The Indian Elattoneura are a difficult group to identify due to their extreme morphological similarity and sparse information in identification keys and on geographical distribution. The ambiguity is prominent among two Peninsular Indian Elattoneura species, E. nigerrima (Laidlaw, 1917) and E. tetrica (Laidlaw, 1917), described a hundred years ago.
Distribution, autecology, genetic characterization, and conservation of the Western Mediterranean endemic dragonfly Orthetrum nitidinerve (Selys, 1841): insights from Italy
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are a primary component of freshwater ecosystems and one of the most threatened by anthropogenic pressures. Among them, dragonflies are a charismatic group of growing scientific and social interest. However, little is known about the natural history of several species. One paradigmatic example is the declining Orthetrum nitidinerve, a Western Mediterranean endemic anisopteran….
Demographics and behaviour of Heteragrion cooki, a forest damselfly endemic to Ecuador (Odonata)
Damselflies adapted to forest habitats are expected to be negatively affected by the disturbance of riparian forests, due to the change in insolation when trees are cleared. In this paper, we compare survivorship and behaviour of two populations of Heteragrion cooki by means of mark-recapture methods and focal observations of adults. We found similar densities…
Reproductive behaviour of a North African endemic damselfly, Platycnemis subdilatata (Odonata: Platycnemididae) and probable senescence effects
Although the endemic damselfly, Platycnemis subdilatata Selys, 1849, is widespread in the Maghreb, many aspects of its reproductive behaviour, biology and ecology are still unstudied. One particular feature of this species is that its coloration pattern continues to change during maturation and afterwards, which makes it a good model for assessing age effects on behavioural…
Life history and secondary production of the Chinese endemic damselfly Euphaea opaca (Odonata: Euphaeidae)
Euphaea opaca Selys, 1853 is an endemic damselfly to China, but little is known about its biology and ecology. In this study, we investigated the life history and secondary production of E. opaca in a third order subtropical stream of Guangdong, China. Larvae were collected monthly from October 2010 to September 2011 using a Surber…
Larval habitats and life history of the Crete Island endemic Boyeria cretensis (Odonata: Aeshnidae)
Boyeria cretensis belongs to the most threatened European dragonfly species. It is restricted to some isolated permanent streams on the island of Crete. The streams have a pronounced gallery vegetation and are situated in a narrow belt of altitude between 50 and 400 m. We understand very little about the biology of this species so…
The enigmatic Australian endemic species Hemiphlebia mirabilis Selys (Zygoptera: Hemiphlebioidea): Four short observations and a new record
This paper is dedicated to Philip S. Corbet on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
Platygomphus benritarum sp. nov. and rediscovery of Anormogomphus heteropterus Selys, 1854 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidae) from Tezpur, Assam, India
Anormogomphus heteropterus is redescribed based upon a single male specimen. Discrepancies and inaccuracies in previous illustrations of this species that could cause confusion are pointed out. Platygomphus benritarum sp. nov. is described on the basis of a single male specimen collected at Tezpur, Sonitpur District, Assam, India.
Description of last instar larvae of Ceratogomphus triceraticus Balinsky, 1963 and C. pictus Hagen in Selys, 1854 (Odonata: Gomphidae)
The final instar larvae of the two species of the southern African gomphid genus Ceratogomphus, the South African endemic C. triceraticus and the more widespread C. pictus, are compared based on exuviae. Main differences are the shapes of the prementum and of the last abdominal segments, giving C. pictus a more slender and pointed appearance.
The importance of tropical mountain forests for the conservation of dragonfly biodiversity: A case from the Colombian Western Andes
Forests have been widely recognized as key habitats for odonate (dragonflies and damselflies) biodiversity, but the importance of forests for holding odonate biodiversity remains understudied in tropical mountains, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Here we describe the odonate assemblage composition along the elevation gradient in the Tatamá Mountains (Colombian Cordillera Occidental).