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Lamponius sp. Virkki, 1970
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Virkki, 1970: G-57.
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Agamemnon iphimedeia Moxey, 1971
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Moxey, 1971: 73, 75, figs. (male & female).
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[ Holotype, a female, in alcohol. El Verde Research Station, El Verde, Puerto Rico.
22.iii.1970. T.P.Webster. (MCZ) ]
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Description
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Color. Dark reddish brown to black.
Female. Head with a pair of tubercles between the eyes, the vertex tuberculate.
Pronotum with a pair of tubercles on the anterior margin, a pair of stubby spines on the posterior margin.
Abdominal segment VII depressed, VIII slightly narrowed posteriorly, IX transverse and narrowed, X
subquadrate, slightly narrowed. Supraanal plate subquadrate, broadly rounded and notched apically.
Abdominal sternite VII with the lateral carinae terminating in a blunt, retrorse spine, behind which is
sometimes another smaller spine; subgenital plate with a median carina in the apical two-thirds;
ovipositor valves crossed.
Femora and tibiae with the margins subdentate.
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Male. Head with a pair of strong spines between the eyes, the vertex tuberculate.
Pronotum with a pair of large tubercles on the anterior margin and a pair of large, anteriorly-curved
spines on the posterior margin; mesonotum granulose, the granules numerous anteriorly.
Subgenital plate strongly fornicate, with a median longitudinal carina and transverse V-shaped ridge.
Anterior coxae with a lateral spine; femora and tibiae with the margins subdentate.
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Egg. Large, ovoid, surface coriaceous. Micropylar plate shield-shaped, about twice as long
as broad. Operculum slightly convex. Length 3.5 mm.
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Cytogenetics. Virkki (1970) reported
the karyotype as 2n = 34 + XX, with the male haploid number being 17II + X, the X-chromosome large
and submetacentric.
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Observations. This species was taken on Piper shrubs in the mountains of the tropical
Luquillo Forest. It was always less than a meter off the ground, the higher portions of the plant being
occupied by a Lamponius species. When disturbed, A. iphimedeia would either drop to
the ground in a cataleptic state or spread its anterior femora; there was no regurgitation or defensive gland
secretion. As shown by Moxey (1971), the gland is reduced in this
species and probably nonfunctional.
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Distribution. Montane rain forests of Puerto Rico.
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Material examined. Five males, 15 females.
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Puerto Rico
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< island label only >
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USNM
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El Yunque
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ANSP
MCZ
RJL
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El Verde Research Station, Luquillo Experimental Forest
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ANSP
CFM
MCZ
RJL
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El Toro Trail, Sierra de Luquillo
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CFM
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Male |
Females |
| Total length |
62-71 mm |
64-77 mm |
| mesonotum |
18-22 mm |
18-21 mm |
| metanotum and median segment |
8-10 mm |
7- 9 mm |
| anterior femur |
16-18 mm |
14-16 mm |
| middle femur |
14-16 mm |
13-15 mm |
| posterior femur |
17-20 mm |
16-18 mm |
| supraanal plate |
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1- 2 mm |
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