Nesciothemis pujoli Pinhey, 1971
Western Blacktail

Type locality: Bangui, Central African Republic

Diagnosis

Male is similar to N. farinosa by (a) larger size, Hw 31-35 mm, rarely down to 29 mm; (b) labrum black, often with paler border, and tibiae all black with maturity; (c) Abd pruinose to base of S6, rarely to base of S8 in south; (d) S7-10 black, often with yellow streaks. However, differs by (1) ranging from CAR to W Africa; (2) hollow of hamule lobe shallow and wide, fitting ridge more than 3x; (3) ridge along border of lobe of hamule interrupted by gap between lobe and hook; (4) at most basal half of S4 pruinose. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing waters, rivers and streams in open landscapes. Often with emergent vegetation, probably especially pools in stream beds. From 0 to 1400 m above sea level, but mostly below 800.

Distribution

confirmed: Benin; Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Ghana; Liberia; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Sierra Leone; Togo


Male © Damian Pinguey


Abdominal segment 2 (lateral 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):


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, East Nimba Nature Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M. Darpay


Male; Sierra Leone, Eastern Province, Gola Forest © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Female; Liberia, Nimba County, Mt Tokadeh © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, Yekepa © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, Yekepa © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, Yekepa © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Old Buta Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Old Buta Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

Reference

  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-28].