African Darters

Family Libellulidae      (Leach, 1815_

• Genus Trithetrum Dijkstra & Pilgrim, 2007

Africa

This genus was recently described by Dijkstra & Pilgrim, 2007

• Trithetrum congoense
• Trithetrum navasi

Habitat

• T. navasi is widespread and locally common along sunned grassy verges of rivers, ponds and lakes; T. congoense occurs with it from central DR Congo to south-eastern Gabon, favouring similar but smaller water bodies like small rivers, streams and pools.

General information:

• Male size,Hind wing 23-35 mm all wings with 0 cell-doublings in radial planate [0-2]
• Pterostigmas never black-and-white and wings at most with dark tips or bases or with overall yellowish infusion
• Front wing supratriangles without cross-veins.  Front wing triangle of 2-3 cells, subtriangle of 3-6 cells. Discoidal field of 3-4 rows at base. 6½-8½ Ax in front wing. arculus between Ax1-2, usually closest to Ax1. If Abd ventrally red or orange, then dorsum similarly coloured.
• Body parts uniform: thorax unmarked; frons without band.
• Mid and hind femur all black.
• Abdomen S1-10 unmarked.
• Wing venation blackish. Front wing discoidal field 5-8 cells wide on wing border.

Synopsis

• Only males are shown
• To view females follow the menu links to the species description page

Distribution

 Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014