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This study investigates the history of Odonata studies in the Republic of Vanuatu and presents results from a two week field sampling mainly on three islands – Efate, Aneityum and Malekula. A total of 32 species are recognised as currently valid names for the country. Three new species have been collected and will be described elsewhere. Various taxonomic, faunistic and biogeographic issues are discussed in the light of the new material collected during the current study in comparison to already published research.
The general conclusion is that provisional species checklist is far from complete. The territory of Vanuatu is still highly insufficiently studied for its Odonata fauna. The local endemic genus Vanuatubasis Ober & Staniczek, 2009 is believed to be far more diverse than currently known with three described and three new species collected during the present study.
Description of Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. from Kadavu Island, Fiji (Odonata: Corduliidae)
(2019)
Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. (Odonata: Corduliidae) is described and diagnosed based on material collected from Kadavu Island, Fiji; holotype: Wainitayuki River about 750 m above Baidamudamu village, -19.0916, 178.1038; 37 m a.s.l., 06 June 2016, M. Marinov leg. This species is distinguished from its congeners in the field by the contrasting colouration – dark green metallic body with bright yellow spots on the synthorax and base of the abdomen. This pattern is comparable to H. pacifica Selys, 1871. However, Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. can be recognised by the larger size and unique shape of the caudal appendages and genital hamule (in males) and vulvar scale (in females).
Contribution to the Odonata fauna of the Society Islands, French Polynesia (Insecta: Odonata)
(2019)
Following field studies in 2018 the Odonata fauna of Society Islands, French Polynesia is reviewed and the validity of all records analysed. An updated species list is provided, bringing the number of breeding species recorded from this island group to ten.
Field studies targeted Hemicordulia Selys, 1870 specimens for inclusion in the revision of the Pacific representatives of the genus. Samples were taken mainly from Tahiti and Raiatea, with some additional specimens collected from Bora Bora and Huahine. Only the Society Islands endemic H. oceanica Selys, 1871 was encountered on all four islands, being recorded from Bora Bora for the first time. At least one new species of Hemicordulia has been reported from the high mountain areas of Tahiti (Jacq et al. 2009, 2014).
The present study also emphasises the need for a revision of Zygoptera records from the French Polynesia and the rest of the Pacific. Presently, about 25 endemic species provisionally assigned to Ischnura Charpentier, 1840 and Hivaagrion Hämäläinen & Marinov, 2014 are known from the Society, Austral and Marquesas island groups (R. Englund, J. Jacq, T. Ramage, D. Polhemus, per. comm.). Only seven of them have been described so far. Detailed morphological and molecular analyses will likely prove the separate generic status of some of the species presently included under Ischnura.
Two new congeneric species endemic to Fiji are introduced: Nesobasis martina sp. nov. [holotype female, Viti Levu Is] and N. monika sp. nov. [holotype male, Taveuni Is]. The species are placed in the comosa- and erythrops-groups respectively (grouping following Donnelly 1990). Diagnostic features are proposed, but not discussed. Further discussion is left for an ongoing revision of the genus (Donnelly & Marinov in prep. ). The new species reported here are introduced ahead of this revision in a study which was made possible due to the International Dragonfly Fund (IDF) offering the opportunity to pick a new species' name for a donation.
The existing literature on the Odonata inhabiting the three large divisions of the Pacific Ocean (Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia) is revised taking into consideration earlier discussions on the species origin, historical faunistic records, various palaeogeographical models proposed for the area, general data on the biology and ecology of this insect order. Special emphasis is paid on the incomplete data set for the region and inconsistency of the exploration of this vast area. The taxonomy and fauna of the Pacific Odonata is far from complete which makes it very difficult to provide any plausible hypothesis on the biogeographical pattern that we observe today.
The widely accepted view of long distance dispersal from a centre of origin as the only possible means for species to occupy remote oceanic island archipelagos is critically reviewed. There are seven phenomena in the current Odonata distribution that cannot be explained only by random gene transfer mediated by wind dispersal.
Those are called “oddities”, however, they are believed to be regularities of past geological events and modern day human associated activities within the Pacific.
The rationale for each of them is explained in details and illustrated with distribution maps following the current taxonomy of the group.
A new approach is suggested to tackle the question of the origin of the Pacific Odonata by relating the higher taxa distribution to the geological events and palaeontology of the families. It is not intended to be a new hypothesis yet before more systematic studies of the taxonomy and fauna of the group. Therefore, it is believed that the new method suggested here will increase the attention of the scientific community and will boost studies on this insect order within the Pacific Ocean. Discussion on its applicability is provided with attention to details that are difficult to be explained with the Pacific Odonata palaeontology as we know it for the moment.