Description of the final stadium larva of Anisopleura furcata Selys, 1891 (Odonata: Euphaeidae) from Thailand.

The final stadium larva of Anisopleura furcata Selys, 1891 is described and illustrated. The larva can be separated from all known Anisopleura Selys, 1853 larvae by the following characters: the profusion of elongated tubercles on the labrum and antefrons, the presence of a long bifid spur on the outer margin of the mandibles, presence of a row of claviform setae on dorsal apex of tarsus, and antennae 8-segmented. The inner lobe of the labial palps forms a tiny truncate tooth broadly similar to the condition in all other known members of the genus. Diagnostic features that separate this species from potentially syntopic euphaeid genera are discussed.

First description of the larva of Archineura incarnata (Karsch, 1891) with notes on the biology (Odonata: Calopterygidae).

The final instar larva of the genus Archineura Kirby, 1894 is described for the first time, based on a specimen of the Chinese endemic species Archineura incarnata (Karsch, 1892) collected from Mt. Nankunshan, Guangdong Province, China. The larva is distinguished by several characters, including its moderately slender build combined with the distinctive extremely long legs, long, narrow, uniquely spined outer caudal appendages, a mask strongly expanded anteriorly with a relatively small median cleft, and robust spines at the apex of the labial palp. The mask is most similar to larvae of Echo Selys, 1853, Mnais Selys, 1853 and Psolodesmus MacLachlan, 1870 which are considered its nearest relatives based on molecular analysis, but from which it differs in other characters. The biology of Archineura larvae is discussed briefly.

Descriptions of the larvae of Huosoma Guan, Dumont, Yu, Han amp; Vierstraete, 2013 from China (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

The final stadium larvae of Huosoma latiloba (Yu, Yang Bu, 2008) and Huosoma tinctipenne (McLachlan, 1894) from Yunnan Province, China are described and illustrated for the first time, with diagnostic differences between the two species identified. While no morphological characters separating the adults of this genus, and the closely related western Palaearctic Pyrrhosoma Charpentier, 1840 have been found, the larvae of these two genera do show differences which are discussed here.

Descriptions of larvae of Caliphaea angka Hämäläinen, 2003 and Mnais gregoryi Fraser, 1924 (Odonata: Calopterygidae).

The larvae of Caliphaea angka Hämäläinen, 2003 and Mnais gregoryi Fraser, 1924 are described and illustrated for the first time from Erhai lake Basin, Yunnan Province, China. Notes on their habitat are provided. This paper represents the first verified description of the larva of Caliphaea Hagen in Selys, 1859.

Oligoaeschna sirindhornae sp. nov., a new dragonfly species from Thailand (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae).

Oligoaeschna sirindhornae sp. nov. is described from a male from Sakaerat Silvicultural Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima Province in Thailand. It is the only known Oligoaeschna species recorded from Thailand since Oligoaeschna pramoti (Yeh, 2000) and Oligoaeschna minuta (Hämäläinen & Pinratana, 1999) were transferred to the genus Sarasaeschna.

A review of the occurrence and diversity of the sphragis in butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea).

Males of many butterfly species secrete long-lasting mating plugs to prevent their mates from copulating with other males, thus ensuring their sperm will fertilize all future eggs laid. Certain species have further developed a greatly enlarged, often spectacular, externalized plug, termed a sphragis. This distinctive structure results from complex adaptations in both male and female genitalia and is qualitatively distinct from the amorphous, internal mating plugs of other species. Intermediate conditions between internal plug and external sphragis are rare. The term sphragis has often been misunderstood in recent years, hence we provide a formal definition based on accepted usage throughout most of the last century. Despite it being a highly apparent trait, neither the incidence nor diversity of the sphragis has been systematically documented. We record a sphragis or related structure in 273 butterfly species, representing 72 species of Papilionidae in 13 genera, and 201 species of Nymphalidae in 9 genera. These figures represent respectively, 13% of Papilionidae, 3% of Nymphalidae, and 1% of known butterfly species. A well-formed sphragis evolved independently in at least five butterfly subfamilies, with a rudimentary structure also occurring in an additional subfamily. The sphragis is probably the plesiomorphic condition in groups such as Parnassius (Papilionidae: Parnassiinae) and many Acraeini (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae). Some butterflies, such as those belonging to the Parnassius simo group, have apparently lost the structure secondarily. The material cost of producing the sphragis is considerable. It is typically offset by production of a smaller spermatophore, thus reducing the amount of male-derived nutrients donated to the female during mating for use in oogenesis and/or somatic maintenance. The sphragis potentially represents one of the clearest examples of mate conflict known. Investigating its biology should yield testable hypotheses to further our understanding of the selective processes at play in an 'arms race' between the sexes. This paper provides an overview, which will inform future study.

Description of the final stadium larvae of Onychargia atrocyana Selys, 1865 from Sarawak, identified using DNA barcoding (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae), with an overview of larval characters in the Platycnemididae.

The final stadium larva of Onychargia atrocyana Selys, 1865, is described and illustrated based on two female specimens collected at Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, East Malaysia. The larvae were identified by matching the mitochondrial marker COI with that of known adult specimens from Gunung Mulu, Bintulu and Kuching in Sarawak and from Pahang state in West Malaysia. The specimens presented close matches with all adults in this gene. As O. atrocyana is a taxonomically isolated species with no close congeners in Borneo the determination is beyond doubt. O. atrocyana is the only member of the Onychargiinae for which the larva is known. It is compared with the known larvae of other platycnemidid subfamilies, and the possible significance of larval morphology in higher classification of the group is discussed.

Description of two final stadium platystictid larvae from Borneo, including that of Drepanosticta ?attala Lieftinck, identified using DNA barcoding (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae).

The final stadium larva of Drepanosticta ?attala Lieftinck, is described and illustrated based on a single male specimen collected at Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre, Brunei. The larva was identified by matching the mitochondrial marker COI with that of known adult specimens. The larva presented a good match with both D. attala and D. barbatula Lieftinck in this gene, but as adults of only the former species had been collected at the locality, it is presumed more likely to be that species. Another, unidentified platystictid larva, Platystictidae A, collected at the same general locality is also described. The two larvae show significant differences from each other and from D. sundana Krüger, the only other Oriental region member of the family for which larval morphology is known. The three species are also compared with the larvae of the Neotropical genus Palaemnema, which they closely resemble, despite being currently placed in different subfamilies. Based on this known material, Oriental and Neotropical forms differ significantly in details of mandibular morphology, especially the armature of the molar field.

Nannophlebia leoboppi sp nov., a new dragonfly species from New Guinea (Odonata: Anisoptera: Libellulidae).

Nannophlebia leoboppi sp. nov. is described and figured based on a male specimen collected in the Star Mountains of Central New Guinea. This relatively large representative of its genus is compared with its probable nearest relative, N. antiacantha Lieftinck, 1963, which is also partially figured. The new species brings the total number of Nannophlebia species to 25.