Spined Fairytail, Lestinogomphus angustus, Towerfee
Short description:
Spined Fairytail, Lestinogomphus angustus, Towerfee medium sized, with a very slender yellowish green to green, and blackish ringed abdomen, bulging at the end and without foliations. The wings are narrow, almost damselfly-like. The thorax is light green and with blackish stripes
Note: The scientific name is derived from the Damselfly, (Zygoptera) family, Lestidae due to the shape of the wings recalling that of a damselfly.
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Male
Female
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Key identification features:
Male:
- Face is light green with transverse brown line.
- Eyes are light turquoise green above with light green below.
- Thorax is light green and spotted with fine, blackish stripes.
- Wings are narrow, almost damselfly-like, with dark brown pterostigmas.
- Abdomen is long and narrow with yellowish green to green and black rings. Insignificant club with slightly enlarged S 7-10 and
no foliations S 10 is as long as S 8-9 together. S 9-10 is reddish brown to black. Appendages very short and complex
with a
short dorsal spine
midway on the inferior appendages
Female:
- Similar to male
- Markings on thorax less intense, also with long segment 10.
Habitat:
- Prefers dense bush or forest adjacent to rivers in warm coastal KZNP, LP savanna, and MP and LP lowveld.
Behaviour:
- Mostly perches under bushes or trees, resting horizontally along grass or stems. Sometimes uses S10 as a monopod to rest the long abdomen on.
Compared with other species:
- This small Gomphid is unmistakable in SA. Besides its slender build, narrow wings, general greenish appearance, it has an unmistakable long abdominal S10 with yet very short appendage.
- The vernacular name describes the inferior appendages which have a dorsal spine midway.
Distribution:
South Africa:
- Uncommon in the northeast and eastern lowveld areas of South Africa but more records are becoming available. Some records from the northern areas that may be seen as a range extension or as insufficient records to form a clear idea if the actual range in South Africa.
Africa:
- Botswana; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Republic of South Africa; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe; NOT confirmed: Angola; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Mali; Somalia; Swaziland
Further reading:
Websites
A Visual Guide to the Damselflies and Dragonflies of South Africa
African Dragonflies & Damselflies Online
Odonata Atlas of Africa Number 664880
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Least Concern