ADDO -- African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online

Orthetrum lusinga Dijkstra, 2015
Spring Skimmer

Type locality: Upemba NP, Lusinga, DRC

Diagnosis

Male recalls the widespread O. guineense and sympatric O. machadoi by (a) moderate size, Hw 28.0-30.8 mm (n = 7); (b) the absence of cell-doublings in the radial planate and thus a single row of cells there; (c) the pale subcostal Ax at least proximally, although they can be notably dark; and (d) the medium-sized pale brown Pt that are 10-11 % of Hw length, 2.8-3.3 mm. When not pruinose also similar by (e) the thorax lacking whitish stripes; (f) all abdominal segments being brown and variably but generally quite narrowly black on the dorsal carina of S3-9 and lateral carinae of S3-8; and (g) the always dark cerci. However, (1) the hook of the hamule has a concave anterior border and a broad and outward-turned tip lying closely against the rather low lobe, i.e. similar to O. chrysostigma but with the sigmoid anterior profile of O. saegeri. When not yet pruinose also (2) unlike O. guineense lacks a black line on the ventral carina of the metepimeron; and (3) unlike O. machadoi S6-8 are only narrowly black on the lateral carinae and S9-10 are largely brown rather than black. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Seeps and springs in open landscapes or shaded by gallery forest. Usually boggy and often with emergent vegetation and a soft (like muddy) bottom. From 1600 to 1900 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Secondary genitalia (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.