Africallagma glaucum (Burmeister, 1839)
Swamp Bluet

Type locality: Cape Province, South Africa

Diagnosis

Male is similar to A. vaginale by (a) postclypeus black; (b) Fw Pt diamond-shaped, opposite borders roughly parallel and of similar length, pale brown to black; (c) tibiae with prominent black stripes along almost entire length (d) cerci at most slightly longer than paraprocts (e) spine of paraprocts does not reach beyond bulge (at most slightly) or tip of cerci; cerci with dorsal border not or weakly excised; (f) base of paraprocts much swollen, resulting in prominent inferior bulge. However, differs by (1) being restricted to open landscapes; widespread; (2) metapleural suture with black dot, rather than prominent black stripe, at dorsal end; (3) Abd stout rather than slender, wing tips reach to end of S6; (4) S8-9 usually largely to entirely blue; (5) ventral process of cerci broad rather than slender, slightly separated from broadly rounded apex (best seen in caudal view). [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014; this diagnosis not yet verified by author]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters, but possibly also streams, in open landscapes. Often with emergent and usually aquatic vegetation, probably especially pools in stream beds. From 0 to 3200 m above sea level, but mostly below 2000.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Botswana; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ghana; Kenya; Lesotho; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Republic of South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe; NOT confirmed: Gabon; Nigeria


Male (pale) © Allan Brandon


Male (dark) © Allan Brandon


Appendages (dorsal view)

Appendages (lateral view)

Appendages (caudal 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, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Vumba Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; South Africa, Western Cape, Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, female; South Africa, Western Cape, Stettynskloof © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; South Africa, Western Cape, Stettynskloof © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; South Africa, Western Cape, Stettynskloof © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


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


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, northside of Nyanga National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & U. Bjelke


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, female; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © 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.
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1917). Odonaten aus Abessinien, Ost- und Westafrika. Arkiv Zoologi, 11, 1-27.
  • 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]
  • Barnard, K.H. (1937). Notes on dragon-flies (Odonata) of the S. W. Cape with descriptions of the nymphs and of new species. Annals South African Museum, 32, 169-260. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1967). Odonata Zygoptera. Exploration Hydrobiologique Bassin Lac Bangweolo Luapula, 14, 1-43. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-29].