The determination of seasonal regulation is important to understand how species have adapted to their local environmental conditions. In this study, we investigate the life history of a North African endemic damselfly, Platycnemis subdilatata, in a northeast Algerian population. We combined field and laboratory investigations to assess the embryonic development, larval growth, emergence pattern and…
A survey of the Gomphidae of Algeria and the Maghreb was carried out during the period 2013–2014. Sampling of eight main wadis across northern Algeria was undertaken and adults and exuviae were recorded. The survey yielded six species of Gomphidae. Among these, we report on the rediscovery of the Critically Endangered Lindenia tetraphylla in Algeria,…
Coenagrion mercuriale is a threatened damselfly in most parts of its geographic distribution. It is listed as endangered in North Africa, where no data on its biology or ecology are available. This study aims to illustrate the reproductive behaviour and habitat preferences of adults in a population located in north-east Algeria, representing the southern limit…
Little is known about the ability of adult dragonfly individuals to survive into or over the winter in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), a significant biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. Dragonfly species richness and abundance were recorded throughout winter and into spring in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Several environmental variables were also measured. Individuals of eight…
The genera Stenocypha [type species: Libellago gracilis], Matticnemis [type species: Platycnemis doi] and Spesbona [type species: Metacnemis angusta], first recognized by molecular analysis, are diagnosed and discussed on morphological grounds.
The subfamily Argiolestinae is raised to family level to include all zygopteran genera in which the gills of the larvae are flat and held in a horizontal plane. A diagnosis of the family is given and characters for both adults and larvae are presented. The family is divided into two subfamilies based on characters in…
Large numbers of migrating imagos of Anax ephippiger were observed from the end of January to March 2012 at Dakhla Bay, Southern Morocco, in an area where long-lasting fresh and brackish waters are lacking, and thus which is unfavourable for the reproduction of Odonata. This supports well the classical scheme of northward mass migration of…
A new species of Crenigomphus is described and illustrated from a type series of eight males and eight females, all collected along the Okavango River in Namibia during December 2004, three non-type adult specimens and several exuviae (holotype ♂ Namibia, N’Kwazi Lodge, 19 xii 2004, deposited at NMNW). Both sexes lack foliations at S8-9 as…
Lestinogomphus silkeae sp. nov. from the northern Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Kavango River in northern Namibia and the middle Zambezi River in Zimbabwe is described and illustrated (holotype ♂: Botswana, Xaro Lodge, 09 vi 2000, dep. at ZMBH). The shape of the male appendages distinguishes this species from all others in the genus. The…
During the course of a population genetic study of Trithemis stictica that included sites in Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Botswana and Zambia, two undescribed libellulid species were discovered in the Okavango and Upper Zambezi Floodplains. These were both previously identified as T. stictica. We describe the two species, T. morrisoni sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Namibia,…