The last instar larva of Calopteryx exul Sélys is described and illustrated based on larvae collected from the Seybouse River (northeast Algeria) and reared in the laboratory. A comparative analysis of three other congeneric species is presented.
Dysphaea haomiao sp. nov. (holotype ♂, China, Guizhou, Libo County, Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, Zhangjiang River, alt. c.450 m, 7 May 2007) is described and illustrated for both sexes. The male differs from its closest congeners, Dysphaea basitincta and D. gloriosa, by the blackish, completely opaque coloration of its wings.
It has been hypothesized that sperm removal ability in male Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies) has promoted sexual conflict over the sperm stored in the reproductive tract of the female. Although there is evidence supporting this hypothesis, most studies have been conducted in a small number of species from specific families. We explored sperm removal ability…
A brief account is presented of mass dragonfly migrations observed previously in Russia and West Siberia in particular. A mass migration in Libellula quadrimaculata is described in detail. It occurred on 1 July 1981 in the south-western part of the West Siberian Plain in the valley of the Ishym River. From 1968 to 2008 we…
In this article the genus Argiolestes s.str. is defined and three new species belonging to this group are described: A. foja sp. nov. (holotype: Foja Mountains, Indonesia, dep. in MBB}); A. muller sp. nov. (holotype: Baia River, Papua New Guinea, dep. in SAMA); A. roon sp. nov. (holotype: Roon Island, Indonesia, dep. in BPBM). New…
Odonates of small temporary pools, marshes, large permanent ponds, oxbow lakes, dams, and perennial rivers were sampled in the semiarid Chaco biome of NW Argentina between September 2007 and December 2008. Information from 35 localities yielded 60 species; presence/absence information of species was recorded in a spatial-relational database. Alpha, beta, and gamma diversity and total…
During a period of nine years, from 2000 to 2008, two consecutive studies—one focusing on observations of adult Odonata, the other on collection of larvae—were carried out in the basin of the Guadiamar River in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. In addition to monitoring Odonata, several environmental variables were assessed, including an index based on macroinvertebrate…
Populations of Ischnura hastata found in the Azores archipelago represent the only known example of parthenogenesis in the order Odonata. In this paper, we present results from fieldwork done on the islands of São Miguel, Pico, Santa Maria, and Graciosa, aimed at characterizing population ecology and habitat preferences of this species. Sampling of several ponds…
The new species Cyanallagma corbeti (holotype ♂: Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul State, Rio do Pinto river, km 93 of road RS-453 between São Francisco de Paula and Rio Tainha, 29°30′70″S, 50°51′70″W, 900 m, 09 xi 1967, leg. N.D. Santos); deposited in the Museu Nacional (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is described, illustrated, and compared…
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)…