Cover photo by Evert Kleynhans.
Find the Yellow-faced Sprite in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Coenagrionidae
Identification
Near Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Small size
Length up to 42mm; Wingspan reaches 50mm.
Pseudagrion citricola is one of three ‘yellow-faced’ sprites in the region. The other two are the Springwater Sprite (Pseudagrion caffrum) and the Great Sprite (Pseudagrion gamblesi). The latter is easily distinguished by its significantly larger size and distinctive bright blue terminal segments. Pseudagrion citricola is most similar to Pseudagrion caffrum, but can be differentiated by having postocular spots and brighter blue terminal segments on the abdomen.
Click here for more details on identification.
Habitat
The Yellow-faced Sprite favours the grass, reed, and sedge-lined margins of perennial streams and rivers. It sometimes also inhabits marshes and suitable dams adjoining streams.
The Yellow-faced Sprite occurs mostly at high altitudes in the north of its range, above 1200m above sea level. It can be found at Lower altitudes in the Eastern and Western Cape.
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Behaviour
The Yellow-faced Sprite is a fairly conspicuous species that perches openly on grass stems near the water. It flies fast and low over the water when disturbed or switching perches.
The Yellow-faced Sprite is most active from September to May (see Phenology below).
Wilge River, Free State
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Status and Conservation
The Yellow-faced Sprite is common but localised throughout its range. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Colesberg, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Distribution
Pseudagrion citricola is a South African endemic. It is sparsely distributed in the interior mountains of the Western Cape. The Yellow-faced Sprite is more widespread and numerous in the Eastern Cape, extending up onto the highveld areas of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, North-West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.
Near Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Yellow-faced Sprite in the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Yellow-faced Sprite 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.
Wilge River, Free State
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Phenology
Royal Natal National Park, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Further Resources
The use of photographs by Evert Kleynhans is acknowledged. Other photographs by Ryan Tippett.
Yellow-faced Sprite Pseudagrion citricola Barnard, 1937
Other Common Names: Jaloerse Gesie (Afrikaans).
Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Yellow-faced Sprite Pseudagrion citricola. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/05/08/springwater-sprite-pseudagrion-caffrum/
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
Colesberg, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
