Brachythemis leucosticta (Burmeister, 1839)
Southern Banded Groundling

Type locality: Natal, South Africa

Diagnosis

Male is similar to B. impartita by (a) wings clear at base, but develop dark brown band between node and Pt; (b) 2-6 cell-doublings in radial planate of all wings (count those cells touching Rspl, but not IR3), though very rarely none; (c) Abd brown to black with maturity. However, differs by (1) ranging from Ethiopia to W and S Africa; (2) borders of Pt dark rather than pale, as are veins posterior to it (dorsal view); (3) genital lobe always largely dark rather than pale, even in paler males; (4) ventral carinae of S8 medially with a kink (rather than straight) or lobe marked by dense denticles; (5) epiproct reaching to or just beyond ventral tooth of cerci. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Rivers, large lakes and other standing waters in open landscapes. Often with bare banks and probably a sandy and/or soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 2100 m above sea level, but mostly between 1000 and 1500.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Republic of South Africa; Rwanda; Senegal; Somalia; Swaziland; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe; NOT confirmed: Côte d'Ivoire; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo-Brazzaville; Equatorial Guinea; Guinee-Bissau; Mali; Mauritania; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; South Sudan; Sudan


Male © Hans-Joachim Clausnitzer


Abdominal segments 8-10 (ventral 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.


Barcode specimen(s):


Adult, female; Angola, Uige Province, Negage © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, Negage © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, Negage © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Kisangani © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Equateur, Lower Itimbiri © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Kisangani © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale,


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Kisangani © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Equateur, Lower Itimbiri


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Lower Aruwimi © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Burmeister, H. (1839). Handbuch der Entomologie. Zweiter Band, Befondere Entomologie. Zweite Abtheilung. Kauterfe. Gymnognatha. (Zweite hälfte; vulgo Neuroptera). Enslin, Berlin, 755-1050. Odonata, 805-862.
  • Ris, F. (1921). The Odonata or Dragonflies of South Africa. Annals South African Museum, XVIII, 245-452. [PDF file]
  • Balinsky, B.I. (1961). Observations on the dragonfly fauna of the coastal region of Zululand, with descriptions of three new species (Odonata). Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 24, 72-91. [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. (1966). Check-list of dragonflies (Odonata) from Malawi, with description of a new Teinobasis Kirby. Arnoldia, 2, 1-24. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1959). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part II. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 45, 13-42. [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 and Luapula, 14, 1-64. [PDF file]
  • Schmidt, E. (1951). Libellen aus Portugiesisch Guinea, mit Bemerkungen über andere aethiopische Odonaten. Arquivos Museu Bocage, 20, 125-200. [PDF file]
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1909). Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der schwedischen zoologischen Expedition nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und den umgebenden Massaisteppen Deutsch-Ostafrikas 1905-1906 unter Leitung von Prof. Dr. Yngve Sjöstedt. 14. Pseudoneuroptera. Odonata, 14, 1-52.

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-28].