Trithemis hartwigi Pinhey, 1970
Superb Dropwing

Type locality: Fernando Po (= Bioko), Guinea

Diagnosis

Male belongs to one of several Trithemis species with (a) Hw base yellow, orange or amber, colour usually surpasses Cux; (b) hamule with short, strongly curved hook; (c) Abd largely pale with some black markings, appears orange, red, or pruinose violet with maturity. However, is set apart from the rest by the combination of (1) occurring locally at rainforest pools from DRC to Cameroon; (2) labrum, entire venation and Pt black, rather than pale and yellow to red respectively; (3) Abd very broad, S4 under 2x as long as wide (best seen in ventral view), with S8-9 largely black and S5-7 with latero-apical black markings. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters, mostly in open areas in forest. Often with coarse detritus, a gravelly and/or soft (like muddy) bottom, and probably emergent and aquatic vegetation. From 100 to 1400 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Cameroon; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon


Male © Nicolas Meziere


Abdominal segment 2 (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., Nicolas Mézière & Cédric Vanappelghem

References

  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1970). Monographic study of the genus Trithemis Brauer (Odonata: Libellulidae). Memoirs Entomological Society Southern Africa, 11, 1-159. [PDF file]
  • 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]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-10-14].