Orange Wisp (Agriocnemis ruberrima)

Cover photo by Diana Russell.

Find the Orange Wisp in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Coenagrionidae

There are two distinct subspecies of the Orange Wisp in southern Africa, Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima (NE South Africa) and Agriocnemis ruberrima albifrons (Botswana to Angola and Zambia). Further studies may determine that the two are, in fact, separate species.

This species text deals mainly with the South African subspecies Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima.

Identification

Tiny size

Length reaches 23mm; Wingspan up to 28mm.

Adult males of the South African subspecies are readily identifiable due to the near luminous, all-orange-red abdomen.

Females are very similar in appearance to other Agriocnemis species, especially the Little Wisp (Agriocnemis exilis) and are best told by their association with the males.

Click here for more details on identification.

Habitat

The Orange Wisp inhabits the shallow, grassy fringes of seasonal ponds, pans, and marshes. It is most often found in mosaic habitats consisting of open, coastal grassland and forest.

Behaviour

The Orange Wisp is inconspicuous due to its minute size and habit of sitting low down among grass stems above the water. They do not fly far once disturbed and quickly settle again on a grass stem. The females occur alongside the males.

The Orange Wisp is active from November to May (see Phenology below).

Status and Conservation

The South African ruberrima subspecies is uncommon and, due to its small, restricted distribution, is listed as Endangered on the Red List. The Orange Wisp is intolerant of habitat degradation and is only found in pristine habitat. A large amount of its range is currently protected within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Distribution

The subspecies Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima has so far only been recorded from the coastal plain of north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It could also occur marginally in neighbouring southern Mozambique.

Agriocnemis ruberimma albifrons occurs in the Okavango region of northern Botswana and in the Caprivi strip of Namibia. It is also found in northern Zambia and at a few scattered locations in Angola.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Orange Wisp Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima in the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Orange Wisp Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima in the OdonataMAP database as of December 2024.

The next map below is an imputed map, produced by an interpolation algorithm, which attempts to generate a full distribution map from the partial information in the map above. This map will be improved by the submission of records to the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum.

Ultimately, we will produce a series of maps for all the odonata species in the region. The current algorithm is a new algorithm. The objective is mainly to produce “smoothed” maps that could go into a field guide for odonata. This basic version of the algorithm (as mapped above) does not make use of “explanatory variables” (e.g. altitude, terrain roughness, presence of freshwater — we will be producing maps that take these variables into account soon). Currently, it only makes use of the OdonataMAP records for the species being mapped, as well as all the other records of all other species. The basic maps are “optimistic” and will generally show ranges to be larger than what they probably are.

These maps use the data in the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum, and also the database assembled by the previous JRS funded project, which was led by Professor Michael Samways and Dr KD Dijkstra.

Phenology

Further Resources

The use of photographs by Diana Russell is acknowledged. Other photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Orange Wisp Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima Tillyard, 1913

Other common names: Red-rumped Wisp (Alt. English); Oranjesoetjie (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Orange Wisp Agriocnemis ruberrima ruberrima. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/03/18/orange-wisp-agriocnemis-ruberrima/

References: Tarboton, M; Tarboton, W. (2019). A Guide to the Dragonflies & Damselflies of South Africa. Struik Nature.

Samways, MJ. (2008). Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Pensoft

Samways, MJ. (2016). Manual of Freshwater Assessment for South Africa: Dragonfly Biotic Index. Suricata 2. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria

Martens, A; Suhling, F. (2007). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Namibia. Gamsberg Macmillan.

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