Scissortails   

Family Gomphidae Rambur, 1842

• Genus Microgomphus Selys, 1858

Worldwide

• About ten species are confined to forested streams in tropical Asia

Africa

• Three or more small (hindwing 21-25 mm) and dark species in Africa.

South Africa

• One species photographed for the first time in April 2019 Exuva fond in several locations

General information:

• They are extremely elusive: larvae, exuviae and even adult females are easier to find than males. For example, the only record of the genus from South Africa was first photographed on the Blyderiver at Swadini, LP and of  larval skins (identified or unidentified) near the northern border of Eswatini and on rivers in the Krugerpark Nature Park , while larvae collected in Sierra Leone suggest three species occur together in western Africa, while only two are named.
• Because there are few collected specimens and these all seem very similar, only differing subtly in male appendages, the species’ taxonomy is unresolved.
• The genus itself, however, is easily identified by its size, distinctive venation, and simple markings.

Identification guide

• Click HERE for a list of southern African Clubtails by image
• Click HERE for an identification guide for Clubtails based on images of the thorax

Synopsis

• Only males are shown To view females follow the links to the species main page
• Click on all images to enlarge.
• To View females follow the menu links to the main species description article and image gallery.  

Species:

Credit to Klaas-Douwe Dijkstra for the descriptions

Distributions