More Calicnemia at Yen Bai*

*Article adjusted after identification of C. uenoi

On 10 and 11 May, when visiting Yen Bai Province and checking streams along the QL32, I found two more Calicnemia species. Like earlier C. miles, C. eximia and C. soccifera were all present and easily found at many places with shallow streams, rocks and bushes. But in the forest I bumped into two more species that apparently required a different habitat altogether, preferring forested surroundings with grass or plant cover on the ground and muddy areas. The first was C. erythromelas, the species that had been missing until now. It shares the general appearance with C. soccifera, but has all dark legs and orange thorax stripes, not grey, and colorful markings on the dorsum of the head, where C. soccifera only has two small light spots. It also has a huge ventral tooth on the superior appendages and, yes, a different penile organ. The other looks very much like C. mortoni, but the red on S3 is much reduced when compared to specimens I have seen on Tam Dao, the antehumeral stripe clearly defined and the female with a two-toned abdomen. Coloration and appendages fit well C. uenoi, a little known species from Sa Pa. (Later I found this species to be common in Sa Pa, although Asahina (1997) described it as having S1-5 reddish. But in fact he only illustrates this for the female).

Presumed Calicnemia uenoi male. Note almost no red on S3 and yellow at base of grey stripe on thorax.

Calicnemia uenoi in copula

Calicnemia uenoi, immature male

Male Calicnemia erythromelas

Another male

Note the extensive yellow and orange markings on the dorsum of the head

The female of C. erythromelas (caught in tandem)

Penile organ of C. erythromelas in lateral view

Penile organ of C. erythromelas in ventral view, very different from C. soccifera

Note the enormous ventral tooth, protruding even ventrally past the inferior appendages

Penile organ of Calicnemia uenoi in lateral view

The same in ventral view. 

Appendages of Calicnemia uenoi in lateral view. Note, hard to see in the picture, the small ventrobasal tooth to the superior appendages