An update on the distribution of threatened odonate species from the Greater Antilles

Abstract

The Antilles harbour several island endemic odonate species, including some palaeoendemics, within a relatively small and anthropized area. Such attributes give this archipelago a special significance for the conservation of Odonata in the Neotropics. However, despite the importance of these islands, inadequately surveyed regions persist, mainly in the Greater Antilles, and there is not enough information to set IUCN threat categories for eight species supposed to be at risk, which are currently classified as data deficient (DD). To update the distribution of endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU) and DD species, we conducted a series of field surveys in Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba, and compiled data from literature, museum collections as well as personal communications. We sampled a total of 37 species, including Microneura caligata, Phylolestes ethelae and Hypolestes clara (EN); H. trinitatis (VU); and Diceratobasis macrogaster, Neoneura maria and Protoneura capillaris (DD). We provide new locality records for M. caligata, N. carnatica (DD), N. maria (DD), P. capillaris, H. clara, H. trinitatis and Erythrodiplax bromeliicola (DD). According to our results, we suggest changing the category of D. macrogaster, D. melanogaster, N. carnatica, N. maria and P. capillaris to VU.

Phylogeny of the Synlestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera), with an emphasis on Chlorolestes Selys and Ecchlorolestes Barnard

“…Perilestidae, however, often occur at low elevations in the Amazon basin. In a warming global climate, the preference for high elevations may leave some montane specialists, such as C. draconicus without suitable habitat 6 . Isolated populations, such as that of C. tessellatus in Sevenweekspoort, at least a hundred kilometers from the nearest population, with arid and unsuitable habitat in between 17 , may face a similar isolationist situation.…”

“…There are about 16 species in Asia (in two genera, Sinolestes Needham, 1930 and Megalestes Selys, 1868), of which six Megalestes species occur in India 5 . One species, Phylolestes ethelae Christiansen, occurs in the Caribbean 6 .…”

Differential larval responses of two ecologically similar insects (Odonata) to temperature and resource variation

“…Thus, the feeding rate may have been similar between the treatments within the time window when Artemia were alive and far below that needed for maximum growth. If we compare the treatment with the maximum growth rate for each species to the maximum growth rates of other Libellulidae at their thermal growth optimum (Suhling et al, 2015), we find both of the current species to have much lower growth rates than other similar species (maxima E. collocata 0.01 mm day −1 and P. longipennis 0.02 mm day −1 as compared to 0.03–0.05 mm day −1 for the slower growing Leucorrhinia dubia Vander Linden, Leucorrhinia rubicunda Linnaeus, and Orthetrum cancellatum Linneaus). Further work exploring the interaction between resource levels and temperature may reveal new insights into whether increasing resources mitigate the consequences of increased metabolic costs for ectotherms as temperatures rise (Nilsson-Örtman et al, 2014; Suhling et al, 2015).…”

“…A range of other odonate responses to climate change have also been documented, including body size reductions (Forster, Hirst, & Atkinson, 2012), northerly range shifts (Flenner&Sahlén, 2008; Grewe, Hof, Dehling, Brandl, & Braendle, 2013; Hickling, Roy, Hill, & Thomas, 2005), and advancing phenologies (Dingemanse & Kalkman, 2008; Hassall, Thompson, French, & Harvey, 2007). Larval dragonflies exposed to experimental warming show a range of responses including increased mortality and advancing phenologies (McCauley, Hammond, Frances, & Mabry, 2015; Richter, Suhling, Mueller, & Kern, 2008; Suhling, Suhling, & Richter, 2015). Further, there is evidence of variation between odonate species in response to warming (Suhling & Suhling, 2013).…”

Primer registro de ácaros acuáticos (Arrenurus sp.) como ectoparásitos de odonatos en la Hispaniola

“…Entre las últimas contribuciones al conocimiento de Odonata en la Hispaniola, el trabajo de Flint et al (2006) aportó datos sobre la distribución por provincias de muchas de estas especies. Más recientemente, Torres-Cambas et al (2015a) describen la nueva especie, Hypolestes hatuey y también examinan la distribución de varias especies consideradas amenazadas en las Antillas Mayores (Torres-Cambas et al, 2015b). Poco se ha escrito sobre su biología, interacciones tróficas y parasitismo.…”