Isosticta spinipes Selys-Longchamps, 1885

Grand, Daniel, Marinov, Milen, Jourdan, Herve, Cook, Carl, Rouys, Sophie, Mille, Christian & Theuerkauf, Jörn, 2019, Distribution, habitats, phenology and conservation of New Caledonian Odonata, Zootaxa 4640 (1), pp. 1-112 : 35-38

Isosticta spinipes Selys-Longchamps, 1885

( Fig. 31 )

Isosticta spinipes Selys-Longchamps, 1885: 7 .

Distribution ( Fig. 32 ). Endemic to New Caledonia. According to Davies (2002), this species is widely distributed on Grande Terre with more than 15 sites recorded. There are spread in three sectors: on mountains in the east of Nouméa, at Col d’Amieu and in the north at the foot of the Mont Panié range. Strangely, the type locality of the male holotype is Lifou Island. One specimen collected at Col d’Amieu in November 1998 is held in the CXMNC collection.

Habitat. Small creeks in hill forest, but can also be present at lower altitudes. This species seems to tolerate ultramafic soils in the south of Grande Terre.

Biology and behaviour. Its larva was described by Lieftinck (1976). Adults are always found on stream banks, usually as single individuals. The biology of this species needs further study.

Status. This species is less abundant, often and easily overlooked within larger populations of other Isosticta species. The species is probably more common than observed in the three sectors of its main occurrence. As a precaution, we rank I. spinipes as VU.

Figures

FIGURE 31. Isosticta spinipes, male (M. Marinov).

FIGURE 32. Records of Isosticta spinipes.