Paragomphus genei
Paragomphus genei (Selys, 1841)
Local names: Common hooktail, Grüne Sandjungfer, Groene haaklibel, Gomphe de Géné
Species Information
Description
This species is small but unmistakable for its colouration and shape. It has a green thorax with two brown bands on the sides, and the abdomen is beige to brick red with black markings. The eyes are brown on top and grey light blue underneath. The wings have costa and subcosta yellowish, the other veins are blackish. The pterostigma is beige in the middle with black edges. In the males, the abdomen is slender with conspicuous flaps on S8-S10, expanded laterally and ventrally. The upper appendages are very long, light in colour and form a hook facing downwards whereas the lower appendage is half as long, is blackish and turns upwards.
The females have a colouration similar to that of the males but their abdomen is substantially cylindrical, the last three segments not being expanded.
Size and colouration are similar to Onychogomphus costae but unlike that species P. genei has a pale green face and thorax with indistinct dark markings, a sandy to straw-coloured abdomen, mottled with brown and black, giving a somewhat indistinct pattern. O. costae has virtually no black markings and the males lack the flaps on S8-S9 that P. genei carries.
Size
Habitat
The species inhabits a very wide range of habitats, and is found throughout its range in both standing and running waters. These include perennial streams and rivers, intermittent streams, backwaters of permanent rivers, cattle ponds, pools, large lakes and man-made reservoirs. Standing waters where the species breeds often have bare shores of sand or gravel with sparse aquatic and fringing vegetation, but on rivers P. genei can also be found at places with well-vegetated banks. In Europe, this species is mainly restricted to lowlands and is not found over 500 m.
Distribution
Paragomphus genei is the most common species of Gomphidae in Africa, occurring throughout a large part of the continent. In Europe it has a limited range and is known only from the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. It is presently rather common in Sardinia and the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula, but remains rare in Corsica. The last Sicilian records dates from 1978.
Flight Period
April to October
Behavior
Often perches with the abdomen raised in obelisk position.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Onychogomphus costae
External Links
Genus: Epallage
Paragomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as Hooktails.
Identification
These are rather small gomphids. The males have broad flaps on S8-9 and diagnostic appendages. The upper appendages are long, parallel and bent downwards, like hooks. The lower appendages are at most half of the uppers length. Paragomphus has no anal loop in the hindwing: there is a straight perpendicular vein running directly to the wing's hind margin from the last thick lengthwise vein in the wing base.
Separation from other genera
Lindenia tetraphylla is the only other species with broad flaps, but these are on S7-8 and the species is larger, about 70-80mm long. Small and pale Onychogomphus species differ in details of markings and their males lack broad flaps and have different appendages.
Separation of the species
Numerous species occur in tropical Africa and Asia, but only two reach the Mediterranean. These differ in coloration.
Behaviour
Often perches with abdomen raised in obelisk position.
Family: Gomphidae
The Gomphidae are a family of dragonflies commonly referred to as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies. The family contains about 90 genera and 900 species found across Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australia. The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen (S7-S9). However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.
Characteristics
Clubtails have small, widely separated compound eyes, a trait they share with the Petaluridae and with damselflies. The eyes are blue, turquoise, or green. The thorax in most species is pale with dark stripes, and the pattern of the stripes is often diagnostic. They lack the bright metallic colors of many dragonfly groups and are mostly cryptically colored to avoid detection and little difference between the sexes is seen. Adults are usually from 40 to 70 mm in length.
Clubtails are fast-flying dragonflies with short flight seasons. They spend much time at rest, perching in a suitable position to dart forth to prey on flying insects. They tend to perch on the ground or on leaves with the abdomen sloping up and its tip curling down a little. Larger species may perch with a drooping abdomen or lie flat on a leaf. Another stance adopted by clubtails perching in the open is obelisking, standing with the abdomen raised vertically, a posture adopted otherwise only by the skimmers.
Most clubtails breed in streams, rivers, or lakes. The nymphs are unusual in having a flat mentum, part of the mouthparts, and their antennae have only four segments. They burrow in the sediment at the bottom of the water body.