Aeshna (Adversaeschna) brevistyla caledonica Davies, 2002

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 : 42-45

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4640.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:434B2D49-EC2C-4246-8703-42C6CFD31B87

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5518726

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03913978-FF89-FFA8-FF1A-BDD665F6F9C4

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Aeshna (Adversaeschna) brevistyla caledonica Davies, 2002
status

 

Aeshna (Adversaeschna) brevistyla caledonica Davies, 2002 View in CoL

( Fig. 39 View FIGURE 39 )

Aeshna brevistyla Rambur, 1842 View in CoL ; Aeshna lineata Tillyard, 1916 View in CoL ; Aeshna oblita Tillyard, 1916 View in CoL ; Adversaeschna brevistyla caledonica Davies, 2002: 231 .

The nomenclature of Aeshna brevistyla caledonica View in CoL requires some consideration. The species is predominantly reported in the contemporary literature under the genus Adversaeschna . This name was proposed by Watson (1992) who analysed the species’ affinities and suggested a subgeneric status within Aeshna View in CoL . The name was subsequently given a full generic status without further justification and is used to denote not only the New Caledonian populations of A. brevistyla View in CoL (probably due to Davies (2002) who used it for the first time), but also Australian ones. Given the lack of published evidence to justify the elevation of this name to genus rank, we treat Adversaeschna as a subgenus, as proposed by Watson (1992) for Aeshna brevistyla View in CoL ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ).

Distribution ( Fig. 40 View FIGURE 40 ). A New Caledonian endemic subspecies, belonging to a monotypic subgenus that occurs elsewhere in Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Islands, Raul Island in the Kermadec Archipelago, and Vanuatu ( Lieftinck 1975). The subspecies A. brevistyla caledonica is recorded from more than 20 localities in the Province Sud, with important populations in the Plaine des Lacs. One specimen collected at Anse Vata in Nouméa is in the ONNC collection.

Habitat. This species reproduces in sunlit standing waters, including swamps, ponds, lakes and sometimes still parts of streams and rivers in open areas. Typical habitats support sparse reed growth. This subspecies seems to prefer ultramafic areas.

Biology and behaviour. Its larva was described by Lieftinck (1976). According to Rowe (1987), in New Zealand, eggs are between 1.3 and 1.5 mm long and the last larval stadium often emerges at night. The larvae climb to a height of 20–30 cm where adult emergence takes place. About three and a half hours later, the dragonfly flies off. In the Plaine des Lacs, exuviae were found on reeds, on low shrubs emerging from the water or high herbaceous clumps on banks. Males are territorial and tirelessly patrol the same path above the water while waiting for the arrival of a female. After mating, females lay their eggs alone in rushes and reeds emerging from the water.

Status. Aeshna brevistyla caledonica is only known from New Caledonia where it appears restricted to the Province Sud, but with large populations. We consider this species not at risk in the short term (NT).

ONNC

Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d'Outre-Mer

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Odonata

Family

Aeshnidae

Genus

Aeshna

Loc

Aeshna (Adversaeschna) brevistyla caledonica Davies, 2002

Grand, Daniel, Marinov, Milen, Jourdan, Herve, Cook, Carl, Rouys, Sophie, Mille, Christian & Theuerkauf, Jörn 2019
2019
Loc

Aeshna brevistyla

Davies, D. A. L. 2002: 231
2002
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