Aethiothemis palustris Martin, 1912
Pretty-winged Flasher

Type locality: Sikasso, Mali

Diagnosis

Male is similar to A. solitaria by (a) fairly small size, Hw 22-27 mm; (b) labium uniformly pale yellow to brown, at most darkened on central lobe; (c) thorax marked with black stripes on humeral and metapleural sutures and Abd with broad black dorsal band and narrow lateral ones (all pruinose with maturity); (d) Fw triangle of 2 cells, subtriangle of 3-4, but both sometimes just of 1; (e) distal Ax in Fw often complete; (f) costa dark, like subcosta and anterior vein of Pt; (g) subcostal cross-veins pale, contrasting with dark subcosta and median vein; (h) tibiae black with pale yellow or brown streaks; (i) hind femur with 15-25 denticles in outer anterior row; (j) Abd broad, S3 at most 1.5x as long as wide (dorsal view); (k) venter of Abd yellow to pale brown. However, differs by (1) wings amber from base to beyond node, brown below Pt; (2) mostly 3 cell-rows between anal loop and tornus, 5-6 between Rspl and posterior wing border. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Not known, but probably standing and often temporary waters in open landscapes. Probably often with emergent vegetation. Inferred to occur from 200 to 700 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Ghana; Mali; Nigeria; NOT confirmed: Côte d'Ivoire; Chad; Republic of Guinea; Senegal

Abdomen (dorsal view)

Abdominal segment 2 (lateral view)

Thorax (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

  • Martin, R. (1912). Les libellules du cercle de Sikasso. Feuille jeunes Naturalistes, 42, 92-99. [PDF file]
  • Schmidt, E. (1951). Libellen aus Portugiesisch Guinea, mit Bemerkungen über andere aethiopische Odonaten. Arquivos Museu Bocage, 20, 125-200. [PDF file]

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