Cover photo by Corrie du Toit.
Find the Rustic Presba in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Synthemistidae
Identification
Jonkershoek, Western Cape
Photo by Corrie Du Toit
Medium-large size
Length up to 52mm; Wingspan attains 73mm.
The Rustic Presba can be told apart from other presbas by its overall darker glossy colouration, differently patterned abdomen, and in males by the short, broad claspers. The sexes are similar but females have broader abdomens and a more pronounced amber wash in the wings.
The Rustic Presba most resembles the Yellow Presba (Syncordulia gracilis) and Gilded Presba (Syncordulia legator), however, neither of these species is as dark in colour. They also have differently patterned abdomens and, in males, noticeably more elongated claspers.
Click here for more details on identification of the Rustic Presba.
Habitat
The Rustic Presba frequents rivers and streams, in mountainous fynbos habitats. It requires clear, flowing water with rocks and boulders. The Rustic Presba spends much of its time away from water hunting over the surrounding fynbos.
Photo by Corné Rautenbach
Behaviour
Much like other Presbas, the Rustic Presba is infrequently found at water. It is most often encountered away from the river, hunting over low fynbos vegetation. The Rustic Presba rests up in dense bushes where it is well camouflaged. It hangs vertically from a branch when perched.
On the wing later in the season than other Syncordulia species. Active from January to late April. See Phenology below.
Status and Conservation
This species is localised, uncommon and endemic to South Africa. It is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Rustic Presba is intolerant towards habitat degradation and is only recorded in undamaged habitats.
Distribution
The Rustic Presba is endemic to the South-Western Cape, South Africa. It has a very restricted range and has so far only been recorded at a handful of sites, from Riebeek-Kasteel in the north to Kogelberg Nature Reserve in the South.
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Rustic Presba in the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Rustic Presba 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 Desire Darling, Felicity Grundlingh, Gregg Darling, Hesmarie Els, John Wilkinson, and Sharon Stanton is acknowledged.
Rustic Presba Syncordulia serendipator Dijkstra, Samways & Simaika, 2007
Other Common names: Rustieke Swalker (Afrikaans)
Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Rustic Presba Syncordulia serendipator. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/06/08/rustic-presba-syncordulia-serendipator/
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
