In species of similar shape and size, biometric analyses make it possible to establish differences. Within one species, biometrics can help researchers to detect differences between populations and analyze their adaptations to environmental conditions. Until now little was known about the biometrics of the Iberian populations of Boyeria irene (Odonata: Aeshnidae), a large species living mainly in southern Europe.
Exuviae collections have considerable value in population studies of Odonata, but methods for standardizing collections or estimating densities and detection probabilities have been little studied. I measured sampling rates for Anisoptera exuviae and used a maximum likelihood, four-pass, depletion population estimator to standardize collections and to estimate exuvial densities and detection probabilities along 10 riverbank…
The larva of Cordulegaster vanbrinkae Lohmann, 1993 is described and illustrated based on fourteen final instar larvae and 49 exuviae that were collected in Gīlān, Māzandarān and Golestān provinces, in northern Iran in July 2014, July 2017 and August 2018.
Within wide geographical areas, Odonata populations can show biometric differences as a consequence of both biotic (e.g., predation, competition) and abiotic factors (mainly temperature). These differences can occur in the larval stage, although reliable characters are needed to detect differences.
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.
Inland sand areas scattered across the North American eastern deciduous forest and western tallgrass prairie ecotone are known for supporting pyrogenic early-successional vegetation and specially adapted terrestrial faunas. Many of these globally and regionally rare systems contain functionally connected wetland networks (“wetscapes”) potentially important for aquatic insects.
Vestalis gracilis (Rambur, 1842) is a forest stream damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. Its last-stadium larvae and exuviae are described and illustrated based on laboratory-raised specimens from Thailand, and observations of agonistic behavior are provided. The taxonomical characters of V. gracilis larvae are similar to those of V. amoena.
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,…
The larva of Psaironeura is formally described for the first time, based upon reared specimens of Psaironeura angeloi from the Tirimbina Biological Reserve, Sarapiquí, Heredia Province, Costa Rica. Detailed illustrations are also provided. The larva is characterized by a slender dark brown body, premental setae 2+1, six palpal setae, male cerci globose, and caudal lamellae…
Habitat loss and fragmentation induce a decline and endangerment of freshwater organisms such as Aeshna viridis, an endangered dragonfly species characterised by a specific insect–plant association to the macrophyte Stratiotes aloides. In order to implement conservation measures, a good level of knowledge about the occurrence, habitat requirements and quality, as well as patch size of…