Zambezi Siphontail (Neurogomphus zambeziensis)

Zambezi Siphontail, Neurogomphus zambeziensis, Zambezihewelstert

Female.

Female

Short description:

Zambezi Siphontail, Neurogomphus zambeziensis Zambezihewelstert is fairly large sized, green and dark brown striped, with slightly smoky wings, wide but short pterostigmas, distinctly clubbed abdominal tip with foliations on segment 8.

Family Gomphidae (Rambur, 1842)

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Female

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Key identification features:

Male:

Face is brownish below, greenish above. Head above black, but occiput mostly green.
Eyes light bluish turquoise, slightly speckled, lending to light brown behind and below
Thorax yellowish green (stripes) with narrow black stripe. Distinctly marked dorsal thorax pattern with rear facing "U" shape with triangular antihumeral stripes. Well defined yellow markings between wing roots May darken from brownish to darkish black with age May also darken in some warm areas
Wings slightly smoky. Pterostigmas short (3 mm), wide, dark brown. 11-17 Ax in fore wing.
Abdomen mostly dark brown with narrow yellow rings with arrow marked extensions pointing towards the hind margin. S4-6 usually with broad pale basal rings and/or pale dorsal stripes (s 7 may be without ring marking) widest on segment 8. Broad Yellow band on S8 Diagnostic.Segment 8 with small foliations with finely toothed margins. Segment 9 also with narrow foliations. S 10 constricted in first half, wider in second half. S10 slightly shorter than S9. S 1 and 2 spearhead mark dorsally.
Hamules of secondary genitalia long and spike-like, pointing down and forwards.

Female:

Similar to male
Face is brownish below, greenish above. Head above black, but occiput mostly green.
Eyes light bluish turquoise, slightly speckled, lending to light brown behind and below
Thorax yellowish green (stripes) with narrow black stripe. Distinctly marked dorsal thorax pattern with rear facing "U" shape with triangular antihumeral stripes. Well defined yellow markings between wing roots
Wings slightly smoky. Pterostigmas short (3 mm), wide, dark brown.
Abdomen mostly dark brown with narrow yellow rings with arrow marked extensions pointing towards the hind margin, (S 7 may be without ring marking) widest on segment 8. Segment 8 with small foliations with finely toothed margins. Segment 9 also with foliations. S 10 constricted in first half, wider in second half. S 1 and 2 spearhead mark dorsally.

Habitat:

Prefers rivers, and possibly flowing channels in marshes, shaded by gallery forest, but possibly also in open landscapes. Probably often with a soft (like muddy) bottom.
From 0 to 1000 m above sea level.

Behaviour:

Solitary species. It hangs from tall grass and low bushes, often many metres away from meandering rivers. It has a low, weak, fluttering flight, frequently settling to hang from vegetation.