Odonatology

ABSTRACT The European Platycnemis acutipennis and P. latipes and the African Mesocnemis singularis aggregate during oviposition. Choice experiments show that, in all three species, groups develop because tandems preferentially land where conspecifics already show oviposition behaviour. Just a single motionless male in the typical vertical position of a tandem male stimulates aggregation and oviposition behaviour in conspecifics.

In recent decades the interest in the Odonata species has increased in Spanish society. However, this growth has not yet resulted in the creation of a national professional body that is composed of experts, nor has it resulted in the creation of a standard list with the translations of the dragonflies’ names into Spanish. This has happened with other zoological groups and in the majority of other European countries these bodies already exist. In Spanish culture and literature it is not customary to find the common names of the Odonatas species, which makes it harder to convey to citizens the relevant information and threats associated with the species. In this paper we are presenting a proposal for common names for the Spanish Odonata species. We would like to see this proposal reviewed by a future committee of experts formed to set a definitive list of physical characteristics that can be accepted by the odonatalogical community. We believe that raising the awareness of this study will contribute to these insects receiving more recognition and respect by a large segment of our society. The names that will be proposed will be formed using binomial nomenclature with the purpose of creating specific and unique combinations of words inspired by other languages, as well as the most striking morphological features of the Odonata species.

Durante las últimas décadas ha crecido el interés por los odonatos en la sociedad española. Sin embargo, este incremento no ha traído consigo la creación de una entidad que aglutine a los expertos de toda España como ocurre con otros grupos zoológicos y otros países, ni se ha sustanciado en la creación de una lista patrón de nombres en castellano de los odonatos españoles, equivalente a las que existen en la mayoría de las lenguas europeas. La tradición española es muy escasa en nombres vernáculos de las especies, y por eso se hace difícil transmitir a los ciudadanos sólo con los nombres científicos los conocimientos y las amenazas que acechan a los diferentes taxones. En este trabajo presentamos una propuesta de nombres comunes para las especies españolas. Iniciativa que queremos consensuar en una futura comisión de expertos, creada con el fin de fijar una lista patrón única definitiva que pueda ser aceptada por la comunidad odonatológica; y que también deseamos que contribuya a popularizar el estudio, el respeto y el voluntariado ambiental hacia estos insectos en un amplio sector de nuestra sociedad. Los nombres que se proponen utilizan, en lo posible, una nomenclatura binomial para formar combinaciones específicas únicas, y se inspiran en otras lenguas, así como en los caracteres morfológicos externos o ecológicos más llamativos de cada especie

The field of odonatology has developed considerably during the past century. Three figures, namely E. Selys-Longchamps, R.J. Tillyard and P.S. Corbet, have undisputedly founded our current knowledge of odonatology and contributed massively to the understanding of systematics, biology, ecology and behaviour of odonates. The year 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of Tillyard's The Biology of Dragonflies. We review the book and the author's life and contributions to Australian odonatology. We present an updated history of odonatology and highlight prominent advances in the field. The influence of the book on non-scientists is described. Future research in odonatology on aspects that have not been studied and others that need further investigations are discussed.

Sixty-two localities from Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra State, India, were surveyed for habitat correlates of Odonata diversity. Proximate habitat variables (canopy cover, area of water spread on transect, and altitude) and broad scale environmental variables derived from climate database were used. Seventy species were recorded during the survey. Vestalis apicalis was found to be the most abundant species. Multiple regression analysis failed to resolve relationship among variables. Proximate habitat variables, except altitude, showed slightly higher contribution in shaping species richness and diversity than broadscale habitat variables. Canonical correspondence analysis based on species abundance data
and multiple variables suggested that canopy cover and area of water on the transect are driving species assemblages. Almost all of the Western Ghats endemics recorded during the survey
were found to be associated with high canopy forests and streams, suggesting the critical habitat requirement of these species. The study provides baseline and local habitat association data on Odonata, which can be used as evidence in the conservation of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve corridor which is under threat of forest felling.

Ein Flügelfragment aus Seeablagerungen der Meisen heim-Formation des Unteren Rotliegend (Autunium) bei Obermoschel ist der erste Nachweis von Riesen-Urlibellen für das Permokarbon des Saar-Nahe-Beckens. Mit einer Flügelspannweite von mindestens 60 Zentimetern war das Tier in etwa so groß wie Meganeura monyi aus dem Stefanium von Commentry in Frankreich und ist das derzeit größte in Deutschland nachgewiesene Insekt. Als einen wahrscheinlichen Faktor, der den Riesenwuchs dieser Stammgruppenvertreter der heutigen Libellen erst möglich machte, diskutieren wir den hohen Sauerstoffgehalt der Atmosphäre im Oberkarbon bis Mittelperm. Die Paläoumwelt des Obermoschel-Sees war durch größere Seen und Flussläufe geprägt und bot den großen Meganeuriden die offenen Flächen, die sie als agile Flugjäger bevorzugten.
Abstract First record of giant griffenflies (Odonatoptera: Meganisoptera: Meganeuridae) in the Permocarboniferous of the Saar-Nahe Basin (Rhineland-Palatinate, SW-Germany)
A wing fragment from lake deposits of the Meisenheim Formation (Lower Rotliegend, Autunian) near Obermoschel is the first record of giant griffenflies for the Permo-Carboniferous of the Saar-Nahe Basin. With a reconstructed wing span of at least 60 centimetres the animal was comparable in size to the iconic Meganeura monyi from the Stephanian of Commentry/France and is currently the largest known insect from Germany. The increased partial pressure of oxygen in the Upper Carboniferous to mid-Permian is discussed as a possible factor controlling the maximum size of griffenflies. The palaeoenvironment of Lake Obermoschel was characterized by large lakes and fluvial systems that provided the open spaces preferred by meganeurids, which were probably agile hawker predators.

The study was conducted to find out the status, diversity and conservation threats of Odonata at Dyamannana Lake, Shivamogga Disrtict during October 2015 to September 2016. Sampling was done by direct counts method and collected data were statistically analyzed to work out the magnitude of Odonate diversity. A total of 470 individuals of odonates belonging to 41 species in 29 genera under 6 families were recorded. The order-Anisoptera was found to be the most dominant with 76% (n=31) species, belonging to 3 families, followed by order-Zygoptera with 24% (n=10) species, under 3 families respectively. Among the order-Anisoptera, the family wise, abundance, richness, diversity and evenness indices was found to be maximum in Libellulidae (340, 4.1, 2.9, 0.72) followed by the Aeshnidae (38, 0.8, 1.3, 0.93) and minimum in Gomphidae (26, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0) respectively (Table 2). Similarly, among the order: Zygoptera, it was found to be maximum in Coenagrionidae (42, 1.6, 1.9, 0.92) and minimum in Platycnemididae (12, 0.5, 0.6, 0.94), however, it was least in Lestidae (12, but showed no significant indices value with only single species) respectively. The study revealed that, odonates and their habitats were under threat due to intensive anthropogenic activities, which are attributed to encroachment and loss of habitat. Also, addition of fertilizers and insecticides from the surrounding arecanut plantation lead to pollution and eutrophication of the lake, which not only affect the assemblage of Odonata population but also cause local extinctions.

Among insects, perhaps the most appreciated are those that are esthetically pleasing: few capture the interest of the public as much as vibrantly colored dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata). These remarkable insects are also extensively studied. Here, we review the history of odonate systematics, with an emphasis on discrepancies among studies. Over the past century, relationships among Odonata have been reinterpreted many times, using a variety of data from wing vein morphology to DNA. Despite years of study, there has been little consensus about odonate taxonomy. In this review, we compare odonate molecular phylogenetic studies with respect to gene and model selection, optimality criterion, and dataset completeness. These differences are discussed in relation to the evolution of dragonfly behavior.

Voltinism is an important life history trait that varies with the environment. In temperate zones, insect populations take a substantially longer time to reach the adult stage in the northern compared to the southern regions. In this study, emergence pattern and larval growthofthethreatenedzygopteran(Odonata)Coenagrionmercurialewereinvestigatedina populationlocatedinthesouthernlimitofitsdistributionrangeinordertodetermineitslife historystrategiesinahotclimateandcomparethemtothosedisplayedinnorthernpopulations. There was no apparent winter diapause. The species produced two generations in a year, with the first generation emerging in mid spring and the second in late summer. The emergencepatternofthefirstgenerationwastypicalofasummerspeciesandlasted48days. All larvae emerged by the end of May. Due to some environmental perturbations, the emergencepatternofthesecondgenerationwasnotsurveyed,buttherewasevidencethat theemergenceseasonwasshort(21days).Larvalstructurepriortothesecondemergenceof theyearshowedthatonly25%ofthepopulationwasinthefinalinstar,whichexplainsthe shorteremergenceseason.Weassumethatthefirsteggslaidinthespringhatchandgrow rapidlytoreachthefinalinstarinlatesummerasaconsequenceofhighertemperaturesand potentialhighfoodavailability.Therewasasignificantseasonaldeclineinbodysizeinboth malesandfemales.Thesecondgenerationhadasignificantlysmallerbodysize,presumably due to the short growth season and/or higher growth rate.

Emergence and seasonal regulation of the dragonfly Onychogomphus costae Selys, 1885, were surveyed thoroughly during two consecutive years from two nearby stretches upstream the Seybouse River, northeastern Algeria. The emergence season STARTED in mid-May and lasted 68 and 58 days showing a peak in late May and early June in 2011 and 2012, respectively. During the two years 2011 and 2012, 50% of annual emergence occurred after 25 and 22 days, respectively. Sex ratio was slightly but not significantly male BIASED. Female exuviae were recorded at higher height than males. Height of the exuviae fixation was positively correlated to support height and head width. Percentage mortality at emergence was mainly due to deformity and predation counting from 7.9% to 9.15% of the total emergent population. The species seasonal regulation is inferred and discussed based on the emergence temporal pattern and larval development.

Knowledge of both phenology and habitat selection are important assets for conservation and management purposes. Generally, aquatic insect species have an optimal season and larval microhabitat in which their survival and reproductive success are high. In odonates, emergence is usually a seasonal-restricted process during which the insect has tofind a good timing and a convenient microhabitat to carry out the final ecdysis out of the water. We investigated temporal emergence pattern and microhabitat choice in Orthetrum cancellatum in northeast Algeria, which represents the southern limit of its distribution range. The emergence season lasted 56 days starting from 30.IV and ended on 25.VI, showing a peak on 19.V. The time by which 50% of the annual population has emerged (EM50) was 20 days and the sex ratio was slightly male-biased, with 51.53%. Final instar larvae chose areas with relatively dense vegetation, and this selection was positively dependent on the mean vegetation height and not on sex or body size. Height selection was positively dependent only on the support height that the larva chose. We suggest that larvae consider both predation risks and mainly local microclimate to select their emergence site.

Calopteryx exul is an endemic endangered damselfly that suffers considerable habitat degradation and local extinctions throughout its geographic range. Although recent studies have investigated its distribution, ecology and larval systematics, the life history of the species is still unknown. In this study, a field survey was conducted to determine larval development, temporal pattern of emergence and teneral spatial distribution of the species in the Seybouse watershed, northeast Algeria. Larval growth was investigated in two populations: one at about 200 m (low-elevation population) and the second at 600 m of elevation (high-elevation population). The species showed partial bivoltine life cycle in both low-and high-elevation population. The temporal pattern of emergence of the first flight season of the year at low-elevation population was asynchronous with an emergence season lasting 46 days and half of the population emerging in 15 days. The second flight season was shorter with a most likely smaller population size. Sex ratio at emergence was slightly male biased. After ecdysis, tenerals stayed next to the water within a mean distance of 4.76 AE 4.35 m (AE SD) with no significant difference between sexes. Conservation measures that should be taken into account in the elaboration of future management plans for the species are discussed.

In odonates, female specific color polymorphisms appear to be an evolutionary response to sexual harassment, but we know little about the decision rules males use when searching for variable females. For two sympatric species of Enallagma, we measured male responses to live female variants under field conditions, early and later in the day. In the morning, when the operational sex

Emergence of Gomphus lucasii Selys, 1849, an unstudied Maghreb endemic, was synchronised by overwintering in the final stadium in the Seybouse River in northeastern Algeria. Regular collections revealed that half of the annual population
emerged during 10 days, showing a typical ‘spring species’ emergence pattern. Sex ratio was slightly male biased (51%). Males and females did not differ in vertical stratification. Emergence support choice was not random, but rather depended on support height, body size, and daily population density. Mortality was caused mainly
by ants, although deformity of tenerals and bird predation were also important factors. Gomphus lucasii has been assessed as vulnerable (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List), and the information provided in our study will be helpful in future conservation efforts.

Las libélulas y caballitos de agua (odonatos) son un grupo muy antiguo, cuya morfología ha variado muy poco a lo largo del tiempo desde hace más de 200 millones de años. Además, forman un conjunto de unas 6.000 especies a nivel mundial. Un grupo diminuto si lo comparamos con la riqueza específica de lepidópteros (175.000) o coleópteros (350.000). Pero curiosamente los odonatos se han convertido en un grupo de animales de gran interés por su belleza, su inocuidad y por ser uno de los pocos órdenes de insectos que no incluye a ninguna especie plaga, y que, al contrario, tiene efectos muy positivos sobre los humanos, al librarnos de gran cantidad de insectos que entran en conflicto con nosotros (los mosquitos, por ejemplo) o con nuestra agricultura y ganadería.

En La Rioja se han encontrado 49 de las 77 especies de odonatos que pueblan la Península Ibérica (23 caballitos de agua y 26 libélulas). La odonatofauna riojana es mayoritariamente mediterránea, con una pequeña componente de especies nórdicas que viven preferentemente en la Sierra, y otro reducido número de elementos de origen africano que lo hacen en el Valle del Ebro.

Con esta monografía, magníficamente ilustrada con fotografías de las especies, hemos querido dar un paso más en el conocimiento de la biodiversidad de La Rioja; abrir una nueva puerta a estudios más concretos; y sobre todo, dar el primer apoyo a toda persona interesada en identificar, saber dónde viven, cuándo vuelan y qué problemas sufren los caballitos de agua y libélulas que viven por el momento en nuestra región.

Thirty streams were surveyed in urban and natural settings in the municipality of Manaus in the central Amazon basin (Brazil) with the objective of identifying the species of adult odonates that can be used as bioindicators of environmental quality. The data collected were used to test the hypothesis that species in the suborder Zygoptera are indicators of better-preserved environments due to their smaller body sizes and reduced tolerances to habitat modification, whereas species in the suborder Anisoptera were presumed to be indicators of impacted habitats with no vegetation. The habitats were classified as preserved, intermediate, and degraded, based on their environmental characteristics. A total of 908 specimens were collected, representing 60 species. The results of the indicator value (IndVal) identified 13 species as indicators of environmental quality, of which nine were typical of preserved habitats, two of intermediate habitats, and four of modified habitats (intermediate or degraded). Odonate species richness declined with increasing urbanization, a pattern also presented by the zygopterans, although anisopteran species richness was higher in intermediate habitats. Zygopteran species showed high fidelity/specificity for preserved habitats, although a small number of the species of this suborder showed a similar relationship with intermediate or degraded habitats, whereas anisopterans were associated only with disturbed habitats (intermediate and degraded). Overall, the results indicate that the diagnosis of the adult odonate community can provide a rapid and effective tool for evaluation of environmental quality. As many species are stenotopic, they can be used as indicators of good habitat quality, whereas some of the more eurytopic species can indicate disturbed habitats.

Lauromacromia melanica sp. nov. from Conceição da Barra municipality, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, is described and illustrated based on two males (both in MNRJ nº 135). The new species is similar to L. picinguaba differing from it mainly by the absence of pale spots on S3–6 and by the ellipsoid shape of metepisternal pale stripe. A key for males of all species of the genus is provided. A cladistic analysis encompassing 43 external morphological male characters carried out in two distinct procedures, the first with all characters unordered and the second with two or three state characters ordered. The unordered analysis generated only one most-parsimonious tree (66 steps of length, CI = 0.69, RI = 0.62). The hypothesis of monophyly of Lauromacromia is supported and includes three groups, one formed by the Atlantic Forest species (L. melanica sp. nov. + L. picinguaba), and another by the Cerrado species (L. flaviae + (L. bedei + L. luismoojeni)), and L. dubitalis, positioned in polytomy with these two groups. The ordered analysis also generated only one most-parsimonious tree (68 steps of length, CI = 0.70, RI = 0.67), which maintained the monophyly of Lauromacromia but L. dubitalis positioned basally as sister-group to the Atlantic Forest + Cerrado species groups. The geographic distribution of Lauromacromia is updated with a new record of L. luismoojeni based on one adult male (Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul State) and probable first Brazilian records for L. dubitalis (Amazonas and Pará States) based on two larvae. A vicariance hypothesis is proposed to explain spatial evolution of Lauromacromia, and based on current biogeographical classifications we consider Gomphomacromia and Rialla apart from Neotropical biota. Some aspects of biology and ecology of Lauromacromia are also discussed. Resumo Lauromacromia melanica sp. nov. do município de Conceição da Barra, estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil, é descrita e ilustrada a partir de dois machos (ambos no MNRJ nº 135). A nova espécie é similar à L. picinguaba da qual difere principalmente pela ausência de manchas claras nos S3–6 e pelo formato elipsóide da mancha metepisternal. Uma chave para machos de todas as espécies do gênero é apresentada. Uma análise cladística com 43 caracteres da morfologia externa dos machos foi efetuada em duas etapas distintas, a primeira com todos os caracteres não ordenados e a segunda com os caracteres com dois ou três estados ordenados. A análise não-ordenada gerou uma única árvore mais parcimoniosa (66 passos de comprimento, IC = 0,69, IR = 0,62). A hipótese do monofiletismo de Lauromacromia é suportada e incluiu três grupos, um formado pelas espécies da Mata Atlântica (L. melanica sp. nov. + L. picinguaba), outro pelas espécies do Cerrado (L. flaviae + (L. bedei + L. luismoojeni)) e L. dubitalis, posicionada em politomia com esses dois grupos. A análise ordenada também gerou apenas uma árvore (68 passos de comprimento, IC = 0,70, IR = 0,67) mantendo o monofiletismo de Lauromacromia, entretanto com L. dubitalis posicionada basalmente como grupo-irmão dos grupos de espécies da Mata Atlântica + Cerrado. A distribuição geográfica das espécies de Lauromacromia é atualizada com um novo registro para L. luismoojeni baseado em um macho adulto (Brasil: estado do Mato Grosso do Sul) e os primeiros prováveis registros para L. dubitalis no Brasil (estados do Amazonas e Pará), baseado em duas larvas.