Male cerci almost straight in lateral view; dark brown portion of basal spot in subcostal field of HW reaching close to ax2; HW at most with 1-2 duplicated cells at wing margin between RP3-4 and MA, and 23 between CUA and the vein springing from heel. Auyán Tepuí ..........................................S.chaconi

-Male cerci strongly bent ventrad in lateral view; dark brown portion of basal spot in subcostal field of HW reaching to ax1; HW with 2-5 duplicated cells at wing margin between RP3-4 and MA and three or more between CUA and the vein arising from heel. Roraima and Kukenam ..................................... S.roraimae

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I feel indebted to Ing. Agron. Jesús Camacho and to Mr. Maurizio García (Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo) for allowing me to study the specimens of the new species collected by them. To Dr. Rosser W. Garrison (Azusa, California, U.S.A.) my thanks for donating a small series of Sympetrum illotum, as well as a copy of an excerpt of the doctoral thesis by L.C.C. Tai. Ing. Agron. Quintín Arias (MIZA, Maracay) scanned and edited the figures. The Consejo de Desarrollo Científico y Humanístico (CDCH) of the Universidad Central de Venezuela covered publication costs.

REFERENCES

Copyright © 2001 Sociedad Venezolana de Entomología