Pseudagrion (A) melanicterum Selys, 1876
Farmbush Sprite

Type locality: Sierra Leone, Nigeria, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male is similar to P. makabusiense by (a) mostly species of forested or shaded habitats; (b) postclypeus all black, if partly pale then blue; (c) seldom pruinose, at most (partly) on thorax and Abd base; (d) apex of S7 with prominent pale dorsal marking; (e) cerci with lower branch not bent inwards but in line with upper branch; lower branch bearing flange that ends with 1-2 teeth near base; (f) cerci with second tooth placed between tooth at basal end of flange and base (dorsal view). However, differs by (1) ranging from N Zambia and W Kenya to W Africa; (2) band across frons yellow to blue, usually interrupted in middle; postclypeus black; (3) cerci with very wide gap between branches and smoothly curved lower border (lateral view). [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014; this diagnosis not yet verified by author]

Habitat description

Mostly streams, but also rivers, mostly in open areas in forest, but also shaded by (gallery) forest. Often with emergent vegetation, coarse detritus, a sandy and/or soft (like muddy) bottom, and probably submerged roots. From 0 to 2100 m above sea level, but mostly below 1500.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Benin; Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Ghana; Guinee-Bissau; Kenya; Liberia; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Sudan; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Zambia


Male © Nicolas Meziere


Appendages (dorsal view)

Appendages (lateral view)

Map citation: Clausnitzer, V., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Koch, J.-P. Boudot, W.R.T. Darwall, J. Kipping, B. Samraoui, M.J. Samways, J.P. Simaika & F. Suhling, 2012. Focus on African Freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134.


Barcode specimen(s):


Male; Gabon, Haut-Ogooué, "Africa No1" (= Station de radiodiffusion de Moyabi) © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & Cédric Vanappelghem


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, new campus site and environs © Clausnitzer, V. & Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, new campus site and environs © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, new campus site and environs © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • de Sélys-Longchamps, E. (1876). Synopsis des Agrionines, 5me légion: Agrion (suite). Le grand genre Agrion. Bulletin Academie royale Belgique, Serie 2, 42, 490-531.
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata of Fernando Po Island and of neighbouring Cameroons Territory. Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 34, 215-229. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1973). Notes on some African representatives of the genus Pseudagrion Selys, 1876, with descriptions of two new species (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Odonatologica, 2, 317-327. [PDF file]
  • Ris, F., and Schmidt, E. (1936). Die Pseudagrion-Arten des kontinentalen Afrika. (Insecta, Odonata). [posthumous, Schmidt based on Ris' notes - sp authorship Schmidt] Abhandlungen Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, 433, 1-68. [PDF file]
  • Karsch, F. (1899). Odonaten von Johann-Alrecht-Höhe (Nord- Kamerun), gesammelt von Herrn Leopold Conradt. Entomologische Nachrichten, 25, 161-176. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1959). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part II. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 45, 13-42. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1967). Odonata Zygoptera. Exploration Hydrobiologique Bassin Lac Bangweolo Luapula, 14, 1-43. [PDF file]
  • Fraser, F.C. (1955). Odonata collected by J. Hamon in French West Africa. Revue francaise Entomologie, 22, 237-243. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]
  • Schmidt, E. (1951). Libellen aus Portugiesisch Guinea, mit Bemerkungen über andere aethiopische Odonaten. Arquivos Museu Bocage, 20, 125-200. [PDF file]
  • D' Andrea, M., and Carfi, S. (1997). Nuove raccolte di odonati del Camerun con note su Agriocnemis maclachlani Selys, 1877 edescrizione di Agriocnemis dissimilis sp. nov. e Trithemis osvaldae sp. nov. Atti Societa italiana Scienze naturali, 136, 157-190. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-19].