Heliaeschna fuliginosa Selys, 1883
Black-banded Duskhawker

Synonyms:

  • scientific: H. lanceolata Le Roi, 1915; H. libyana (Fraser, 1928); H. raymondi Compte Sart, 1967

Type locality: Cameroon, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male differs from other Heliaeschna species by (1) great size, Hw 47-52 mm; (2) metapleural suture with broad dark band that is wider than (sometimes absent) band along humeral suture; (3) 27-36 Ax in Fw, only rarely down to 25; (4) anal triangle of 4-6 cells, only rarely just 3; (5) cerci often with ventral thickening near base; (6) epiproct short, only 25-35% length of cerci. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and mostly temporary waters shaded by forest. Usually with coarse detritus and probably often a soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 1500 m above sea level, but mostly below 700, although possibly up to 2500.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Liberia; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Uganda


Male © KD Dijkstra


Appendages (dorsal view)

Appendages (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):


Adult, male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas ; Julien, Renoult ; Joelle, Lekogo


Adult, male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas ; Julien, Renoult ; Joelle, Lekogo


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


Female; Liberia, Grand Gedeh County, Putu Iron Ore Mining concession © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Female; Liberia, Grand Gedeh County, Putu Iron Ore Mining concession © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Female; Liberia, Nimba County, Grassfield-Zotarpa Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Liberia, Nimba County, Grassfield-Zotarpa Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Sélys-Longchamps, E. de (1883). Synopsis des Aeschnines. Première partie: Classification. Bulletin de l'Académie royale des Sciences de Belgique, 35, 712-748.
  • Longfield, C. (1959). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part II. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 45, 13-42. [PDF file]
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1900). Odonaten aus Kamerun, West -Afrika.Beltrage Zur Kenntnis der insektenfauna von Kamerun.Binhang Kongliga Svenka VetenskapsAkademiens Handlingar, 25, 1-62.
  • Compte Sart, A. (1967). Boletin Real Sociedad Espanol Historia Natural, 65, 5-15. [PDF file]
  • Fraser, F.C. (1939). Heliaeschna cynthiae, a new species of dragonfly from Uganda (order Odonata). Proceedings Royal Entomological Society London, 8, 88-90. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1962). Some records of Odonata collected in tropical Africa. Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 25, 20-50. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]

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