Porpax asperipes Karsch, 1896
Powdered Pricklyleg

Type locality: Cameroon, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male is similar to widely co-occuring P. garambensis by (a) all black labrum; (b) pale band across frons often broken by black in median groove; (c) interpleural stripe at least as wide as pale stripes bordering it; (d) costa and subcostal Ax black; (e) anterior side of hind femur and trochanter densely hairy, hairs about as long femur is wide; (f) Abd (partly) pruinose with maturity; (g) if not covered by pruinosity, S3-9 black dorsally, S6 with pale ring. However, differs by (1) larger size, Hw 23-29 mm; (2) occipital triangle more than half black; (3) venter of thorax with extensive pale areas enclosed by black; (4) postdorsal stripes parallel, black between them at least as wide as stripes; (5) spiracular dorsum with large central pale spot; (6) 10½-12½ Ax in Fw; (7) usually 2-3 Cux in Hw, only rarely just 1; (7) lobe of hamule rounded rather than pointed; (8) entire Abd pruinose with maturity. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters, seeps and springs in open areas in forest, but sometimes also shaded. Usually with coarse detritus, often emergent vegetation, and probably blackwater and a soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 1400 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Nigeria; Zambia


Male © Jens Kipping


Leg

Abdominal segments 1-4

Abdominal segment 6 (lateral view)

Thorax (lateral view)

Map citation: Clausnitzer, V., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Koch, J.-P. Boudot, W.R.T. Darwall, J. Kipping, B. Samraoui, M.J. Samways, J.P. Simaika & F. Suhling, 2012. Focus on African Freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134.


Barcode specimen(s):


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, Lower Lomami © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, new campus site and environs © Clausnitzer, V. & Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, female; Angola, Uige Province, new campus site and environs © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas, JENS KIPPING, HANNES KRAHNSTOEVER

References

  • Karsch, F. (1896). Zwei neue von Herrn G. Zenker in Kamerun erbeutete Odonaten. Entomologische Nachrichten, 22, 17-22. [PDF file]
  • Ris, F. (1921). The Odonata or Dragonflies of South Africa. Annals South African Museum, XVIII, 245-452. [PDF file]
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1917). Odonaten aus Abessinien, Ost- und Westafrika. Arkiv Zoologi, 11, 1-27.
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 14, 1-97. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • Dijkstra, K.-D.B. (2006). Taxonomy and biogeography of Porpax, a dragonfly genus centred in the Congo Basin (Odonata, Libellulidae) Tijdschrift Entomologie, 149, 71-88. [PDF file]
  • D' Andrea, M., and Carfi, S. (1997). Nuove raccolte di odonati del Camerun con note su Agriocnemis maclachlani Selys, 1877 edescrizione di Agriocnemis dissimilis sp. nov. e Trithemis osvaldae sp. nov. Atti Societa italiana Scienze naturali, 136, 157-190. [PDF file]
  • Aguesse, P. (1966). Contribution à la faune de Congo (Brazzaville) Mission A. Villiers et A. Descarpentries XXI. Odonates. Bulletin de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique, 28, 783-797. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-28].