Zygoptera (damselflies)

Code QO119999

The south-east Asian and Pacific genus Rhinocypha , ( R. tincta , subspp. semitincta ), was recorded from Cape York last century. The adult is black with blue markings, with the distal half of the wings blackish-brown. Inhabits streams and rivers.

There are no recent Australian records but this genus is common in islands to the north of Torres Strait. The larva has not been figured but has been described as having the typical features of the family: labium flat, labial palps narrow with major setae near the base; median lobe triangular, cleft; lateral gills slender and triquetral; median gill reduced to a short, stout spine. The last should serve to distinguish the larvae from that of any other family.

The author would be grateful for any reports concerning this family in Australia. Please contact Dr John Trueman at the Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 if any Chlorocyphidae turn up in your Australian samples.

NB : A recent guide to the larvae of Australian Odonates (Hawking & Theischinger, 1999) has proposed a new classification system in which the family Chlorocyphidae has been changed to Libellaginidae.

Reference:

Hawking, J.H. and Theischinger, G. (1999) Dragonfly Larvae (Odonata): A Guide to the Identification of Larvae of Australian Families and to the Identification and Ecology of Larvae from New South Wales . CRCFE Identification Guide No. 24., Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Thurgoona.