Tag Archives: Coenagrionidae

Metaleptobasis gibbosa Tennessen

Gibbose Forest Damselfly (Metaleptobasis gibbosa)

The Gibbose Forest Damselfly was described in 2012 based on specimens that had been collected in 2005; the species has only ever been found in a very small area, a forest wetland in Los Copales in the Pastaza Province of Ecuador.

The species reaches a length of about 4,6 cm; it is quite inconspicuous colored, the eyes are red-orange dorsally and green anteriorly, the thorax is generally brown-orange with darker brown medially stripes, the abdomen is mostly grey-brown.

The only known locality was destroyed in 2012 for the development of houses; the species has not been found anywhere else, despite searches.

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References:

[1] K. J. Tennessen: Two new species of Metaleptobasis from central Ecuador (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology 15(2): 87-97. 2012

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edited: 26.04.2022

Megalagrion nesiotes (Perkins)

Red Hawaiian Damselfly (Megalagrion nesiotes)

The Red Hawaiian Damselfly was described in 1899, it is or rather was endemic to Hawai’i, Hawaiian Islands.

The biology of this species appears to be completely unknown, it is considered extinct.

The Red Hawaiian Damselfly was formerly synonymized with another species from the island of Maui, The Black Maui Damselfly (Megalagrion dinesiotes Kennedy), a species that was thought to be extinct for some time but which was rediscovered. [1][2]

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References:

[1] Elwood C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 2; Apterygota to Thysanoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1948
[2] Jerrell J. Daigle: The distribution of the Odonata of Hawaii. Bulletin of American Odonatology 6(1): 1-5. 2000

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edited: 12.01.2019

Nesobasis aurantiaca Tillyard

Orange Fiji Damselfly (Nesobasis aurantiaca)

The Orange Fiji Damselfly was described in 1924; it is only known from a single male specimen that had been collected on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. 

The species is mainly red colored, bearing some black longitudinal stripes along the dorsal part of its thorax.

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The Orange Fiji Damselfly might by conspecific with Martina’s Fiji Damselfly (Nesobasis martina Marinov), which was only described in 2021 and which itself is only known by a single female specimen. [1]

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References:

[1] Milen Marinov: On the Fijian endemic genus Nesobasis Selys, 1891 with introduction of N. martina sp. nov. and N. monika sp. nov. (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) IDF-Report 165: 1-17. 2021

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edited: 10.01.2024

Fluminagrion taxaense (Santos)

Rio de Janeiro Damselfly (Fluminagrion taxaense)  

The Rio de Janeiro Damselfly is known only from its type locality, which is now obviously a part of a urban park within the city of Rio de Janeiro in the same-named state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.  

The species was described in 1965, since then, however, it was never recorded again and is considered most probably extinct.  

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The species was formerly doubtfully assigned to the genus Acanthagrion but is now placed in its own genus. [1]  

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References:  

[1] Danielle Anjos-Santos; Federico Lozano; Jnira Martins Costa: Fluminagrion gen. nov. for Acanthagrion taxaense Santos, 1965, from Brazil (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology 16(2): 145-155. 2013  

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edited: 13.01.2019