Masai Sprite, Pseudagrion massaicum, Masaigesie. (B Group)

102 008 Male Klein Kariba 2016 09 26

102 012 Female Rust de Winter 2016 07 02

102 013 Ring Klein Kariba 016 09 26

Short Description:

Masai Sprite, Pseudagrion massaicum, Masaigesie. (B Group) is a small sized, red headed damselfly with red thorax and coral red eyes. It has large reddish-brown dumbbell-shaped postocular spots and orange on the side of the thorax. The abdominal tip is bright blue.

Family Coenagrionidae Kirby, 1890

More Images 

100 047 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Roodeplaat DAM GT RSA May 2015r 2Image
Gallery

100 032 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 5Male
Close-up

100 025 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Female Parys RSA Dec 2016r 12Female Young
Close-up

100 041 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Dunking Rust de Winter June 2016 r 6968Female
under water

 

 

 

 

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Key identification features:

Male

  • Deep orange face and orange labrum.100 040 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 12
  • Top of the head is a black transverse band. It has large bright reddish-brown dumbbell-shaped postocular spots linked by a reddish brown bar100 038 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 15
  • Eyes are orange red to coral red in front with some black behind.100 037 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 11100 038 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 15
  • Synthorax is mostly deep orange-red. Middorsal stripe of the synthorax is black with broad orange-red antihumeral stripes. Black humeral stripe has with little notch near the wing base. Sides of the synthorax are orange or orange-brown, darkening to deep brown with age. 100 037 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 11Thorax below is buff (young) or heavily pruinescent (old) Between bases of the wing is light blue pruinescent.
  • Wings are clear and the pterostigmas are purplish brown.
  • Dorsal side of abdomen is mostly black, below it is green, with incomplete yellowish green rings at the start of each segment. 100 033 Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Male Parys RSA Dec 2016r 10There is a black Y- pattern on S2. The discontinuous black dorsal line of segment 3 - S7 forms torpedo-markings on top of the abdomen. S8 and S9 are sky blue with small black dorsal marking and the end of each segment. S10 is black above and blue below.

Female

  • Buff to light greenish brown with same markings on thorax as male.
  • Lower part of eye is buff with double darker brown stripes on the upper half of the eye.
  • Abdomen is buff below with black markings on top. Black rings between segments S8 and S9. Blue marking on top of S9 and S10.
Compared with other species:
  • Pseudagrion massaicum is bright orange and the only one of the red heads with bright orange or brown sides of the thorax.
  • Pseudagrion massaicum has large bright reddish brown dumbbell-shaped postocular spots linked by a reddish brown bar.
  • Postocular spots of the Pseudagrion acacia are green, Pseudagrion sjoestedti and Pseudagrion vaalense are smaller and light-orange, Pseudagrion sublacteum are yellowish brown
  • Pseudagrion massaicum has all blue S8 and S9 with small black dorsal marking and the end of each segment.
Habitat:

Frequents standing and probably often temporary waters, as well as rivers, streams and possibly large lakes, in open landscapes.
Often with emergent and aquatic vegetation, in streams probably especially at pools.
From 0 to 2000 m above sea level, but mostly below 1700

Behaviour:
  • Perch horizontally, close to the water. on plant stems and floating vegetation. Sometimes skimming across the water surface from one lily or grass stem to the next.
Distribution

Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Distribution Map July 2020

Pseudagrion massaicum Masai Sprite Distribution Map Jan 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

  • In southern Africa, this species is widespread in South Africa. Africa  north to Somalia, and west to Ghana. 

Africa

  • Angola; Botswana; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ethiopia; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Republic of South Africa; Rwanda; South Sudan; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe 
Further reading:

Websites of Interest