The indentity of Argia saalasi Valle, 1942 (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

A. saalasi Valle, which was described from material of southern Californian origin, has long been considered a mere synonym of either A. agrioides Calv. or A. nahuana Calv. (D.R.Paulson, pers.comm.; M.J. Westfall,Jr., pers.comm.). However, the true identity of A. saalasi has not been discussed in the literature. The material on which K.J. VALLE (1942, Annls ent.fenn. 8:163-166) based his somewhat conditional description is to be found in the Zoological Museum of the University of Helsinki. It contains: — Lectotype (here designated): $ labelled; "Riverside, Cal./U. Saalas [leg.]/188b/ Mus, Zool. H:fors Spec. typ. No 6558 Argia saalasi Valle/Argia saalasi Valle $ det. Valle”. — Part of legs lacking, blue colour well preserved. — Paralectotypes (here designated): $ labelled; "Riverside, Cal. / U. Saalas [leg,]/187b/ Mus. Zool. H:fors Spec. typ. No 6559 Argia saalasi Valle/Argia saalasi Valle $ det. Valle”. — Head, prothorax and middle legs lacking. — $ labelled: "Riverside, Cal./U. Saalas [leg.]/!89b/Coll. K.J. Valle/Argia saalasi Valle $ det. Valle". — Head, prothorax and legs lacking.