Zosteraeschna minuscula, the friendly hawker is a species of dragonfly in family Aeshnidae. It is found in South Africa and Namibia.[1] Its natural habitats include ponds and still pools in montane streams.[2]
| Zosteraeschna minuscula | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Aeshnidae |
| Genus: | Zosteraeschna |
| Species: | Z. minuscula
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| Binomial name | |
| Zosteraeschna minuscula (MacLachlan, 1896)
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| Synonyms | |
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Aeshna dolobrata; Aeshna minuscula | |
This is a fairly large species; 59–62 mm long with a wingspan of 76–83 mm. The thorax is brown with green stripes, and the abdomen is brown and blue. The eyes are green. It is similar to Pinheyschna subpupillata and Zosteraeschna usambarica, but has an anchor- or T-shaped mark on the frons. Males have a blue saddle on the abdomen near the thorax, and females and tenerals have an amber wash on the wings.[2]
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Male -
Male in flight -
Female -
Female -
Teneral female -
Female ovipositing -
Female ovipositing
References
edit- ^ a b Suhling, F. (2010). "Zosteraeschna minuscula". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010. IUCN: e.T63193A12616834. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T63193A12616834.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b Tarboton, W.R.; Tarboton, M. (2002). A fieldguide to the dragonflies of South Africa. ISBN 0620298871.