Examination of diagnostic features for all known species of Acanthagrion and Oxyagrion shows color pattern alone not to be a reliable diagnostic character. Both genera are redefined based on morphological characters, and some color pattern characters which further aid in their diagnoses. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis indicates both genera are monophyletic. They are distinguished from…
A previous study has shown that wing size in Coenagrion puella varied considerably along a latitudinal gradient in the UK. Using landmark data from wing images, patterns of shape variation were also determined along the same transect by geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape. Wing shape was uniform at all sites other than those closest…
The larva of Somatochlora margarita is described from a specimen reared from the egg to the final stadium. The larva, previously unknown, is morphologically similar to the larvae of S. calverti, S. filosa, S. ozarkensis, and S. provocans. Combinations of diagnostic characters are given for distinguishing these species. Growth of this species is discussed with…
The last instar larva of Somatochlora borisi is described and illustrated from a set of exuviae. It is compared to that of S. metallica meridionalis, which is morphologically close and syntopic. A key is provided which allows the determination of the exuviae of all West Palaearctic Cordulia and Somatochlora spp.
Comparative investigations of the distal part of the vesica spermalis (‘glans’) of the anisopteran male secondary copulatory apparatus reveal three different ‘solutions’ of combining the emptying-mechanism of the sperm-reservoir with a ‘washing out’ of sperm of the male predecessor. The responsible apparatus of the glans—actually driven by pressure-changes inside the erectile organ, which is a…
I compared males of Leucorrhinia intacta collected at two permanent and two previously dried ponds to assess whether males colonizing formerly dried sites differed in morphology or level of mite parasitism from males at permanent sites. Males colonizing sites that had local extinctions in the previous year due to pond drying were more similar to…
The Japanese endemic Sympetrum frequens is considered as the insular vicariant of S. depressiusculum, widely distributed in the Eurasian Continent. In Korea, morphologically intermediate specimens have been collected, mixed with typical S. depressiusculum. The taxonomical status of these two species is thus questionable. To clarify their status, sequencing of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was…
The morphology of the hitherto unknown female of Somatochlora borisi is described and illustrated basing upon eight adults from Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. A key is provided which allows the determination of the females of all West Palaearctic Cordulia and Somatochlora spp. A list of the presently known localities and a distribution map show the…
Microsatellites have been infrequently used for genetic analysis of odonate species. Here, we report four microsatellite loci that are polymorphic in Coenagrion mercuriale. Furthermore, we examine the success of cross-species amplification of a panel of 19 microsatellite loci that were developed from C. mercuriale in seven other European odonate species. PCR with microsatellite primers is…
Two Cordulia species have been described so far, the Eurasian C. aenea and the North American vicariant C. shurtleffii. The names amurensis, tatrica, turfosa, laubmanni, linaenea and aeneaturfosa are available in the synonymy of C. aenea. Out of these, only the name amurensis is deemed to denote a separate taxon, which is currently regarded as…