Kinematic analysis of maiden flight of Odonata

The maiden flight of five species of Odonata of different families was filmed by slow motion up to 500 f/s and analysed frame by frame. The aim of this study was to find out if the maiden flight differs among various species as well as between tenerals and adults within the same species with respect…

Coloration indicates body size in Calopteryx maculata (Odonata: Calopterygidae)

Calopteryx maculata has become a model system for studying behaviour and reproduction in odonates. Its iridescent coloration is thought to be important in intraspecific interactions but no study has yet measured coloration in a quantitative manner. In a recent study, Fitzstephens & Getty (2000. Animal Behaviour 60: 851-855) showed that lipld levels predict coloration as…

The larva of Mecistogaster amalia (Odonata: Pseudostigmatidae)

The final larval stadium of Mecistogaster amalia is described and illustrated for the first time based on one female collected in a tree hole in Misiones province, Argentina, and compared with all known larvae of related genera. Larval morphology of Pseudostigmatidae is briefly discussed.

The larva of Podolestes orientalis from West Malaysia, with notes on its habitat and biology (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae)

The larva of the south-east Asian megapodagrionid, Podolestes orientalis, is described and figured. Specimens were collected from shallow forest pools lined with large dead leaves in secondary lowland forest. Final and earlier stadium larvae were found concentrated around the edges of pools in very shallow water. Larvae sometimes perched in exposed situations, just below the…

The larva of Nesolestes sp. from Madagascar (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae)

The larva of the genus Nesolestes is described and figured for the first time. Specimens were found in small brooklets in littoral swamp forest in south-eastern Madagascar. The larva is compared with the two other Madagascan genera of Megapodagrionidae, Protolestes and Tatocnemis, and diagnostic characters are given. The caudal lamellae are held in a horizontal…

Archaeopodagrion armatum sp. nov. from Ecuador (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae)

Archaeopodagrion armatum sp. nov. is described and illustrated (holotype ♂ Ecuador, Zamora Chinchipe Prov., forest S of Zamora (4°07′18″S, 78°58′22″W), 02 iv 2008, leg. KJT; in FSCA). The new species is distinct from A. bicorne and A. bilobatum by the pair of highly recurved processes on the hind margin of the prothorax of both sexes,…