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…

How to enter a desert—patterns of Odonata colonisation of arid Namibia

With a total of 75 species the odonate diversity in the Namibian desert is surprisingly high. Based on their distribution characteristics, invasion patterns, and breeding success, there are six well-defined categories of Odonata: widespread species – (1) permanently living in the desert, and desert biased, (2) permanently living in the desert, but not desert-biased; (3)…

The effects of environmental warming on Odonata: a review

Climate change brings with it unprecedented rates of increase in environmental temperature, which will have major consequences for the earth’s flora and fauna. The Odonata represent a taxon that has many strong links to this abiotic factor due to its tropical evolutionary history and adaptations to temperate climates. Temperature is known to affect odonate physiology…

The Odonata of Numidia, Northeaster Algeria Part II Seasonal ecology

This paper, a companion to Part I which treated status and distribution of Numidian Odonata, summarizes current knowledge of their seasonal ecology and identifies areas where promising research avenues exist. Annual patterns of adult occurrence and reproductive activity are used to infer life cycles, with particular reference to strategies that enable species to bridge the…

Orthetrum julia falsum Longfield 1955, new to the dragonfly fauna of Yemen and the Arabian Penunsula (Anisoptera: Libellulidae)

Orthetrum julia (Kirby 1900), subspecies falsum Longfield 1955, is reported for the first time from Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula (1 male, Wadi al-Ahjar, 15°27’53″N 43°52’32″E). The specimen is described and compared with specimens from Africa; taxonomically relevant structures are figured. The total number of species known from Yemen is raised to 37, from the…