Synthemis fenella Campion, 1921

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 : 63-65

Synthemis fenella Campion, 1921

( Fig. 64 )

Synthemis fenella Campion, 1921: 61 .

Distribution (Fig. 65). Endemic to Grande Terre. With almost 60 known localities, it is widespread along the main mountain range, but also in the lowlands. Its populations are often large. A specimen collected on 3 rd May 1979 in the Thy forest is held in the ONNC collection.

Habitat. Fast-flowing forest creeks and streams.

Biology and behaviour. This species is easy to distinguish and its presence is often revealed by the exuviae clinging to banks of streams. Larvae emerge before noon and hang from tussocks, tree trunks, rock walls or large pebbles at a height of 0.1 m. In the early morning, males are the first Synthemis to fly over the water, sometimes before 0800 h. They are inconspicuous and suspicious of larger species. They arrive suddenly over calm pools ranging in surface area from a few dm² to 1–2 m ². They fly swiftly, darting hither and thither 15–25 cm above the water surface. In some places, they hover 2–3 seconds, to inspect hidden places, where a female may lay eggs. If another male approaches, a brief chase toward the canopy follows, and only one of them will return. Before visiting oviposition sites, females wait for males to leave. Having found a suitable puddle, they first inspect it flying just above (10–15 cm), then they begin a quick, agitated flight. With the tip of their abdomen, they touch the water surface several times to release their eggs. Oviposition may be disturbed by a male or by an assault by another Synthemis species. If the female has not seen a male approaching, the male will hold the female immediately (one observation) and the couple rises slowly to disappear into the canopy. Mating probably takes place on (or attached to) a twig. This species disappears early in the afternoon, when there are too many males of other Synthemis species. The larva was described by Lieftinck (1976).

Status. Widespread and abundant. We rank S. fenella as LC.

Status. Only five S. flexicauda males were observed on a tributary of the Dumbéa River, but the bushfire that damaged the site in 2009 does not seem to have severely affected the local population of this species. Pending a better understanding of its distribution, we rank the species CR.

Figures

FIGURE 64. Synthemis fenella: a) male, b) female.