Coeliccia cyanomelas is studied based on a large series of specimens from its whole distribution range. Intraspecies variations of color patterns on the thorax are discussed. Coeliccia sexmaculata Wang, 1994, Coeliccia mingxiensis Xu, 2006, and Coeliccia wilsoni Zhang & Huo, 2011 are all assigned as junior synonyms of Coeliccia cyanomelas. One ‘variety’ from Guizhou is…
The final stadium larva of Anisagrion allopterum is described for the first time for Middle America, based upon specimens reared and emerging in the field, from Cartago, Province, Costa Rica. Detailed illustrations are also provided. The larva of this species is characterized by a slender yellow body, premental setae 4+1, five palpal setae, male cerci…
Tachopteryx thoreyi is one of only two species of petalurid dragonflies with a non-fossorial larval stage. In the context of questions related to the phylogenetics, historical biogeography and current distribution of the Petaluridae, the evolution of a burrowing larval stage in petalurids, which is unique in the Odonata, is of considerable interest. This paper reports…
Trueman and Rowe (2019) claimed that they have finally solved the wing venation homologies for the Odonatoptera, refuting the previous models, and especially that of Riek and Kukalová-Peck (1984). Nevertheless, their proposal has several failures, viz. nature of the distal part of their “anal vein”, nature of the “MA”, and incongruence with recent results obtained…
This study investigated the biological water quality and Odonata assemblages in three waterbodies in Ilara-Mokin, with the aim of determining the ecological integrity of the ecosystems. Sampling of Odonata specimens was carried out over April–August, 2017 between 9.00am and 4.00pm under favourable conditions. Some physico-chemical parameters of the water such as dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity,…
The final instar of Remartinia luteipennis luteipennis (Burmeister, 1839) is described and illustrated based on reared specimens from Salta Province, Argentina. It is compared with R. secreta and R. l. florida, and with Calvert’s original description of R. l. luteipennis. Remartinia l. luteipennis can be differentiated by the length of the lateral valvae of the…
Existing nomenclatures for the venation of the odonate wing are inconsistent and inaccurate. We offer a new scheme, based on the evolution and ontogeny of the insect wing and on the physical structure of wing veins, in which the veins of dragonflies and damselflies are fully reconciled with those of the other winged orders. Our
A new species, Noguchiphaea laotica, is described based on specimens from Lon San, Saysomboun Province, Laos. The holotype male and a paratype female are deposited in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo. This new species is allied to N. yoshikoae from northern Thailand, but differs from it in the morphology of the male…
Dragonflies and damselflies (the Odonata) are among the most efficient flying insects. However, fragmentation of the landscape can increase distance between habitats and affect costs of dispersal, thus shaping phenotypic patterns of flight-related traits, such as wing shape, wing loading and wing size. Urban landscapes are highly fragmented, which limits dispersal among aquatic habitats. Hence,
For the first time water dipping behaviour of Calopteryx during threatening flight is reported. Four males of Calopteryx virgo in a small rivulet coming from a spring pool in SW France involved in threatening flights near an opponent dipped a wing into the water, producing conspicuous water rings. One male did this twice and additionally…