We reconstruct a phylogenetic framework for the zygopteran family Lestidae based on a molecular dataset comprised of sequence data from the genes COI, 16S, 18S, 28S, and ITS1+2 from 41 ingroup taxa and 8 outgroup taxa with emphasis on the systematic position of the genus Chalcolestes Kennedy.
Descriptions of the last instar larvae of two species of Megalestes Selys from Yunnan, China (Odonata: Zygoptera: Synlestidae)
The final stadium larvae of Megalestes micans Needham, 1930 and M. kurahashii Asahina, 1985 are described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China, and a key to the known larvae of seven species of the genus Megalestes is provided. All exuviae will be stored at the Invertebrate Collection of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,…
Body temperatures in Sympecma paedisca (Zygoptera, Lestidae) in the autumn in the Central Ukraine
This short communication reports on the warming ability of the damselfly Sympecma paedisca, which is known for its winter hibernation and tolerance to low temperatures. The data were collected using an infrared camera in late September on two sunny days (air temperature 15–17°C) in the vicinity of Kyiv, Central Ukraine. The obtained data show that…
Analysing the European genera of family Lestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera) with special emphasis on the status of Chalcolestes based on the morphological characteristics of male adults
Lestidae is a heterogeneous family with more than 150 species worldwide. There are many debates concerning its resolution. One of them is whether the genus Chalcolestes should be recognized as a genus or considered as a synonym of Lestes. We compared male characteristics of eight Hungarian species of three genera (Lestes, Chalcolestes and Sympecma) of…
The larva of Perissolestes remotus (Williamson & Williamson, 1924) (Zygoptera: Perilestidae)
The larva of Perissolestes remotus is described for the first time based on Costa Rican specimens collected in forested streams with abundant organic matter. It is characterized by a slender, elongated body, with lateral keels on abdominal segments 1–9, and a middorsal row of spines on segments 4–10. We also provide additional notes on the…
Constant and shifting photoperiods as seasonal cues during larval development of the univoltine damselfly Lestes sponsa (Odonata: Lestidae)
Larvae were reared at 21.5°C from eggs from southernmost Sweden, and fed ad libitum to emergence in four different photoperiodic treatments, intended to represent increasing levels of time stress: constant LD 16:8, corresponding to late April (or August) conditions, a shift after about two weeks from LD 16:8 to 19.5:4.5, coarsely simulating late spring, constant…
Out of Australia: the Argiolestidae reveal the Melanesian Arc System and East Papua Composite Terrane as possible ancient dispersal routes to the Indo-Australian Archipelago (Odonata: Argiolestidae)
Information on the origin of distribution patterns shown by freshwater invertebrates in the Indo-Australian Archipelago is poor. Here we present a molecular based hypothesis of the phylogenetic relationships of Argiolestidae, a family of damselflies found throughout the tropical parts of the Eastern Hemisphere. We use this to address the following questions: (1) did Argiolestidae colonize…
Hatching phenology of Odonata species inhabiting temporary and permanent water bodies (Odonata: Lestidae, Aeshnidae, Libellulidae)
The hatching phenology of 15 Odonata species was studied under seminatural conditions to find out how the hatching modes of typical species of summer dry temporary waters (vernal ponds) differ from those of species inhabiting both permanent and temporary waters. We attempt to answer the following questions. (1) Do vernal pond species hatch earlier in…
Notes on the retractabilty of gill tufts in Pseudolestes mirabilis (Zygoptera: Pseudolestidae)
A detailed observation of living larva of Pseudolestes mirabilis was conducted, with a focus on the gill tufts, which were confirmed to be retractable. Photographs of the larva in life and video records are provided to demonstrate this finding.
Two new species of Pyrrhargiolestes, with a key to the males (Odonata: Argiolestidae)
Two new species belonging to the endemic New Guinea genus Pyrrhargiolestes are described from Papua New Guinea: P. lamington sp. nov. (holotype: Mount Lamington, Oro Province, dep. in RMNH) and P. yela sp. nov. (holotype: Rossel Island, Milne Bay Province, dep. in USNM). The presumed male of P. aulicus is described for the first time….