Volume 15, 2012

Larvae of Epipleoneura manauensis Santos and Roppaneura beckeri Santos with a key to the genera of known Neotropical Protoneuridae larvae (Odonata: Zygoptera)

The larva of Epipleoneura manauensis is described and illustrated based on last-stadium larvae and exuviae of reared larvae collected in a black-water stream in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil. The larva of Roppaneura beckeri is described and illustrated based on exuviae of reared larvae collected from the water accumulated in the axils (phytotelmata) of Eryngium floribundum

A description of the final stadium larva of Leptogomphus elegans Lieftinck, with a discussion of taxonomic characters of the larvae of the genus Leptogomphus Selys (Odonata: Gomphidae)

The final stadium larva of Leptogomphus elegans Lieftinck is described and illustrated for the first time. The taxonomic characters of the larvae of the genus Leptogomphus Selys are discussed and summarized.

Oviposition behaviour of Sympetrum frequens (Selys) (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Oviposition behaviour by Sympetrum frequens, a species endemic to Japan, has been observed throughout its entire breeding season, which extended for about one month after the harvest of rice. Approximately 50% of oviposition events occurred during the first week of the reproduction period. Sunny oviposition sites were preferentially selected by ovipositing pairs. The starting time…

Description of the larva of Argia percellulata (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

The larva of Argia percellulata is described and figured. It falls into the group of Argia larvae with a very prominent ligula and one palpal seta, but differs from its closest relatives by having tibiae usually with two well-defined dark rings, posterior margin of sternite 6 smooth, and posterior margin of sternite 7 smooth medially…

Odonata communities in retrodunal ponds: a comparison of sampling methods

Dragonflies are commonly used as indicators of environmental quality and different methods have been employed to monitor odonate assemblages, such as surveys of all adults, evaluations based on breeding adults, sampling of larvae and collection of exuviae. Results obtained with different sampling methods may not be interchangeable, as the different life stages (e.g. larvae, adults)…

Volume 15, Issue 1

Volume 15, Issue 2

Lanthanusa bilineata sp. nov. from New Guinea (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Lanthanusa bilineata, a new libellulid from the mountains of central New Guinea (holotype: Mekil Research Station (04°48′ S, 141°39′ E), leg. 1 September 2004, dep. at RMNH, Leiden), is described. The new species combines characteristics previously used to distinguish between Huonia and Lanthanusa with wing venation characteristic of the genus Huonia and accessory genitalia characteristic…

Macromidia donaldi pethiyagodai subsp. nov. from Sri Lanka (Odonata: Corduliidae)

Macromidia donaldi pethiyagodai subsp. nov. (holotype ♂: Sri Lanka, Ratnapura District, near Kudawe, 6.26°N, 80.25°E, 03 July 2007; paratype ♀, same location, 17 April 2008, to be deposited in the Sri Lanka National Museum, Colombo) is described and figured. Its phenotype differs from that of M. d. donaldi from India. This is the first record…

Description of the final instar larva of Calopteryx exul Sélys, 1853 (Zygoptera: Calopterygidae)

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.

Leptagrion cyanostigma sp. nov. from Brazil with a study of blue pterostigma in Zygoptera (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

A new species, Leptagrion cyanostigma sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ collected in the State of Bahia, Brazil. The species is generically unique by having a blue pterostigma with a black center. A survey of other Zygoptera possessing blue pterostigmata is carried out.

Two new species of Metaleptobasis from Central Ecuador (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Two new species of Metaleptobasis from Ecuador are described and illustrated. Metaleptobasis gibbosa (holotype ♂, allotype \female: Ecuador, Pastaza Province, forest wetlands, Los Copales, between Mera and Shell, 01° 29′ 30′′ S, 078° 04′ 19′′ W, elevation 1070 m, 20–22 September 2005, leg. K. J. Tennessen; deposited in Florida State Collection of Arthropods) appears related…

Clutch size and egg production in Orthetrum nitidinerve Selys, 1841 (Anisoptera: Libellulidae): effect of body size and age

Clutch size is an important fitness component often quantified artificially by inducing oviposition in libellulid females. Female behavior and egg production of the yellow-veined skimmer, Orthetrum nitidinerve, were studied in northeast Algeria during its reproductive season. Data on reproductive behavior and biology of this Mediterranean endemic species has not been published previously. Males guarded territories…

Checklist and updated distribution of Protoneuridae from Brazil

Protoneuridae are represented in the neotropics by 16 genera and 117 species, of which 64 species in 12 genera are known to occur in Brazil. Most of them are known only from the original descriptions or isolated records. During 2009 the Protoneuridae collection of MNRJ was revised; 2800 specimens were studied, belonging to 40 species…

Volume 15, Issue 3

Description of the larva of Trineuragrion percostale Ris (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae) with a key to the larvae of New Caledonian genera of Megapodagrionidae

The larva of Trineuragrion percostale is described and illustrated based on an exuvia collected with the teneral female. Four more exuviae sampled without imagines are added for comparison and discussion of morphological variations. This is the first time the larva has been associated with the correct species, although the larval description was given earlier. Lieftinck

Review of the “metallic group” of species of Argia Rambur known from Venezuela, with description of the larva of Argia jocosa Hagen in Selys, 1865 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

In Venezuela, the “metallic group” includes three species: Argia cupraurea Calvert, Argia jocosa Hagen in Selys, and Argia orichalcea Hagen in Selys. These are here diagnosed and illustrated, and their distribution in Venezuela is mapped. The larva of A. jocosa differs from the few other known larvae of the group in details of the prementum,…

Archineura incarnata (Karsch, 1892) and Atrocalopteryx melli (Ris, 1912) in southern China (Odonata: Calopterygidae)

The calopterygines Archineura incarnata and Atrocalopteryx melli are subtropical habitat specialists, endemic to China, and sensitive to environmental change. We identified several sites with environmental deterioration from which the species seem to have disappeared; these species can be used as indicators of human disturbance. In this paper their distribution in China is mapped and information…

Platycnemis doi sp. nov. from Huu Lien nature reserve in northern Vietnam (Odonata: Platycnemididae)

Platycnemis doi sp. nov. (holotype ♂ Vietnam, Lang Son province, Huu Lien nature reserve, Tan Lai, Hang Chau, altitude 200 m above sea level, 22 June 2010, deposited in RMNH, Leiden), is described on the basis of a series of male specimens. A preliminary description of the female based on a photograph taken in the…

Range shifts of a relict Himalayan dragonfly in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region under climate change scenarios

Although understanding of geographic range shifts of many species in response to global climate change is expanding steadily, little is known about the Himalayan fauna, which in particular is affected by relatively faster warming rates than other parts of the world. Anticipated increases in temperature and changes in hydrological regimes will have significant adverse impacts…

The levis group of Orthemis revisited: a synopsis including a synonymy and description of six new species of Orthemis from South America (Odonata: Libellulidae)

The levis and ferruginea groups of Orthemis are redefined. Six new species of Orthemis are described: O. aciculata sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Surinam, Para Dist., road near forest, Zanderij I (5°32′ N, 55°10′ W), 17 January 1957, leg. J. Belle [RMNH]), O. celata sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Brazil, Pará State, Rio Gurupí, Canindé (0°30′57′ ′…

Volume 15, Issue 4

Editorial Board

Reproductive behavior of Acanthagrion truncatum Selys, 1876 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Behavioral data on Neotropical coenagrionids is still scanty, with very few studies on their reproductive behavior. Here we present the first description of the reproductive behavior of A. truncatum in a high density population in the Brazilian Neotropical savanna. The observations were made at a pond in an ecological reserve. Males remain at the water…

Aerial dispersal of freshwater gastropods by dragonflies (Odonata)

At a ditch near Tribsees in northeastern Germany a young individual of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis was photographed while attached to the dorsum of the abdomen of a female Aeshna viridis, after the odonate took off after oviposition in Stratiotes aloides. This is the first known case for odonate-born dispersal of freshwater gastropods.

Two dragonfly species (Insecta: Odonata) migrating at Dakhla (region of Oued Ad-Dahab Lagouira, Morocco)

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…

An updated checklist of Lesser Antillean Odonata

An updated checklist of known Odonata occurring in the Lesser Antilles is presented along with distributional information island by island. Twelve species are removed from previous listings and 16 new records are added, bringing the total number of species to 46. Of the new records, three correspond to the descriptions of new species and one…

Burmagomphus asahinai sp. nov., a new species from Cambodia and Thailand, with a description of the male of B. gratiosus Chao, 1954

Burmagomphus asahinai sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Cambodia, Cardamom Mts., Koh Kong Province, Thma Bang District, 6 km SW of its centre, rapids at the Thma Bang River, 25 August 2011, RMNH) is described from Koh Kong Province of Cambodia and Nakhon Nayok, Chiang Mai and Parchuap Khiri Khan Provinces of Thailand and is compared with its…

Sexual size dimorphism, mating system and seasonality of a Neotropical damselfly, Telebasis carmesina (Coenagrionidae)

Our understanding of mating systems is highly skewed toward temperate examples. This study investigated the mating system, sexual size dimorphism and seasonal variation in local distribution and abundance of male and female Telebasis carmesina, a common damselfly in Brazilian tropical savanna. In a natural reserve, daily census and behavioral observations were made throughout 1 year…