IDF-Report : newsletter of the International Dragonfly Fund
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35
On our trip to Cambodia from November 14th to December 1st 2010 eight new species for the country have been verified. These are Libellago lineata, Lestes praemorsus, Argiocnemis rubescens, Pseudagrion pruinosum, Epophthalmia frontalis, Indothemis carnatica, Indothemis limbata, and Orthetrum glaucum. This publication raises the list of Cambodian Odonatato over 90 published species. This figure is considered as less than half of the actual species number that inhabits the country. Given the scarce observations based on opportunistic samples only and largely insufficiently land coverage we predict that a few new species to the science are to be expected from the future research. This opens still many opportunities to study dragonflies in Cambodia at locations nobody ever has looked for Odonata before.
34
Odonata were recorded and voucher specimens were collected between August 3- 13 and August 16-20, 2011. This account lists 51 species of Odonata for both islands, 47 species in Siargao and 24 species in Bucas Grande. Thirty seven species are new island records for Siargao Island while the 24 species recorded in Bucas Grande represent the first island records. Three species are new to science, and two of which (Drepanosticta schorri n. sp., Pseudagrion schieli n. sp.) are described in the present paper. Four species previously listed (Hämäläinen & Müller, 1997) remained elusive during the present survey.
33
During three field trips in 2006 and 2010 to Cuc Phuong National Park in northern Vietnam, a total of 19 anisopteran taxa was recorded. The most interesting records are documented here with field photographs of living specimens or collection material. Observations on their biology and behaviour are also noted.
32
During three field trips in 2009-2010 to Xuan Son National Park in Phu Tho province in northern Vietnam, a total of 13 species of damselflies of the superfamily Calo-pterygoidea were recorded. These records are documented here with field photo-graphs of living damselflies. Observations on their biology and behaviour are also noted. Three of the species are reported from Vietnam for the first time: Rhinocypha arguta, an undescribed Matrona species and Vestalaria miao. The last species was first found in Huu Lien Nature Reserve in Lang Son province in June 2008.
31
The Odonata fauna of the basin of the river Severskyi Donets in its middle current (Eastern Ukraine)
(2010)
A list of 57 Odonata species from 108 localities recorded in the basin of the river Severskyi Donets in its middle range (Eastern Ukraine) is provided. This compilation includes literature and museum data as well as results from field surveys realized between 2001 and 2009. Annotations to the history of regional odonate research are made. Brief descriptions of typical dragonfly habitats in the floodplain of Severskyi Donets are presented. Locality wise notes on the reproductive status for most of the species are made.
30
Faunistic investigations on adult insects and molecular research on larvae have identified the existence of at least four species of Odonata on the Chatham Islands. The species resemble their New Zealand counterparts, although there are morphological deviations from the typical diagnostic features. Molecular evidence is not concordant with earlier morphological results as far as the genus Xanthocnemis is concerned. Genetic data suggest there are two species on the island while morphological investigations revealed just one. This topic needs further clarification and is given special atiention in the present study. The main aim of the present study is to establish the taxonomic position of Chatham Island Xanthocnemis species and its relation to New Zealand main island fauna. It also provides some data on the biology of the local species and estimates of key demographic parameters (i.e., survival and abundance). The results show that Chatham Islands inhabitants are close morphologically to their New Zealand main island counterparts. Between-island differences in wing area and abdomen-to-body length ratio were found, but were largely atiributable to the harsh environment on the Chatham Islands and its influence on body size. Chatham Xanthocnemis exhibited low survival rates and a great diversity of female colour morphs and certain behavioural traits (like underwater oviposition), which are suspected to be due to a composite influence of low summer temperatures, constant winds, and low pH. Ultimately, the taxonomic status of the Chatham Island Xanthocnemis species needs further confirmation based on molecular analysis of adults.
29
A glance at the Odonata of the Cambodian coastal mountainous regions : end of dry season in 2010
(2010)
During a visit to the coastal regions of Cambodia within the Provinces of Koh Kong, Kampong Saom, Kampot and Kep within April 12-23, 2010, 59 species of Odonata were found. Of these, 51 were identified, 2 preliminarily identified (1 by exuviae, 1 to a known species with the valid name unresolved), 1 dubious (Aciagrion cf. pallidum), 3 not identified (just visual observations) and 2 seemingly undescribed, namely Burmagomphus sp. and Microgomphus sp. Fourteen species were recorded for the first time for this country, namely Neurobasis chinensis, Dysphaea gloriosa, Euphaea masoni, Onychargia atrocyana, Copera marginipes, Copera vittata, Prodasineura autumnalis Prodasineura verticalis sensu Asahina, 1983, Lathrecista asiatica, Orthetrum chrysis, Rhyothemis obsolescens, Tramea transmarina euryale, Zygonyx iris malayana, Zyxomma petiolatum; taking the current checklist for Cambodia up to 83 species. Some features of the collected specimens relevant to their taxonomy are discussed. Brief field notes are provided and Odonata records enumerated. The habitats and community of Odonata at the Cardamon Mts. foothills at the end of dry season are discussed.
28
Based on the results of fieldwork and collecting in 2008 and 2009 and the evaluation of literature an updated national checklist of the Odonata of Kyrgyzstan is presented. The list comprises a total of 63 species, whereas 55 species were encountered in the field by the author, including five new for the country: Aeshna serrata, Onychogomphus lefebvrii, Orthetrum sabina, Crocothemis servilia, Selysiothemis nigra. 826 specimens of 49 species have been collected (dep. in coll. A. Schröter). All 55 species recorded in 2008 and 2009 are listed and annotated. Moreover, the unclear or controversial taxonomical status of several species is briefly debated. Interesting ecological observations include the emergence of Libellula quadrimaculata from running water and cleptoparasitism by Ischnura forcipata in spider webs.
27
Polillo Island is the largest among the Polillo group of islands. It is the third (ca 700sq km) largest island of the Luzon biogeographic region. The island lies in central eastern Luzon, at the western edge of Pacific Ocean and has a seasonal climate with distinct dry and wet season. The island is biologically rich with several insular species or subspecies (McGregor, 1910; Robinson, 1911; Manuel, 1957). The recent Odonata survey revealed the rich Odonata fauna of the island (Villanueva, 2010). This paper provides an update on the known Odonata based on recent fieldwork in 2010.
26
Three families in the superfamily Calopterygoidea occur in China, viz. the Calopterygidae, Chlorocyphidae and Euphaeidae. They include numerous species that are distributed widely across South China, mainly in streams and upland running waters at moderate altitudes. To date, our knowledge of Chinese species has remained inadequate: the taxonomy of some genera is unresolved and no attempt has been made to map the distribution of the various species and genera. This project is therefore aimed at providing taxonomic (including on larval morphology), biological, and distributional information on the superfamily in South China.
25
During summer field work in 2005 and 2009 data on the distribution of dragonflies were obtained on the territory of Moldova. In August 2005, 9 species were recorded for the middle part of the Dniester river (surroundings of Sakharna). Between 28 June and 4 July 2009 dragonflies were studied in almost all parts of the country - 25 species were observed. Four species (Lestes macrostigma, Coenagrion ornatum, Coenagrion scitulum, Orthetrum brunneum) were recorded for the first time in Moldova. For many species the knowledge of their Moldovan distribution was improved. The habitats of every species were described, illustrated and preliminary maps of species distribution were prepared. Literature data were also analysed and a check list of Moldovan dragonflies was created containing 37 species. The presence of several species (including Nehalennia speciosa) in Moldova needs confirmation.
24
In early 2007, I was invited by Dr. Michael Lau, Head of the China Programme of Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden (KFBG), to write a simple guide to the Odo nata of Hainan, China. KFBG is a Hong Kong-based conservation charity orga- nization, with strong links to tropical southern China, and is conducting a project to produce a series of basic fauna and flora field guides for Hainan Island, to be published in English and Chinese, but primarily aimed at older schoolchildren in China. I previously conducted field surveys of Hainan Odona ta with KFBG (as an employee or volunteer) in 1998, 1999 (twice), 2002 and 2005. Results of the three surveys conducted in 1998-1999 (one if which was also attended by Keith Wilson) were published by Wilson & Reels (2001). The results of the 2002 and 2005 surveys will appear as a chapter in a KFBG book about Hainan’s Yinggeling Nature Reserve, to be published in 2010. I also published a very brief, informal account of the 2005 survey in Agrion (Reels, 2006). On the basis of these past experiences, I gladly accepted the op tunity to write a field guide for KFBG.
23
Polillo is a small group of island (27 islands in total) east of central Luzon (Figure 1). It is made up of four main island viz. Polillo I, Patnanungan I, Jomalig I and Palasan I and several islets. This island group has relatively flat to gentle sloping terrain and the highest point is only 300 m asl (Mt. Maluhod) in Polillo Island (ca 700 km²) which is the largest in the group and the third largest island in greater Luzon biogeographic region.
21
The project Macedonia 2008 was initiated to obtain an overview of the current situation of the dragonfly fauna in Macedonia. Macedonia here refers to the territory of a former federal unit of the SFR Yugoslavia, and not to whole Macedonia. The records collected during this project are to become part of the data base for an Atlas of Odonata of Europe coordinated by Vincent Kalkman (European Invertebrate Survey, The Netherlands). Similar to other countries in this region, the odonate fauna of Macedonia is underresearched. So far, the largest research interest was directed towards the large lakes in Macedonia (Ohrid, Dojran and Prespa Lakes) (Filevska, 1954; Karaman, 1981; Karaman, 1984-85, Peters & Hackethal, 1986), the parts of the country under great influence of Mediterranean climate (Adamović, 1990) and the area around the capital city, Skopje (Adamović, 1949; Karaman, 1969; Peters & Hackethal, 1986). Some of the goals of Macedonia 2008 were: i) to visit places that had not been previously studied, ii) to re-visit places that have significantly changed compared to previous research and iii) to visit localities that are characteristic for this region.
20
A list of 60 Odonata species and their distribution across 109 localities on the Crimean Peninsula is provided. The study is based on a literature review and a field survey between 1999 and 2008. Erythromma lindenii and Epitheca bimaculata are here recorded for the first time from Crimea. Diagnostic morphological characters of Calopteryx splendens taurica and Orthetrum coerulecens anceps are briefly described. Discriptions of typical Crimean habitats of dragonflies are also presented. The necessity of the protection of Crimean freshwater habitats is discussed.
15
In 2007, a project named Adriatic Montenegro 2007 was initiated and realised under the protection of IDF. Stimulated by the suggestion of Vincent Kalkman from the European Invertebrate Survey, The Netherlands, distribution data for the Odonata of Adriatic Montenegro were collected and used to create distribution maps. These data and maps should then be used in the evaluation of conservation measures for individual odonate species as well as for the IUCN Red List of the Mediterranean countries (organized by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation) and the Project on an atlas of European dragonflies (a co-operation of all European countries organised by the European Invertebrate Survey, The Netherlands).
12
In July 2005, Rafal Bernard requested Oleg Kosterin to collect some samples of Nehalennia speciosa from West Siberia for a DNA analysis. Oleg replied that so far he had only seen one individual of this species 25 years ago, but asked in which habitats it should be sought for exactly. Rafal sent him a draft of his paper (Bernard & Wildermuth, 2005) devoted to this subject. Having read it, Oleg came to the conclusion that this habitat (shallow water with Sphagnum and Carex limosa or C. lasiocarpa) might occupy the largest area in the world just in the boggy West Siberian Plain. Personal consultation with the geobotanist Dr. Nikolai Lashchinskii confirmed this notion. Then an almost automatic supposition followed that this area may serve as the main reservoir of N. speciosa, considered a local and endangered species in Western and Central Europe. At the same time, the existing records of N. speciosa from West Siberia were remarkably scarce. It was known from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region (basins of the Tura and Konda Rivers), a small number of records from North Altai and adjacent areas north of it, a record from the steppe zone of Novosibirsk Province (Karasuk), a record in the basin of the Tuba River (Krasnoyarskii Krai), and a dubious old record from Omsk (see the map in Belyshev (1973) and a review in Bernard & Wildermuth (2005)). There was no record from the boggy Irtysh-Ob’ interfluve, where we would expect the species to flourish. This could be explained by the lack of attention by odonatologists to that interesting area. In these circumstances, the project of a special expedition(-s) was put forward, aimed to check the presence, pattern of distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of N. speciosa in these areas. For a decisive expedition we chose the Vasyugan Bog, the largest bog in the world, more precisely its north-eastern margin where we could find a good base in Plotnikovo village, Bakchar District, Tomsk Province.
11
Untangling some taxonomic riddles on damselfly genera (Zygoptera) from the neotropical region
(2007)
Examination of type material deposited in the IRSNB (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium) and in the BMNH (British Museum of Natural History, London, Great Britain) allowed us to solve taxonomic riddles regarding several damselfly (Zygoptera) genera from the neotropical region. We provide notes on the status of several types, and introduce the following new synonymies: Argia huallaga Fraser, 1946 = A. adamsi Calvert, 1902; Argia makoka Fraser, 1946 = A. kokama Fraser, 1946; Argia mollusca Fraser, 1946 = A. collata Selys, 1865; Argia trifoliata Fraser, 1946 = A. variegata Förster, 1914; Argia umbriaca Fraser, 1946 = A. indicatrix Calvert, 1902; Amphiagrion amphion Selys, 1876 = Ischnura verticalis (Say, 1840); a new combination: Oxyagrion cardinalis Fraser, 1946 to Leptobasis cardinalis (Fraser, 1946); and three lectotype designations (for Acanthagrion gracile race? lancea Selys, 1876, Acanthagrion trimaculatum Selys, 1876, and Leptagrion flammeum Selys, 1876).