Volume 16, 2013
Description of Rhinocypha taiwana sp. nov. from Taiwan, with a preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Rhinocypha drusilla-group (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae)
Rhinocypha taiwana Wang & Chang, sp. nov. is described and illustrated for both sexes. The genetic distance of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene in R. taiwana and related species ranges from 4.2% to 10.4%. R. taiwana is shown to be a good species based on morphological and genetic criteria. It also is clearly…
Larval habitat and behaviour of Phenes raptor (Odonata: Petaluridae): a review of current knowledge, with new observations
Phenes raptor is one of only two petalurid dragonflies with a documented non-fossorial larval lifestyle. There have been few reported observations of larvae and their habitat, and the behaviour and ecology of this unique South American species remain largely unknown. This paper provides a review of previously published and unpublished information, and new observations on…
Variation in fluctuating asymmetry among nine damselfly species
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), measured as random deviations from bilateral symmetry, likely results from developmental disturbances by internal or environmental stresses. However, comparisons of FA in single damselfly species (Odonata: suborder Zygoptera) from stressed environments have often been inconclusive. We measured levels of FA among multiple species of damselflies from the same environment to determine the…
Two new species of Pyrrhargiolestes, with a key to the males (Odonata: Argiolestidae)
Two new species belonging to the endemic New Guinea genus Pyrrhargiolestes are described from Papua New Guinea: P. lamington sp. nov. (holotype: Mount Lamington, Oro Province, dep. in RMNH) and P. yela sp. nov. (holotype: Rossel Island, Milne Bay Province, dep. in USNM). The presumed male of P. aulicus is described for the first time….
Generic revision of Argiolestidae (Odonata), with four new genera
The subfamily Argiolestinae is raised to family level to include all zygopteran genera in which the gills of the larvae are flat and held in a horizontal plane. A diagnosis of the family is given and characters for both adults and larvae are presented. The family is divided into two subfamilies based on characters in…
Volume 16, Issue 1
Volume 16, Issue 2
The “African” genus Argiagrion is a Brazilian Leptagrion species and the “Philippine” Moroagrion a European Pyrrhosoma (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
Argiagrion leoninum, known only from the female holotype alleged to be West African, is shown to be a junior synonym of the Brazilian species Leptagrion macrurum. Moroagrion danielli, known only from the male holotype thought to be from the Philippines, is a junior synonym of the European Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Argiagrion and Moroagrion were both monotypic…
Calicnemia soccifera sp. nov. from Yunnan, China (Zygoptera: Platycnemididae)
A new species, Calicnemia soccifera sp. nov. (holotype male: Jinping, Yunnan, China) is described and illustrated for both sexes. C. miniata is confirmed to occur in Xizang (Tibet), China, and preliminary taxonomic remarks on some Chinese species of Calicnemia are given.
Differential survival rates of damselfly larvae in the presence of newt and dragonfly predators
The damselfly species Paracercion melanotum has been found to be the most abundant species in damselfly larval communities on Okinawa-zima Island in southwest Japan. To clarify differential susceptibility to predation, a possible factor affecting relative population densities in larval communities, between Paracercion melanotum and a less common damselfly species, Ischnura senegalensis, laboratory experiments were conducted…
Three new Cephalaeschna species from central China with descriptions of the hitherto unknown sex of related species (Odonata: Aeshnidae)
Three new Cephalaeschna species, C. discolor sp. nov. (holotype male; Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Shennongjia City, Hubei province, China, 16 August 2012), C. mattii sp. nov. (holotype male; Lujiahe River, Zigui County, Hubei province, China, 18 September 2012) and C. solitaria sp. nov. (holotype male; Dalongtan in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Shennongjia City, Hubei province,…
Fluminagrion gen. nov. for Acanthagrion taxaense Santos, 1965, from Brazil (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
A new genus of Coenagrionidae, Fluminagrion, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is described, diagnosed, and illustrated, based on examination of the type series and additional specimens of Acanthagrion taxaense Santos, 1965, deposited in the collection of MNRJ/Brazil. This genus is characterized by: posterior lobe of prothorax trilobate, with medial lobe rounded and projected in both…
Effect of vegetation removal for road building on richness and composition of Odonata communities in Amazonia, Brazil
This study showed that the main impact on Odonata species of removal of riparian vegetation for road building was on community composition, since species richness remained unaltered. This result, most evident in damselflies, was probably driven by the entry of generalist species that replaced specialist species after the impact. We collected adult odonates in forested…
Do coloured-winged damselflies and dragonflies have flight kinematics different from those with clear wings?
The flights of male odonates encountering conspecifics at their reproduction sites were investigated by means of slow-motion films. We recorded large and generally consistent differences between species with clear wings (SCLW) and species with coloured wings (SCOW). SCLW mostly fought having physical contact and moved their wings without pauses in wing beats (hereafter designated wing…
Habitat segregation of sympatric Mnais damselflies (Odonata: Calopterygidae): microhabitat insolation preferences and competition for territorial space
Distribution and abundance of sympatric Mnais costalis and M. pruinosa damselflies were studied in a low mountain stream in Shiga, Japan, from 2008 through 2012. The reproductive seasons of the two species overlapped almost entirely: both species emerged in early May and disappeared in late June each year. Males of both species hold territories within…
Volume 16, Issue 3
Three new genera of damselflies (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae, Platycnemididae)
The genera Stenocypha [type species: Libellago gracilis], Matticnemis [type species: Platycnemis doi] and Spesbona [type species: Metacnemis angusta], first recognized by molecular analysis, are diagnosed and discussed on morphological grounds.
Corrigendum
An examination of competitive gametic isolation mechanisms between the damselflies Ischnura graellsii and I. elegans
Recent findings suggest that postmating prezygotic isolation (i.e. gametic barriers) could be an important factor preventing hybrid formation. Competitive gametic barriers emerge when a female is inseminated by a conspecific and a heterospecific male. We examined whether sperm proportions after double matings and copulation duration impede hybrid formation. For this, we used females of Ischnura…
Pyrrhosoma and its relatives: a phylogenetic study (Odonata: Zygoptera)
The placement and relationships of the red-and-black zygopteran Pyrrhosoma, currently considered to be part of the Teinobasinae, has long been uncertain. DNA fragments (COI and ITS) reveal that Pyrrhosoma s.s. is restricted to the West Palaearctic, with two morphologically distinct name-bearing clades (nymphula, elisabethae), and with a morphologically indistinct third clade in the Middle Atlas,…
Descriptions of two new Cephalaeschna species from Yunnan, China (Odonata: Aeshnidae)
Two new species, Cephalaeschna cornifrons sp. nov. and C. ordopapiliones sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, China, are described, illustrated in color and compared with known Chinese Cephalaeschna. All the holotypes are deposited in the Collection of Aquatic Animals, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Brief notes on biology of…
A description of the larva of Heliaeschna idae Brauer from Borneo, with a supplementary note on the larva of H. univervulata Martin (Odonata: Aeshnidae)
The final instar larva of Heliaeschna idae Brauer is described and figured for the first time based on the exuvia from an advanced female larva collected in Sarawak, Borneo (East Malaysia). It is compared with the known larvae of the genus and is concluded to be most closely allied to Heliaeschna simplicia Karsch, with which…
Biting in dragonfly fights
Slow motion films of fight behaviour of five different species of Odonata were analysed. In all cases biting played a major role. The biting duration depended on the duration of a stable connection between the two opponents. Sitting odonates showed much longer biting than those that were flying. In fights of Anax junius and Calopteryx…
Emergence behaviour in Petalura gigantea (Odonata: Petaluridae): confirmation of upright emergence
Two distinct emergence styles have been reported in odonates, with both the upright and hanging back emergence reported in the Petaluridae, between and within individual species, including Petalura gigantea. This paper reports three additional observations of upright emergence in P. gigantea, providing further evidence that this emergence style is the norm for the species.
An emergence study of Petalura gigantea (Odonata: Petaluridae)
Emergence studies in Odonata provide information on the behaviour, ecology and fundamental demographic parameters in population studies. This paper reports on a study of sex ratio at emergence, pattern and duration of the emergence season, and potential cohort splitting in Petalura gigantea. Sex ratio at emergence varied among years, habitat patches and swamp types. Across
Volume 16, Issue 4
Odonata species of special concern for Oklahoma, USA
Assessment of conservation status is a necessary step before management plans can be formulated. Historically such assessments have a strong bias toward vertebrates, particularly endothermic terrestrial vertebrates (i.e. birds and mammals). Invertebrates, by contrast, tend to be ignored, and many insect groups, despite being species rich and reasonably well studied, such as the Odonata (damselflies…
Four new species of Palaiargia Förster, 1903 (Odonata: Platycnemididae) from New Guinea with revised distribution records for the genus
Four new species of Palaiargia from New Guinea, P. benkeni, P. clarillii, P. quandti and P. tydecksjuerging, are described and figured. Maps are provided of the known distributions of all species of the genus which occurs in the Moluccas and on the main island of New Guinea. Previous unpublished records are provided for P. carnifex,…
Description of the larva of Argia jujuya Ris (Coenagrionidae) with a key to species from the Argentinean Yungas cloud forest
The previously unknown larva of Argia jujuya Ris, 1913 is described, diagnosed and illustrated. Among other characters, the following combination is important to distinguish it from other species in the genus: antennae with six concolorous segments, ligula projected only slightly, row of small premental setae present, abdominal sternum 8 almost entirely covered with spiniform setae,…
Peristicta guarellae sp. nov. from Brazil (Odonata: Protoneuridae)
Peristicta guarellae sp. nov. (holotype: Brazil, Paraná State, Exc. 399/col. 3, stream in km 50 of Curitiba-Ponta Grossa route [BR 376], about 25°20′08″ S, 49°51′15″ W, 21 November 1971, N. D. Santos leg., deposited in the Collection of “Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro”, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is described and illustrated. An
First record of Telebasis filiola Perty (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) preying on small web-building spiders (Arachnida: Tetragnathidae)
At a wetland in southeastern Mexico a female of Telebasis filiola was observed and photographed preying on a small web-building spider of the genus Leucauge. This is the first record of gleaning by a representative of the genus Telebasis. A brief discussion on this subject in other odonates is provided.
Sex ratio in Gomphidae (Odonata) at emergence: is there a relationship with water temperature?
Although the sex ratio of Odonata at emergence has received much attention, we are still far from understanding the exact causes of its variability and imbalance. In this paper we studied the sex ratios at emergence in natural populations of two Gomphus species based on samples of exuviae taken from two European lowland rivers. We
