South Africa
Saying I have studied in South Africa is like saying I have studied in Europe; the country is enormous and to be frank I have only visited one small corner of the Cape peninsular between the red built up area and the mountains to the east at the bottom right hand corner of the map above. I visited in 2007 and 2008, again with Graham Vick and Pete Mitchell and this time with Chris, my wife.
Syncordulia
There are a number of very interesting species here but, for me, none more so than the genus Syncordulia. An emerald of the Corduliidae which is a family that always hold great fascination. There are four species in this genus and their distribution is very little known. On my second trip in 2008 I concentrated on larvae and on my last down was successful. It would appear that these are rocky stream species found in the uplands of the Cape. Much more work is needed to find the larvae; at present, of the four species only one larvae is known; and we are not even sure which one.
Saying I have studied in South Africa is like saying I have studied in Europe; the country is enormous and to be frank I have only visited one small corner of the Cape peninsular between the red built up area and the mountains to the east at the bottom right hand corner of the map above. I visited in 2007 and 2008, again with Graham Vick and Pete Mitchell and this time with Chris, my wife.
Syncordulia
There are a number of very interesting species here but, for me, none more so than the genus Syncordulia. An emerald of the Corduliidae which is a family that always hold great fascination. There are four species in this genus and their distribution is very little known. On my second trip in 2008 I concentrated on larvae and on my last down was successful. It would appear that these are rocky stream species found in the uplands of the Cape. Much more work is needed to find the larvae; at present, of the four species only one larvae is known; and we are not even sure which one.
Syncordulia exuviae
The images below show the exuviae from one of the species. They look similar to Oxygastra to which species they are probably related. The right hand image is a view of the underside of the mask. At the base of the mask is a conspicuous groove which is present in all cordulid exuviae.
The images below show the exuviae from one of the species. They look similar to Oxygastra to which species they are probably related. The right hand image is a view of the underside of the mask. At the base of the mask is a conspicuous groove which is present in all cordulid exuviae.
The Mysterious Orthetrum rubens
This must be one of South Africa's most enigmatic dragonflies. It has a very local distribution around the Cape and was rediscovered for the first time in 37 years by K-D Dijkstra earlier this year. But did I find it back in 2007?
On 7th December 2007, I was walking near Leapoards Kloof at the Harold Porter Botanical gardens, along the path and in the low heath a pair of dragonflies landed about 5 m away from me along the path. I got two pictures but they flew off before I could get the net. The pictures are rubbish but was it a pair of O. rubens. The professionals had differing opinions and I am not qualified to judge. Look at K-D's picture on Facebook and see what you think.
This must be one of South Africa's most enigmatic dragonflies. It has a very local distribution around the Cape and was rediscovered for the first time in 37 years by K-D Dijkstra earlier this year. But did I find it back in 2007?
On 7th December 2007, I was walking near Leapoards Kloof at the Harold Porter Botanical gardens, along the path and in the low heath a pair of dragonflies landed about 5 m away from me along the path. I got two pictures but they flew off before I could get the net. The pictures are rubbish but was it a pair of O. rubens. The professionals had differing opinions and I am not qualified to judge. Look at K-D's picture on Facebook and see what you think.