Hemicordulia

Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., 2007, Gone with the wind: westward dispersal across the Indian Ocean and island speciation in Hemicordulia dragonflies (Odonata: Corduliidae), Zootaxa 1438, pp. 27-48 : 31

Key to Afrotropical Hemicordulia species

1 Fw usually with 8 Ax and 7 Px. Vulvar scale covering less than one third of sternite S9, not reaching paired processes on sternite ( Figs 13–14 ). Ψ occiput only with long pale hairs. Distal third of ď cerci almost parallel-sided, tips abrubtly rounded ( Figs 3–4, 8–9 ). Hw 32–38 mm in ď, 35–39 in Ψ. Mascarene Islands ......................................................................................................................................................... 2

- Fw usually with 7 Ax and 5 Px. Vulvar scale covering over one third of sternite S9, extending over bases of paired processes ( Figs 16–17 ). Ψ occiput with cluster of short thick brown bristles on each side, in addition to long pale hairs. Distal third of ď cerci tapering to a blunt point ( Figs 5–6, 10–11 ). Hw 27–32 mm in ď, 28–33 in Ψ. Africa, Madagascar and Seychelles.................................................................................... 3

2 Yellow anterior to metallic area on frons not visible in dorsal view (perhaps marginally in Ψ). Fore femora predominantly black. Synthorax predominantly metallic green. S6–8 entirely dark. Réunion..................... ............................................................................................................................................. atrovirens n. sp.

- Yellow anterior to metallic area on frons visible in dorsal view. Fore femora predominantly yellow. Synthorax predominantly yellow. S6–8 dark with yellow lateral spots. Mauritius.................................... virens

3 Yellow anterior to metallic area on frons not visible in dorsal view (perhaps marginally in Ψ). Labrum with two dark blotches at base. Ψ Hw at most yellow to Cux and Ax1, yellow almost absent in Fw. Madagascar and Seychelles.......................................................................................................................... similis

- Yellow anterior to metallic area on frons visible in dorsal view. Labrum all yellow. Ψ Fw and Hw at least yellow to arculus. Continental Africa ..................................................................................... africana n. sp.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 17. Vulvar scale and S 9 of Hemicordulia species in ventral view. (12) H. asiatica; (13) H. virens; (14) H. atrovirens n. sp.; (15) aberrant H. similis (cf. Fraser 1949); (16) typical H. similis; (17) H. africana n. sp.

FIGURES 2 – 11. 2 – 6, Male appendages of Hemicordulia species in dorsal view. (2) H. asiatica; (3) H. virens; (4) H. atrovirens n. sp.; (5) H. similis; (6) H. africana n. sp.; 7 – 11, Male appendages of Hemicordulia species in lateral view. (7) H. asiatica; (8) H. virens; (9) H. atrovirens n. sp.; (10) H. similis; (11) H. africana n. sp.