Makabusi Sprite, Pseudagrion makabusience, Makabusigesie A-group

100 218 Pseudagrion makabusience Makabusi Sprite Male Welgevonden RSA Dec 2017

100 121 Pseudagrion makabusience Makabusi Sprite Male Welgevonden RSA Dec 2017

100 120 Pseudagrion makabusience Makabusi Sprite Male Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 1

Short Description:

Makabusi Sprite, Pseudagrion makabusience, Makabusigesie is small sized, slender, blackish, with broadish, green-grey thorax stripes and violet abdominal tip.

Also known as Green-striped Sprite

Family Coenagrionidae Kirby, 1890

More images: 

100 111 Male Ezemvelo GP RSA Jan 2016r 6Image
Gallery

100 113 Male Close up Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017Male
Close-up

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Key identification features:

Male:   100 218 Pseudagrion makabusience Makabusi Sprite Male Welgevonden RSA Dec 2017r 5

  • Face and labrum greyish blue. Anteclypeus greyish blue with indistinct blackish spots. Postclypeus and frons also greyish blue. 100 223 Pseudagrion makabusience Makabusi Sprite Male Close up Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 24
  • Head black with bronze sheen and angular violet postocular spots viewed  from above. Between the postocular spots (but not joining them) is a narrow light green line.   100 115 Male Close up Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 7
  • Eyes dark brown above, lime green below. Neck black with metallic green sheen and green spots.   100 221 Pseudagrion makabusience Makabusi Sprite Male Close up Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 16
  • Thorax blackish with green bronze sheen, distinct narrow light green shoulder stripes, sides black and pale green but covered with whitish pruinescence below.
  • Wings clear.
  • Pterostigmas dark brown to black.
  • Abdomen slender, black with green metallic sheen, pale green below, fine pale ring present at joint of segments 1 and 2. Last quarter of segment 7 and all of s 8 - 9 dull violet. Segment 10 black, slightly pruinescent.   100 225 Male Close up Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 33

Female:

  • Similar markings, pale brown, dark brown and black, with slightly greenish postocular spots.
Distribution and habitat:
  • Grassy margins of sluggish reaches of rivers and streams with floating detritus or grass. in open landscapes, but sometimes shaded by gallery forest
  • From 900 to 1700 m above sea level, but mostly between 1100 and 1500, although possibly down to 100.
Behaviour:
  • Perches on sheltered grass stems lowdown over water.
Compared with other species:
 Distribution

Distribution Map July 2020Distribution Map
South Africa

Physical Map South Africa Physical Map
South Africa

Political Map South africa Political Map
South Africa

Pseudagrion makabusiense Makabus Sprite Distribution Map Africa Nov 20211Distribution Map
Africa

Physical Map AfricaPhysical Map
Africa

Political Map AfricaPolitical Map
Africa

 

 

South Africa:

  • Localised in LP but now recorded on the border of central GP and MP.

Africa:

  • Angola; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Mozambique; Republic of South Africa; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Further reading:

Websites of interest