DRAGONFLIES 43
DRAGONFLIES
W. Tarboton
Sources of information Family Lestidae Spreadwings Lestes plagiatus Highland Spreadwing To my knowledge there has been no comprehensive or systematic assessment of the dragonfly fauna of the Sout- Lestes virgatus Smoky Spreadwing pansberg. Van Son, Pinhey and others have done some Family Protoneuridae Pinflies collecting here, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s. From this, Elattoneura glauca Common Threadtail a total of 52 species from the Soutpansberg are repre- sented in South African museum collections and these are Family Platycnemididae Stream-Damsels listed below. Allocnemis leucosticta Goldtail Summary statistics Family Coenagrionidae Sprites Ceriagrion glabrum Common Orange This list of 52 species, comprising about a third of the known South African dragonfly fauna (which totals 159 Pseudagrion commoniae nigerrimum Black Sprite species), would undoubtedly be increased — perhaps by Pseudagrion hageni Hagen’s Sprite another 30–40 species — if a dedicated dragonfly survey Pseudagrion hamoni Hamon’s Sprite of the area were to be undertaken. Given the area’s close Pseudagrion kersteni Kersten’s Sprite proximity to Zimbabwe, it is likely that one or more spe- Pseudagrion makabusiense Makabusi Sprite cies new for the South African list will be found here (e.g. Actoneura biordinata), and it is not inconceivable, given Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite the mountain range’s relative isolation, that species new Pseudagrion salisburyense Salisbury Sprite to science could be discovered here as well. Pseudagrion spernatum Natal Sprite Pseudagrion sublacteum Cherry-Eye Sprite As it stands the list includes two species that are endemic Ischnura senegalensis Bluetail to South Africa (Aeshna subpupillata, Allocnemis leucosticta) and three that are listed in the recently pub- Africallagma glaucum Swamp Bluet lished dragonfly Red Data list (Aeshna ellioti — vulnera- Agriocnemis exilis Little Whisp ble; Chlorolestes elegans — vulnerable; Pseudagrion Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies) makabusiense — critical). Family Gomphidae Clubtails Major studies and publications Ictinogomphus ferox Tigertail Ceratogomphus pictus Common Thorntail Not listed. Paragomphus cognatus Rock Hooktail Recommendations for priority studies Paragomphus elpidius Corkscrew Hooktail required to fill any gaps identified Paragomphus genei Green Hooktail
Not listed. Family Aeshnidae Hawkers Aeshna elioti Eliot’s Hawker “Hot spots” of particular importance Aeshna subpupillata Stream Hawker Anax ephippiger Vagrant Emperor Not known. Anax imperator Blue Emperor Annex 1. List of dragonfly species known Anax speratus Orange Emperor from the Soutpansberg Family Cordulidae Emeralds Order ODONATA Phylloacromia picta Darting Cruiser Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies) Family Llibellulidae Skimmers Family Calopterygidae Demoiselles Orthetrum abbotti Abbott’s Skimmer Phaon iridipennis Glistening Demoiselle Orthetrum chrysostigma Epaulet Skimmer Orthetrum julia Julia Skimmer Family Chlorocyphidae Jewels Orthetrum machadoi Machado’s Skimmer Platycypha caligata Dancing Jewel Orthetrum trinacria Long Skimmer Family Synlestidae Malachites Nesciothemis farinosa Black-Tailed Skimmer Chlorolestes elegans Elegant Malachite Palpopleura jucunda Yellow-Veined Widow Chlorolestes fasciatus Mountain Malachite Palpopleura lucia St Lucia Widow 44 DRAGONFLIES
Crocothemis erythraea Broad Scarlet Trithemis kirbyi ardens Kirby’s Dropwing Crocothemis sanguinolenta Little Scarlet Trithemis pluvialis River Dropwing Brachythemis leucosticta Banded Groundling Trithemis stictica Jaunty Dropwing Sympetrum fonscolombii Nomad Zygonyx natalensis Blue Cascader Zygonyx torridus Ringed Cascader Trithemis arteriosa Red-Veined Dropwing Tramea basilare Keyhole Glider Trithemis donaldsoni Donaldson’s Dropwing Trithemis furva Navy Dropwing