Umma gumma Dijkstra, Mézière & Kipping, 2015
Robust Sparklewing

Type locality: Moyol, Gabon

Diagnosis

Male is similar to sympatric sister-species U. longistigma (see for separation from U. mesostigma and its suspected synonym U. saphirina) by the combination of (a) a uniformly green to blue metallic head, thorax and abdomen, but dark brown to black legs and poststernum; (b) the largely pale rather than dark mandibular bases; (c) the sparse whitish hairs on the poststernum, rather than adense patch of long dark hairs; (d) 6-10 cross-veins in the Fw quadrilateral cell; (e) the large Pt with an acute proximal corner, 2.7-3.2 mm; (f) the absence of a clump of thick bristles near the tips of the cerci; and (g) paraprocts that are almost as long as the cerci. However, is (1) larger with Hw 31.5-35.0 mm (mean 33.6; n = 15) rather than 30.0-33.0 mm (31.9; n = 20), with notably more robust build; (2) has a largely pale anterior face to each basal antennal segment, which is entirely dark in most U. longistigma specimens, although about a third have indistinct or partial markings; (3) no expansion on the bend of the penis’s lateral lobes, but their tips are more widened instead; (4) wide-based cerci that do not expand notably distally and end in unmodified rounded or squarish tips, while in U. longistigma the internal flanges widen notably towards the tips, which bear a transverse ridge and hollow, with often a subapical notch or tooth where the flange and ridge meet; and (5) paraprocts that are broad throughout with square-cut tips bearing an inward-directed tooth, rather than slender and tapering to rounded hooked tips. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Streams in forest clearings, favouring less shady sections than sister-species U. longistigma. Probably mostly with a sandy bottom and possibly submerged roots and/or coarse detritus. From 0 to 700 m above sea level.

Distribution

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.

Reference

• Dijkstra, K.-D.B., Mézière, N., and Kipping, J. (2015). Sixty new dragonfly and damselfly species from Africa (Odonata). Odonatologica, 44, 447-678. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-10-31].