Anax papuensis ( Burmeister, 1839 )

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 : 48-49

Anax papuensis ( Burmeister, 1839)

( Fig. 46 )

Aeschna papuensis Burmeister, 1839: 841 ; Anax congener Rambur, 1842 ; Hemianax papuensis ( Burmeister, 1839) .

Systematics. This species was formerly placed in the genus Hemianax Selys, 1883 but various recent authors have treated this as a synonym of Anax Leach, 1815 ( Heidemann & Seidenbusch 2002; Dijkstra & Lewington 2007; Boudot et al. 2009; Kalkman et al. 2010c; Lopau 2010). We follow Orr & Kalkman (2015) in placing A. papuensis in the genus Anax .

Distribution ( Fig. 47 ). This Australasian species extends to eastern Indonesia ( Tsuda 2000) and, during migrations, it reaches the islands of Sumba, Coco-Keelings, Lord Howe and Raoul ( Rowe 1987). In New Caledonia, only one specimen has been caught in Nouméa, on 20 th November 1955 (Winstanley 1983). We did not observe this species, but Davies (2002) reports A. papuensis as “frequently seen in all parts of New Caledonia in season” but he did not specify any locality. Only Winstanley (1983) indicates the collection of two males of A. papuensis on 20 th February 1955 by J. Rageau in Nouméa.

Habitat. Anax papuensis frequents standing waters and, occasionally, quiet sectors of springs ( Theischinger & Hawking 2006).

Biology and behaviour. This migratory species was studied by Rowe (1987) whose observations we summarize. Eggs are laid in plants and measure from 1.5 to 1.7 mm long and develop within 16 days at a temperature of 21–24°C. Depending on temperature, the larval cycle takes between 100 to 250 days in Australia (probably similar in New Caledonia), whereas in New Zealand, it may last two years. In laboratory conditions, emergence starts early in the morning and takes two and a half hours. The larvae are between 40 and 45 mm long. Males patrol a territory of about 50 to 60 m of riverbank waiting for females to appear. Approaching water, the female is quickly seized by the closest male, and then the couple lands on nearby vegetation. Eggs are laid mainly in tandem and occasionally females may oviposit alone ( Rowe 1987). The female inserts her eggs into floating or emergent vegetation. The larva was described by Hawking (1986) and its habitus is shown by Rowe (1987).

Status. As it has been only recorded once with certainty and this species appears to be migratory, we considered it to be DD.

Figures

FIGURE 46. Anax papuensis, male, New Zealand (M. Ashby).

FIGURE 47. Records of Anax papuensis.