Orthetrum microstigma Ris, 1911
Farmbush Skimmer

Type locality: Bongola bei Campo, Busoga, Cameroon

Diagnosis

Male is similar to O. monardi by (a) thorax without whitish stripes; (b) Pt usually shorter than 3 mm, 9.5% of Hw length or less; (c) membranule dark; (d) Hw base with yellow or amber patch; (e) lobe of hamule very low and obtuse, space between it and hook at most right-angled notch. However, differs by (1) found mostly near forest; (2) larger size, Hw 30-37 mm; (3) labium and labrum usually partly black, rather than all pale; (4) subcostal Ax and Pt usually dark rather than pale; (5) Hw base with dark amber to blackish brown patch; (6) hook of hamule broad and rounded rather than narrow and triangular, bent outward. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters in open areas in forest, but sometimes shaded by (gallery) forest or even in open landscapes. Often with a soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 1800 m above sea level, but mostly below 800.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Ghana; Guinee-Bissau; Kenya; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Sierra Leone; South Sudan; Uganda; Zambia; NOT confirmed: Benin; Tanzania


Male © Bart W??rsten


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.


References

  • Ris, F. (1911). Zwei neue afrikanische Arten der Libellulinen-Gattung Orthetrum. Revue Zoologique Africaine, 1, 125-131. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 14, 1-97. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • Lieftinck, M.A. (1969) Odonates Anisoptères - Odonata Anisoptera. Explor. hydrob. Lac Bangweolo & Luapula 14 (4): 1-64, [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1955). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part I. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 27, 11-63. [PDF file]
  • D' Andrea, M., and Carfi, S. (1997). Nuove raccolte di odonati del Camerun con note su Agriocnemis maclachlani Selys, 1877 edescrizione di Agriocnemis dissimilis sp. nov. e Trithemis osvaldae sp. nov. Atti Societa italiana Scienze naturali, 136, 157-190. [PDF file]
  • Aguesse, P. (1966). Contribution à la faune de Congo (Brazzaville) Mission A. Villiers et A. Descarpentries XXI. Odonates. Bulletin de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique, 28, 783-797. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-19].