Prodasineura verticalis humeralis (Selys, 1860)

Found in Asia: China, Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia
 
Sub-Order: ZYGOPTERA Super-Family: COENAGRIONOIDEA Family: PROTONEURIDAE

A teneral (newly emerged) female Prodasineura verticalis humeralis still in pale color.

A closer look at a teneral (newly emerged) female Prodasineura verticalis humeralis. When teneral the grayish-black color is completely different with the bright orange-striped color. I thought it was a new species.


But the thorax unchanged pattern, especially a dark spot at the wing base, gave us the identification.

A female Prodasineura verticalis humeralis.


Widely encountered in Sabah . Prodasineura verticalis humeralis is found in a wide range of lowland forest streams in mixed forest. It often perches on riverside vegetation.

 

Female has similar marking with the male but in female is more paler and yellowish.
 

Prodasineura verticalis is superficially like an E. analis. The two species are sometimes found flying together,
 

Ovipositor (segment 8, 9 and 10) of the above young female Prodasineura verticalis humeralis.
Female Prodasineura verticalis humeralis usually oviposit alone in root masses in the riverbanks.
 


A male Prodasineura verticalis humeralis.
Small and slender build. The abdomen is 1.5 times the length of the hind wing.
The pterostigma is diamond-shaped and not long.
Male Prodasineura verticalis humeralis (Selys, 1860)
Thorex is marked in red/orange and can be easily confused with Prodasineura humeralis.
Segment 2 a male Prodasineura verticalis humeralis (Selys, 1860).
 

Male anal appendages are robust and squat as long as the last abdominal segment (segment 10)

Above Prodasineura verticalis humeralis is found beside a slow flowing mountain stream of a secondary forested area in Sabah on 10 June 2007

Of the Family Prodasineura, Prodasineura verticalis humeralis is one of the most widely encountered  . Similar marking occurs in the female but is paler . It is found in a wide range of lowland forest but is most common on small to medium-sized streams in mixed dipterocarp forest. It often perches on riverside vegetation, but when on the wing it can be extremely inconspicuous.

Females generally oviposit alone, typically in root masses in the riverbanks . 

Damselflies have a pair of inferior appendages and a pair superior appendages, i.e.., totally four appendages. Dragonflies have a pair of superior appendages and a single inferior one, totally three.

In damselflies the male clasp the prothorax of the female. In dragonflies the male clasp the female back of the head. Those appendages will only fit into the same species female. 

INDEX : Damselfly     September 18, 2007 02:53:52 PM