Pseudagrion (B) assegaii Pinhey, 1950
Assegai Sprite

Type locality: Transvaal, South Africa

Diagnosis

Male is similar to P. lindicum by (a) face green or blue, sometimes yellowish; (b) S8-9 seldom with narrowly black apical border, often all blue; (c) cerci without flange; (d) cerci at most with small basal tooth; cerci seldom dwarfed by paraprocts, if so normally not notched; (e) upper branch of cerci hooked, but inner border of lower branch smooth; (f) paraprocts never with dorsal knob (lateral view). However, differs by (1) often in the open, and ranging from N South Africa and N Botswana to Zambia, also Uganda; (2) smaller size, Hw 17-19 mm; (3) dorsum of S2 with single-pronged black marking, rather like spearhead, rather than with double-pronged black marking; (4) apex of penis with deep and wide notch between large apical lobes, rather than being rounded or squarish; (5) lower branch of cerci short (lateral view), rather than long and finger-like. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014; this diagnosis not yet verified by author]

Habitat description

Standing waters in open landscapes. Often with emergent and usually aquatic vegetation, especially lilypads. From 900 to 1700 m above sea level.

Distribution

Appendages (dorsal view)	Appendages (lateral view)
Penis (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.

References

• Pinhey, E.C.G. (1950). New species of Odonata from southern Africa. Annals Transvaal Museum, 21, 260-272. [PDF file]
• Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 14, 1-97. [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]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-10-30].