The Odonata of Pohnpei, Eastern Caroline Islands, Micronesia

A collection of 448 Odonata specimens made on Pohnpei, Caroline Islands, Micronesia, in 2001–2002 allows a reassessment of the fauna of this small, isolated island. There are 15 species, including six species of the zygopteran genus Teinobasis, which apparently speciated in situ, an unusually great diversity for such a small island. One of these species…

Fooled by the double: Brachythemis liberiensis is Parazyxomma flavicans, with a note on the Zyxommatini (Odonata: Libellulidae)

A comparison of the description of Brachythemis liberiensis with material of B. leucosticta and Parazyxomma flavicans has shown that B. liberiensis is a synonym of P. flavicans. B. liberiensis should be removed from the list of threatened African Odonata. The relationships between the genus Brachythemis and the Zyxommatini are briefly discussed. Further arguments for a…

Identity and distribution of the little known Aeshna meruensis (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

Status and records of Aeshna meruensis are published for the first time. This species has been confused with A. rileyi for a long time, although A.R. Waterston separated and labelled specimens of both species in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London, as early as 1974. A. meruensis is known from seven localities in…

Tandem grip mechanics and tandem linkage shifting in Odonata – reconstruction of evolution and phylogenetic significance

The functional morphology of the male caudal clasping apparatus of Zygoptera is compared to that of Epiophlebia superstes (Anisozygoptera) and Anisoptera. Hypotheses concerning the mechanics and muscle functions have been advanced by parallel construction of mechanical working models. The evolution of the clasping apparatus and the tandem linkage shifting – from the female pronotum to…