ODONATOLOGICA Journal of the Societas Internationalis Odonatologica

Contents Volume 31, Issue 3 2002

Davies, D. A. L. The odonate fauna of New Caledonia, including the descriptions of a new species and a new subspecies p. 229-251. An updated list is provided of the 55 spp. known to occur in New Caledonia, with some behavioural and distribution data, and with information on possible origin of the spp. which found and colonized the island. The new taxa described are: Adversaeschna brevistyla caledonica ssp. n. (holotype male: New Caledonia, Yate-Goro Rd, 22-II-1983), and Synthemis pamelae sp. n. (holotype male: New Caledonia, Mt Koghis, 9-V-1983). Also described are the previously unknown male Metaphya elongata Campion and the previously unknown female Synthemis serendipita Winstanley. All type specimens are deposited at CUMZ, Cambridge, UK.

Hellmund, M.; Hellmund, W. [Zygoptera egg-sets on dicotyledon leaves from the Middle Miocene of Salzhausen (Vogelsberg, Hesse, Germany).] p. 253-272. 22 specimens of dicotyledon leaves with egg-sets of fossil Zygoptera, originating from a locality NE of Frankfurt/Main, Germany and preserved in SMF, Frankfurt/Main are described, illustrated and discussed. In the past (1846, H.R. Goeppert, Die Gattungen der fossilen Pflanzen, Henry and Cohen, Bonn), these structures were misinterpreted as saprophytes, "Hysterites opegraphoides". The true nature of the sets is apparent from fossil and recent evidence; they are to be attributed to the "coenagrionid type" of oviposition, more particularly to the so-called "Zickzack- und Bogenmodus" mode sensu M. Hellmund and W. Hellmund, 1991 (Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk. (B) 177: 1-17). Herewith the phenomenon is recorded for the first time from the Middle Miocene and the Lower Neogene (age ca 15 mio yr), though this oviposition mode is practised since the Upper Cretaceous times (ca 90 mio yr ago) until present. In some Tertiary localities, e.g. Messel (Hesse) and Hammerunterwiesenthal (Saxony), egg-sets are the only evidence of the Zygoptera occurrence.

Novelo-Gutierrez, R.; Gomez-Anaya, J. A.; Arce-Perez, R. Community structure of odonata larvae in two streams in Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico p.  273-286. Community structure of odon. larvae was investigated at El Saucillo (ES) and San Francisco (SF) streams, from August 1995 to July 1996. Species richness (S), species composition, Margalef's richness index (R), Shannon-Wiener's diversity index (H'), Hill's evenness index (E), and rareness (Rs) were used to describe and compare the communities. Annual variation of the indices was examined within and among streams. Streams were significantly different in terms of physical/chemical variables, and faunistic similarity between the communities was quite low (37%). Mean larval density was highest at ES, but the remaining parameters were highest at SF. Global richness was 31 spp. and some spp. such as Hetaerina americana, Enallagma civile, Anax junius, Erpetogomphus elaps, Dythemis nigrescens, Aeshna multicolor, A. dugesi, Erythemis plebeja and the majority of Argia spp. were only found at SF. More abundant spp. at SF were Pseudoleon superbus, Telebasis salva, Libellula saturata and Enallagma praevarum, while those more abundant at ES were Paltothemis lineatipes and Argia anceps.

Orr, A. G. Notes on the Rhinocypha cucullata Selys group from Borneo, with a description of R. viola spec. nov. (Zygoptera: Chlorocyphidae) p. 287-295. The new sp. from the central Kalimantan province of Borneo is described and figured. The original type series of R. cucullata Selys was examined and a male specimen is designated as lectotype. The single female syntype is shown to in fact be R. humeralis Selys. The true female R. cucullata is described and figured for the first time. Significant characters of R. aurofulgens Laidl. are figured for comparative purposes. Keys are provided to both sexes of the three species, comprising the extended cucullata group of F.F. Laidlaw (1950, Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 101: 233-269).

Beketov, M. A. Ammonia toxicity to larvae of Erythromma najas (Hansemann), Lestes sponsa (Hansemann) and Sympetrum flaveolum (Linnaeus) (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae, Lestidae; Anisoptera: Libellulidae) p.  297-304. Three different types of toxicological test were conducted, viz. the standard toxicological test at varying pH, a test with starved larvae and a test with different ionic composition of the water. For the larvae of L. sponsa, ammonia toxicity was examined only in the standard test at one pH value and in the test with varying ionic composition of the medium. Total ammonia was more toxic at elevated than at low pH to both S. flaveolum and E. najas larvae. In contrast, toxicity based on the un-ionized form appeared to increase with decrease in pH value. In general, larvae of all spp. have a high ammonia tolerance when compared to other aquatic animals. Tests with starved larvae showed that the ammonia tolerance of starved larvae of S. flaveolum was 3.7 times greater than that for the fed ones; for E. najas, this difference was only 1.2 times, explanations of this effect are discussed. Tests in varying ionic composition of the water illustrated that the absence of sodium ions accounts for a considerable increase in ammonia toxicity. It is interesting that a similar trend was found for fishes and crustaceans. Mechanistic explanations, which may differ from that for other groups, are proposed. Odon. larvae seem to be unsuitable for the bioindication of ammonia pollution.

De Marco, P.; Latini, A. O.; Ribeiro, P. H. E. Behavioural ecology of Erythemis plebeja (Burmeister) at a small pond in southeastern Brazil (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) p. 305-312. An analysis of the time-budget and a description of reproductive behaviour at a small pond in Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil are presented. The observations support the classification of this sp. as a percher. It also conforms to the predictions of other studies that large perchers are usually more aggressive toward conspecifics. E. plebeja male male were usually observed simulating oviposition in the areas they previously defended, and evolutionary aspects of this behaviour are discussed.

Machado, A. B. M. Description of Lauromacromia flaviae spec. nov., with notes on the holotype of L. Luismoojeni (Santos) (Anisoptera: Corduliidae) p. 313-318. L. flavia sp. n. (male holotype: Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais, Brasil, 14-I-1975; deposited in Author's coll.), is described, illustrated, and compared with the other 2 congeners, all represented by males. Some amendments are made on the original description of L. luismoojeni, based on the examination of the holotype.

Theischinger, G.; Brown, G. R. The larva of Huonia melvillensis Brown and Theischinger (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) p. 319-322. The larva of the sp. that is known only from Melville Island, off the northern coast of Australia, is described from 5 final instar exuviae from the type locality.

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