Agriocnemis forcipata Le Roi, 1915
Greater Pincer-tailed Wisp

Type locality: Bahr-el-Ghazal, Sudan

Diagnosis

Male is similar to A. victoria by (a) underside of head black, save pale border along eyes; (b) metapleural suture with thick black stripe; (c) cerci long, curved towards each other like forceps; (d) paraprocts much shorter than cerci. However, differs by (1) larger size, Hw 11.5-14 mm; (2) anterior hamule with large anterior point, which is about 1/3 of hamule’s length, and dense clump of thick bristles on its base (near S1); (3) lateral green on S7 extends onto dorsum medially, narrowing dorsal black line, although S7 is all red in immatures and may blacken completely with age; (4) cerci strongly curved, denticles on inner border rather evenly placed. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters, mostly in open areas in forest. Usually with emergent and often aquatic vegetation. From 0 to 1200 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gabon; South Sudan


Male (young) © Jens Kipping


Appendages (dorsal view)

Secondary genitalia (ventral 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.


References

  • le Roi, O. (1915). Odonaten aus Äquatorial-Afrika. Die zweite deutsche Zentral Afrika Expedition, 319-360,
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1917). Odonaten aus Abessinien, Ost- und Westafrika. Arkiv Zoologi, 11, 1-27.
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1974). A revision of the African Agriocnemis Selys and Mortonagrion Fraser (Odonata Coenagrionidae). Occasional Papers National Museums Rhodesia B Natural Science, 5, 171-278. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 1-97. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1962). New or little-known dragonflies (Odonata) of Central and Southern Africa. Occasional Papers National Museum Southern Rhodesia, 26, 892-911. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1967). Odonata Zygoptera. Exploration Hydrobiologique Bassin Lac Bangweolo Luapula, 14, 1-43. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]
  • Schmidt, E. (1951). Libellen aus Portugiesisch Guinea, mit Bemerkungen über andere aethiopische Odonaten. Arquivos Museu Bocage, 20, 125-200. [PDF file]

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