Citrils

Family Coenagrionidae Kirby, 1890

• Genus Ceriagrion Selys, 1876

Worldwide

• Genus occurs from Africa, through Eurasia, to Australia with about 50 species,
• Nineteen are Afrotropical,
• One (C. tenellum) Western Palearctic and most others Oriental, where known as waxtails

Africa

• Nineteen are Afrotropical,

Southern Africa

• Common Citril, Cerasgrion glabrum.
• Suave Citril, Ceragrion suave.

General:

• There are 50 species worldwide with 20 in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Two species present in Southern African region.
• Suave Citril only be found in Northern KZN, Mpumalanga Lowveld. Recently located in the Limpopo valley near Musina.

Habitat

• All species favour marshy, mostly stagnant, habitats.

General Identification:

• Small to medium-sized (hindwing 14-24 mm)
• Complete abdomen is orange to red (Diagnostic)
• Identification must confirmed by the transverse ridge between the antennae.
• Identify by close inspection on the upper and lower claspers and protrusions on s10.
• Females are more olive green to fawn but become more orange with age, but is best identified by association with males.

Synopsis

Where available only males are shown
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