Odonata of Tuva, Russia

The odonate fauna of Tuva in Siberia, Russia, is documented, based mainly on data from expeditions in 1990, 2000 and 2004, and examination of collections preserved in Novosibirsk. The checklist of Tuvinian Odonata presently includes 47 species. In the southern Ubsu-Nur depression 29 species were recorded (two just there); in the Central Tuvinian depression 34…

Relict occurrence of East Palaearctic dragonflies in northern European Russia, with first records of Coenagrion glaciale in Europe (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

The East Palaearctic Coenagrion glaciale and C. hylas are characterized by a current disjunct distribution. New data from northern European Russia significantly modify the earlier known pattern of their distribution. The first European records of C. glaciale and a new record of C. hylas west of the Urals are reported from the environs of Pinega…

New status for Fraser’s forgotten Aciagrion approximans krishna, stat. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) from the Western Ghats of India

Aciagrion Selys, 1891 is one of the taxonomically difficult and poorly known genera of Oriental damselflies. Aciargion hisopa race krishna Fraser, 1921 was described from Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India. However, later Fraser (1933) doubted the taxonomic necessity of this taxon. His notion of Aciagrion hisopa (Selys, 1876) was erroneous, as evidenced by syntypes of this species…

Onychargia priydak sp. nov. (Odonata, Platycnemididae) from eastern Cambodia

Onychargia priydak sp. nov. is described from eastern Cambodia. The new species co-occurs with the widespread Onychargia atrocyana Selys, 1865 in the same region. Its males differ from those of O. atrocyana by a larger paraprocts, which are longer than the cerci, and a bright white pruinescence on thorax, femora and the two first abdominal segments….

Neotype of Pseudagrion approximans Selys, 1876 designated to resolve a nomenclatorial confusion in the genus Aciagion Selys, 1891 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

To resolve a prevailing nomenclatorial confusion present in the genus Aciagrion, A. tillyardi Laidlaw, 1919 is placed in synonymy of A. approximans (Selys, 1876). The neotype of “Pseudagrion approximans”, a male specimen from Khasi Hills preserved in Coll. Selys Longchamps at RBINS, is designated to replace the lost holotype, which was an incomplete specimen of…

Spatial displacement of Odonata in south-west Siberia

A brief account is presented of mass dragonfly migrations observed previously in Russia and West Siberia in particular. A mass migration in Libellula quadrimaculata is described in detail. It occurred on 1 July 1981 in the south-western part of the West Siberian Plain in the valley of the Ishym River. From 1968 to 2008 we…

Critical species of Odonata in the Asian part of the former USSR and the Republic of Mongolia

The region covered is briefly defined and characterized as relatively little disturbed. A survey of relevant odonatological literature, including local Red Lists, is given, along with current scientific activity. Sixteen species are indicated, which deserve special attention, one of them, Ischnura aralensis, being the only strict endemic in the region. Some isolated populations deserving protection…

Critical species of Odonata in Turkey, Iran and the Caucasus

An overview is given of the present knowledge and current research on the Odonata fauna of Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus. The occurrence of endemic taxa and of rare and possibly threatened species is discussed. The use of water from various aquatic habitats is reviewed in order to gain insight in existing and potential problems,…

Additions to the knowledge of Sympetrum sinaiticum, Dumont (Odonata: Libellulidae)

New information shows that S. sinaiticum, is not divided into subspecies, as hitherto supposed. The subspecific name tarraconense, Jödicke, 1994 must be regarded as a junior synonym of sinaiticum., In contrast, the name arenicolor, Jödicke, 1994 denotes a taxon at full species rank, characterized by its larval and ligula morphology. This species is taxonomically identical…