ODONATOLOGICA Journal of the Societas Internationalis Odonatologica

Contents Volume 33, Issue 2 2004

Apodaca, C. K.; Chapman, L. J. Adult zygoptera of Kibale National Park, Uganda: Habitat associations and seasonal occurrence p. 129-146. In this study, a 10-month survey of four aquatic sites in Kibale National Park, Uganda was used to quantify seasonal and spatial variation in both limnological features of the sites and adult damselfly assemblage structure. Of the 4 limnological characters measured dissolved oxygen was the most variable among sites, ranging from an average of 1.01 mg l-1 in the interior of the Rwembaita Swamp (a papyrus-dominated wetland) to 6.71 mg l-1 in an inflowing tributary of the swamp. Species richness was similar among sites and did not correlate with dissolved oxygen concentration. However, site was a significant predictor of occurrence for some spp. This suggests that site effects are important, and that a combination of site-specific environmental characters may underlie the observed distributional parterns. Seasonal fluctuation in rainfall was not a good predictor of Zygoptera activity. Several spp. were active in both the wet and dry seasons. Surprisingly, adult Proischnura subfurcatum were detected year-round in the hypoxic waters of the Rwembaita (papyrus) Swamp and did not occur at any other sites in the larval or adult phase, suggesting that this sp. is a swamp specialist.

Beukema, J. J. Recognition of conspecific females by males of Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis (Vander linden) (Zygoptera: Calopterygidae) p. 147-156. Males of calopterygid damselffies appear to court femalefemale of other (related, sympatric) spp. only rarely. Apparently, femalefemale of this group bear species-specific characteristics that release sexual behaviour in conspecific malemale only. Sympatric Calopteryx spp. usually differ conspicuously in pigmentation (colour, transparency, darkness) of their wings.  Female C. haemorrhoidalis differ from all other European spp. by the presence of a dark distal zone in the hindwings. - The relative value of various (manipulated) sets of female wings for elicitation of male courtship was assessed using choice experiments. C haemorrhoidalis males did not court wingless females of their own sp. nor did they court conspecific females with wings of the sympatric C. xanthostoma. However, the presence of a single wing of a conspecific female was sufficient to elicit courtship behaviour. Choices between 2 female models (presented simultaneously to territorial male individuals) revealed that the presence of a contrasting dark zone was an important distinguishing characteristic, whereas too high a transparency (a single wing as opposed to a set of 2 or 4 wings pressed against each other) greatly diminished the value of a model. The need for the presence of a dark zone will be effective in precluding courtship of femalefemale of other sympatric spp. The need for sufficiently low transparency will put a check on courtship attempts of immature females.

Carchini, G.; Pacione, T.; Tanzilli, C.; di Domenico, M.; Solimni, A. Temporal variation of an odonata species assemblage (Rome, Italy) p. 157-168. The Castel Porziano estate is a well preserved coastal Mediterranean woodland, rich in still bodies of water, where odonatological studies have been taking place since the '50s. Adult Odon. were recorded for the entire estate in 1997 and 1998 (March-Nov.; 2 checks each month). 1,838 adults (22 spp.) were marked, to assess their movements. The results showed that in 1997-1998 a total of 31 spp. were present. This number is very close to the number (29) recorded up to 1976. Variation in species assemblage in 16 ponds was observed from 1997 to 1998. Although the overall species similarity was preserved, the number of spp. for each pond and the number of ponds inhabited by each sp. significantly increased from 1997 to 1998. In regard to the adult movements, 251 marked individuals of 13 spp. were re-sighted only at the same ponds where they had been marked and 30 individuals of 6 spp. were sighted at different ponds. Among the latter, the majority moved within a range of a few hundred metres, but some individuals were able to fly quite far, e.g. 2.7 km (Coenagrion puella) and 5.8 km (Libellula depressa). It is concluded that the assemblage variation for the entire estate was small, varying more on a decennial than on an annual scale, but for a single pond variation is wider on both time scales. The quick recolonization among ponds, due to the adult's movements, appears to be the cause of greater stability at mesoscale rather than at local scale.

Watanabe, M.; Matsuoka, H.; Taguchi, M. Habitat selection and population parameters of Sympetrumin fuscatum (selys) during sexually mature stages in a cool temperate zone of Japan (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) p. 169-179. The mark-and-recapture method was used to study the population parameters of sexually mature adult S. infuscatum in a forest-paddy field complex in the cool temperate zone of Japan. After emergence, they moved into the forest gaps, and they remained and fed exclusively in the forest gaps throughout their lives. Mature males captured outnumbered mature females on each sampling day in the paddy fields, but not in the gaps. However, the estimated daily numbers in both habitats and/or the whole survey area roughly indicated a 1: 1 sex ratio. The estimated daily survival rates and daily immigrations showed that females were apt to stay in the forests, while males sometimes dispersed, though females in the paddy fields tended to have a long-range flight. In the morning, some of the paired couples flew to the paddy fields in tandem and oviposited on the wing; these were so-called flyers. The rest remained in the forests the entire day; these were designated as perchers. The forest gaps were thus important for the life cycle of this species both as feeding and roosting sites.

Weekers, P. H. H.; Dumont, H. J. A molecular study of the relationship between the coenagrionid genera Erythromma and Cercion, with the creation of Paracercion gen. nov. for the East Asiatic "Cercion" (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) p. 181-188. The ribosomal DNA genes (18S, 5.8S) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS 1, ITS2) of 5 representatives of "Cercion" occurring in East Asia were examined and compared with west-palaearctic "Cercion" lindenii, Erythromma najas (2 populations), E. viridulum, some true Coenagrion species, and with Enallagma and Ischnura as outgroups. The molecular phylogenetic tree confirms the position of H. Heidemann & R. Seidenbusch (1993, Die Libellenlarven Deutschlands and Frankreichs, Bauer, Keltern) that Cercion lindenii belongs in Erythromma, and consequently, the binomen Erythromma lindenii is accepted. Regarding the "oriental" group for which, under the new situation, the name Cercion is no longer available, the genus name Paracercion gen. n. is introduced. This is supported by molecular evidence and by some morphological traits. A morphological basis for setting apart the new genus from Erythromma is thus achieved, but its delimitation from Coenagrion remains to he defined.

Butler, S. G. Description of the last instar larva of Onychogomphus aequistylus Selys, 1892 (Anisoptera: Gomphidae) p. 189-194. An ultimate male final instar larva from NW Madagascar is described and illustrated. Other, smaller larvae collected at the site are used for both support and comparison. Comparisons with the exuviae of 7 other spp. of the genus Onychogomphus are also provided.

Daigle, J. J. Metaleptobasis lillianae spec. nov. from Bolivia (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) p. 195-198. The new sp. is described and illustrated. Holotype male and allotype female (in copula): Bolivia, Cochabamba Department, Chapare prov., lake 2.5 km W of Villa Tunari gate on Hwy 4, 12-XI-2001; both deposited in U.A.G.R.M. in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. males are characterized by the knobbed shaped paraprocts, and the homochromatic females by their black ovipositor. Both can be distinguished from other congeneric spp. by their dark, almost black terminal abdominal segments.

Huang, D.; Nel, A. Two new lower cretaceous dragonfly larvae from northeastern China (Anisoptera) p. 199-205. 2 larvae from the Yixian Formation are described. One of these has morphological similarities with the 'ultimate larval instars of Sona nectes', and the other one is of ''cordulegastrid" -type. The relationships of the 'ultimate instars of S. nectes' and its young larvae are outlined and their identity is addressed. The "cordulegastrid"-Iike larva provides new data on the early evolution of the taxa involved.

Popova, O. N. Infraspecific taxonomy of Sympetrum pedemontanum Muller, 1766)* (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) p. 207-216. An analysis of a large series of specimens from Eurasia showed a strong morphological variability. It is of an individual, modificatory, or clinal nature, rather than a geographical one. Thus, 2 continental sspp., S. p. intermedium Belyshev, 1955 and S. p. kurentzovi Belyshev, 1956, should be suppressed as they cannot be defined by any taxonomically significant differences. The insular subspecies, S. p. elatum, inhabiting Sakhalin, the Kurile and the Japanese islands, however, can be separated. It is concluded that S. pedemontanton has only 2 sspp.: continental S. p. pedentontanum and the insular S. p. elatum.

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