A new species of the endemic New Guinean genus Lanthanusa is described from the Trauna River Valley in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Characters of the male are illustrated and affinities of the new species are discussed. Some characters of the type species of Lanthanusa, L. cyclopica, are reassessed and a revised key to…
Hand feeding: a method to increase the survival rate of Orthetrum coerulescens (Odonata: Libellulidae) in outdoor enclosures
Food intake rate and diet composition have a high impact on all organisms and affect individual fitness, fecundity and mortality. Specimens in enclosures have to be fed in an adequate way and with minimum stress for the specimens. Adult dragonflies are flying hunters. In enclosures, they are usually fed by adding different kinds of adult…
The levis group of Orthemis revisited: a synopsis including a synonymy and description of six new species of Orthemis from South America (Odonata: Libellulidae)
The levis and ferruginea groups of Orthemis are redefined. Six new species of Orthemis are described: O. aciculata sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Surinam, Para Dist., road near forest, Zanderij I (5°32′ N, 55°10′ W), 17 January 1957, leg. J. Belle [RMNH]), O. celata sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Brazil, Pará State, Rio Gurupí, Canindé (0°30′57′ ′…
Lanthanusa bilineata sp. nov. from New Guinea (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Lanthanusa bilineata, a new libellulid from the mountains of central New Guinea (holotype: Mekil Research Station (04°48′ S, 141°39′ E), leg. 1 September 2004, dep. at RMNH, Leiden), is described. The new species combines characteristics previously used to distinguish between Huonia and Lanthanusa with wing venation characteristic of the genus Huonia and accessory genitalia characteristic…
Clutch size and egg production in Orthetrum nitidinerve Selys, 1841 (Anisoptera: Libellulidae): effect of body size and age
Clutch size is an important fitness component often quantified artificially by inducing oviposition in libellulid females. Female behavior and egg production of the yellow-veined skimmer, Orthetrum nitidinerve, were studied in northeast Algeria during its reproductive season. Data on reproductive behavior and biology of this Mediterranean endemic species has not been published previously. Males guarded territories…
Oviposition behaviour of Sympetrum frequens (Selys) (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Oviposition behaviour by Sympetrum frequens, a species endemic to Japan, has been observed throughout its entire breeding season, which extended for about one month after the harvest of rice. Approximately 50% of oviposition events occurred during the first week of the reproduction period. Sunny oviposition sites were preferentially selected by ovipositing pairs. The starting time…
Behaviour of dragonflies during the 2009 partial solar eclipse in Japan (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Behaviour of dragonflies was observed during the partial solar eclipse in Saitama, Japan, on 22 July 2009. The solar eclipse started at 09:54 h, reached its maximum magnitude of 74.9% at 11:12 h, and ended at 12:29 h. Light intensity at the peak of the eclipse was 1005 lx, a reduction by 28.2% of that…
Oligoclada mortis sp. nov. from Rondônia State, Brazil, and distributional records of other species of the genus (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Oligoclada mortis sp. nov. (holotype male deposited in MZSP: Brazil, Rondônia State, Porto Velho municipality, “T[ransect] 5-21, seg[ment]12” (09°35′19′′S, 65°02′50′′W, 106 m asl, 13 v 2010, leg. Nogueira & Mendes) is described and illustrated based on two males. The new species fits within Borror’s Group III, differing from all other described species in the genus by…
Morphology of follicle cells of Libellulidae (Odonata)
In libellulids, mature oocyte size varies within and between individual ovaries. The regulating mechanism is not yet understood. Variations in the contents of the follicle cells, and thereby their ability to secrete material into the oocyte, might explain some of the observed differences in oocyte size. We therefore investigated the follicle cell surface, the interstitial…
Morphology of exophytic ovipositors in dragonflies (Odonata: Gomphidae, Corduliidae, Libellulidae), with particular reference to ovipositor muscles and sensilla
A comparative study of female external genitalia was carried out in representatives of three dragonfly families that lay eggs exophytically, with special emphasis placed on skeletal musculature and sensilla. Female external genitalia are characteristically represented by the vulvar lamina and rudiments on the 9th sternum. In a gomphid, Gomphus vulgatissimus, and a corduliid, Cordulia aenea,…