Volume 17, 2014
Description of the final stadium larva of Periaeschna zhangzhouensis Xu, with discussion of taxonomic characters of the larvae of the genus Periaeschna Martin (Odonata: Aeshnidae)
The finnal stadium larva of Periaeschna zhangzhouensis Xu is described and illustrated for the first time. The taxonomic characters of the larvae of the genus Periaeschna Martin are discussed and summarized.
Reproductive behaviour and the system of signalling in Neurobasis chinensis (Odonata, Calopterygidae) – a kinematic analysis
The reproductive behaviour of the damselfly Neurobasis chinensis (Calopterygidae) was filmed at 300 and 600 frames per second in Thailand in spring 2009. This was subsequently viewed in slow motion for detailed analysis. Altogether we observed 26 matings at two different sites. Besides visual observations of behaviour of male–female encounters at the reproductive sites, we…
Winter survival by dragonfly adults in the Cape Floristic Region
Little is known about the ability of adult dragonfly individuals to survive into or over the winter in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), a significant biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. Dragonfly species richness and abundance were recorded throughout winter and into spring in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Several environmental variables were also measured. Individuals of eight…
Are community patterns in flight height driven by antagonistic interactions?
Large libellulid dragonflies often fly higher than smaller libellulids. We hypothesized that this size-related pattern in flight height might be caused by aggressive displacement. We tested this hypothesis by using a 30 m “dragonfly zip-line” to reel dead dragonfly decoys of four species of different sizes (Erythemis simplicicollis, Libellula incesta, Pachydiplax longipennis, and Perithemis tenera) along…
Hand feeding: a method to increase the survival rate of Orthetrum coerulescens (Odonata: Libellulidae) in outdoor enclosures
Food intake rate and diet composition have a high impact on all organisms and affect individual fitness, fecundity and mortality. Specimens in enclosures have to be fed in an adequate way and with minimum stress for the specimens. Adult dragonflies are flying hunters. In enclosures, they are usually fed by adding different kinds of adult…
Volume 17, Issue 1
Volume 17, Issue 2-3
Neotype of Pseudagrion approximans Selys, 1876 designated to resolve a nomenclatorial confusion in the genus Aciagion Selys, 1891 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
To resolve a prevailing nomenclatorial confusion present in the genus Aciagrion, A. tillyardi Laidlaw, 1919 is placed in synonymy of A. approximans (Selys, 1876). The neotype of “Pseudagrion approximans”, a male specimen from Khasi Hills preserved in Coll. Selys Longchamps at RBINS, is designated to replace the lost holotype, which was an incomplete specimen of…
Hybridization between Calopteryx splendens and C. haemorrhoidalis confirmed by morphological and genetic analyses
Hybridization between Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis and any of its congeners has not been reported until now. We observed spontaneous matings between male C. splendens and female C. haemorrhoidalis at a locality in Central Italy, together with some putative hybrid individuals that had a mixed phenotype. Here, we report the morphological and molecular characterization of five suspected…
New EPIC nuclear DNA sequence markers to improve the resolution of phylogeographic studies of coenagrionids and other odonates
While phylogeographic data provide valuable information to inform conservation plans, there are comparatively few Odonata phylogeographic studies. This lack of research is partially due to a lack of independent DNA markers with appropriate levels of polymorphism that PCR-amplify in a range of species. We followed an exon-primed, intron-crossing (EPIC) PCR strategy to develop five new,…
A new species of Lanthanusa Ris from north-eastern Papua New Guinea (Odonata: Libellulidae)
A new species of the endemic New Guinean genus Lanthanusa is described from the Trauna River Valley in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Characters of the male are illustrated and affinities of the new species are discussed. Some characters of the type species of Lanthanusa, L. cyclopica, are reassessed and a revised key to…
Notes on the retractabilty of gill tufts in Pseudolestes mirabilis (Zygoptera: Pseudolestidae)
A detailed observation of living larva of Pseudolestes mirabilis was conducted, with a focus on the gill tufts, which were confirmed to be retractable. Photographs of the larva in life and video records are provided to demonstrate this finding.
Larval burrow morphology and groundwater dependence in a mire-dwelling dragonfly, Petalura gigantea (Odonata: Petaluridae)
Most species of petalurid dragonflies have a fossorial larval stage, which is unique in the Odonata. Larvae typically excavate burrows in soft peaty soils in mires, seepages or along stream margins, which are occupied by a single larva throughout the long larval stage. This paper reports on a study of burrow morphology in Petalura gigantea,…
A remarkable new species of Heteragrion from Brazil (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae)
A new species, Heteragrion cyane sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on one ♂ collected in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species is remarkable for its blue color, a rare character within the species of group A Heteragrion.
A preliminary study on female-limited colour polymorphism in Lestes sponsa
Female-limited colour polymorphisms are widespread in Odonata, usually showing an androchrome and one or more gynochromes. Androchromes have been hypothesized to function as male mimics with a consequent decrease of male harassment, although males may also learn to recognize the different female colour morphs. In the Eurasian damselfly Lestes sponsa, the occurrence of two female…
Geographical variation in egg diapause in Sympetrum frequens
The effects of photoperiod and temperature on the termination of egg diapause were examined in Sympetrum frequens. Eggs were obtained from adult females collected from three locations in Japan and incubated under short- or long-day photoperiods at a constant temperature of 25, 20, or 15°C. Egg diapause was eventually terminated in all treatments. Because differences…
Odonata of Itatira, a Brazilian semi-arid area in the state of Ceará
The present study provides the first odonate survey for the Brazilian Caatinga, including species habitat information. Specimens were collected during five days in both dry and rainy seasons of 2011 in the municipality of Itatira, state of Ceará, located in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Adult individuals of 37 species were documented, the highest…
Phoenicagrion trilobum, a new species of damselfly from Peru (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
Three species of Phoenicagrion are known from the north-eastern Amazonian part of Peru: P. flammeum, P. paulsoni, and a third undescribed species. In 2009 and 2010 several specimens of this third species were collected in Loreto, making it possible to describe this species, here named Phoenicagrion trilobum (holotype ♂: Peru, Loreto department, Tahuayo River, 18 km E…
A new species of Nychogomphus (Anisoptera: Gomphidae) from Yunnan Province, China
Nychogomphus yangi sp. nov. is described from Yunnan, China (holotype ♂: Xishangbanna, Yunnan Province, China; deposited at the Shaanxi Bioresource Key Laboratory, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China). The new species is described and illustrated and compared with its closest congener Nychogomphus lui.
Volume 17, Issue 4
Behavior of the Amazonian damselfly Chalcopteryx scintillans McLachlan (Zygoptera: Polythoridae) and comments on its morphological distinction from C. rutilans (Rambur)
Polythorid damselflies are Neotropical stream dwellers, whose behavior has rarely been recorded. Here we describe the territorial and courtship behavior of Chalcopteryx scintillans McLachlan, an Amazonian damselfly with shiny copper-colored hind wings. Territorial behavior consists of aerial contests, when males engage in threat displays and mutual pursuits in ascending and rocking flights. During courtship, males…
Odonata of Curaçao, southern Caribbean, with an update to the fauna of the ABC islands
A three-year field study (January 2011–December 2013) of the Odonata of Curaçao, supported by photos and exuvial collections, recorded a total of 21 species from the island, almost doubling its previously known fauna. The lists of Odonata known from Aruba and Bonaire were also updated by specimen and photo records, and 24 species are now…
Mate guarding and other aspects of reproductive behaviour in Petalura gigantea (Odonata: Petaluridae)
Territorial behaviour and mate guarding are important components of mating systems in various insect groups, including the Odonata. This paper reports observations of male territorial behaviour associated with potential ovipositing sites, and postcopulatory, non-contact mate guarding in Petalura gigantea. This is the first unambiguous and detailed report of mate guarding in the Petaluridae. Additional observations…
Nososticta rufipes sp. nov. from Misool, with notes on the other Nososticta species on the Bird’s Head Peninsula and the Raja Ampat, Indonesia (Zygoptera: Platycnemididae)
Nososticta rufipes sp. nov. is described from Misool Island (Indonesia, Papua Barat, Kabupaten Raja Ampat). New records and notes on the species of the genus Nososticta on the Bird’s Head Peninsula and Raja Ampat Islands are presented. Nososticta lorentzi (Lieftinck, 1938) is placed in synonymy with N. nigripes (Ris, 1913).
Slow-motion analysis of female refusal behaviour in dragonflies
By means of slow-motion film analysis we found new female refusal behaviour patterns against male harassment in a variety of Odonata species. Often, females could escape simply by flying faster than males. Due to the morphological preconditions, there were differences in the two suborders. In Anisoptera, several behavioural specialities were analysed: (a) females of Aeshna…
Does the damming of streams in the southern Amazon basin affect dragonfly and damselfly assemblages (Odonata: Insecta)? A preliminary study
Our goal was to investigate whether the loss of riparian forests alters the structure of assemblages and populations of dragonflies and damselflies. We tested the hypothesis that the composition of the odonate assemblages found upstream from dams are significantly different from those found downstream of these barriers. To test the hypothesis, we investigated stream sectors…
Ovo-viviparity in the Odonata? The case of Heliocypha perforata (Zygoptera: Chlorocyphidae)
In this paper we record a likely instance of ovo-viviparity in a chlorocyphid damselfly from south-western China. If confirmed, this will be the first record of live birthing in the Odonata: indeed in any member of the Palaeoptera. The widespread Asian damselfly Heliocypha perforata (Percheron, 1835) is proposed to be, at least facultatively, viviparous. A
Aspects of reproductive biology and ecology of Coenagrion mercuriale at its southern range margin
Coenagrion mercuriale is a threatened damselfly in most parts of its geographic distribution. It is listed as endangered in North Africa, where no data on its biology or ecology are available. This study aims to illustrate the reproductive behaviour and habitat preferences of adults in a population located in north-east Algeria, representing the southern limit…
