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Pseudagrion newtoni

{{Short description|Species of damselfly}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Harlequin sprite

| image = Pseudagrion newtoni 20150224.jpg

| image_caption = Male

| status = VU

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Samways, M.J. |date=2010 |title=Pseudagrion newtoni |volume=2010 |page=e.T42843A10758888 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42843A10758888.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}

| taxon = Pseudagrion newtoni

| authority = Pinhey, 1962

| synonyms =

}}

Pseudagrion newtoni, the harlequin sprite, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.

Distribution

This sprite is endemic to South Africa, where it is rare and localised in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

Habitat

Grass-lined or sedge-lined streams in hilly or mountainous country.{{cite book|last1=Tarboton|first1=W.R.|last2=Tarboton|first2=M.|title=A guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of South Africa|date=2015|publisher=Struik Nature|location=Cape Town|isbn=9781775841845}} Much of this riparian habitat has been transformed by cropping, trampling by livestock and invasion by shrubs and trees. The harlequin sprite is, therefore, no longer found in much of its former range, and its survival is threatened.

Description

Mature male: The face is bright orange, and the top of the head is black with bright orange postocular spots joined by a line of the same colour. The eyes are reddish-brown above and yellow-brown below. The upper thorax is black with orange antehumeral stripes and the sides are green to blue. The abdomen is black above, except for S7 to S10, which are bright blue above. The wings are clear with reddish-brown pterostigmata.{{cite book|last1=Samways|first1=Michael J.|title=Dragonflies and damselflies of South Africa|date=2008|publisher=Pensoft|location=Sofia|isbn=978-954-642-330-6|edition=1st}}

Identification

This species is similar to Pseudagrion hageni, but Pseudagrion newtoni is smaller, and S7 is black in P. hageni. Pseudagrion newtoni also has a diagnostic bright blue heart-shaped marking on S10. Preferred habitats are also different: Pseudagrion newtoni is found in grasslands rather than wooded country.

P_newtoni_AManson_2015_02_24_0360_VM13101.jpg|Male

P_newtoni_AManson_2015_02_24_0402_VM13101.jpg|Male

P_newtoni_AManson_2015_02_24_4845_VM13101.jpg|Male

P_newtoni_AManson_2015_02_24_0352_VM13101.jpg|Male; head and thorax

P_newtoni_AManson_2015_02_24_0356_VM13101.jpg|Male; abdomen (S6-S10)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Commonscat-inline}}
  • {{Wikispecies-inline}}
  • [https://thebdi.org/2020/05/19/harlequin-sprite-pseudagrion-newtoni/ Harlequin sprite] Species text in the Online Atlas of South African Odonata

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1309189}}

Category:Coenagrionidae

Category:Insects of South Africa

Category:Insects described in 1962

Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

{{Coenagrionidae-stub}}