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)…

Stadia and growth ratios of Odonata: a review

A terminology is presented for structures and events in larval development of Odonata with the aim of bringing terms into conformity with those used for other insect orders in the light of accepted views of homology. The terms ‘exuvia’, ‘larva’, ‘prolarva’ and ‘stadium’ receive special mention. Records of the number of stadia required to complete…

Recent Odonata records from southern Florida – effects of global warming?

A brief Odonata survey in southern Florida, USA, in January 2000 resulted in the discovery of two new species, Chrysobasis lucifer and Nehalennia minuta, for the USA and established populations of two other species, Tholymis citrina and Tramea calverti, that had been considered vagrants. Flight seasons of six additional species were extended. These records are…