Erythromma viridulum (Charpentier, 1840)
Small Red-eye

Type locality: Silesia, Poland

Diagnosis

Underside of the legs are usually pale, antehumeral stripes complete. Male has upperside S2-8 black, more narrowly so on S2-3 and S8 leaving the sides of these segments blue. The blue of the thorax and tail-end thus extends onto the sides of adjacent segments (and legs), giving a brighter but less clean-cut appearance. S9-10 largely blue, but upperside S10 marked with a black ‘X’. The abdomen is never pruinose, being glossy bronze-black. Female is best separated from E. najas by the complete antehumeral stripes. Unlike E. lindenii, female is often marked bluish, especially on the thorax sides and abdomen base and tip. In Morocco, Pseudagrion sublacteum males are also red-faced; but the ranges do not overlap. Male superior appendages incurved at tips (view from above). [Adapted from Dijkstra & Lewington 2006]

Habitat description

Standing waters, but possibly also rivers, in open landscapes. Usually with aquatic vegetation. From 0 to 1800 m above sea level.

Distribution

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.

Reference

• Charpentier, T. de (1840). Libellulinae Europaeae Descriptae et Depictae. Leopold Voss, Lipsiae, 1-180.

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-11-15].