Yellowwings

The common name for the genus is Yellowwings. In the South Africa the species Allocnemis leucosticta is known as Goldtails

Family Platycnemididae Yakobson & Bianchi, 1905 Stream Damsels

• Genus Allocnemis Selys, 1863  Yellowwings

Africa

• Eighteen species are all endemic to Africa

Southern Africa

• One species endemic to South Africa.

General:

• Males are sleek, fairly large (hindwing 20-28 mm) and largely black damselflies with yellow to deep amber wings and bright accents of colour (mainly pale blue or orange), e.g. on abdomen tip.
• Moving spots of colour often first draw attention in the gloom of their habitat, small streams and springs in deep forest shade.

Habitat

• All species favour marshy, mostly stagnant, habitats.

General Identification:

• Males are sleek, fairly large (hindwing 20-28 mm) and largely black damselflies with yellow to deep amber wings and bright accents of colour (mainly pale blue or orange), e.g. on abdomen tip.
• Moving spots of colour often first draw attention in the gloom of their habitat, small streams and springs in deep forest shade.

Synopsis

• Where available only males are shown
• A click on the species name will link to the main species description article and image gallery

Click on all images to enlarge.

Distribution

• The genus is most diverse in the rain forests of western and central Africa.