Cover photo by Ilse Hulme.

Find the Painted Sprite in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Coenagrionidae

Identification

Small to Medium sized

Length reaches 46mm; Wingspan attains 58mm.

The Painted Sprite has a distinctly elongate appearance. Males are most similar to Pseudagrion newtoni, but are far larger and the blue on the terminal segments does not extend up past segment 8. The two species also occupy very different habitats.

Females are less distinctive but can be recognised by their elongated appearance and shaded habitat.

There are two distinct sub-species in South Africa. Race tropicanum has bright yellow-green thorax sides and antehumeral stripes. Race hageni has bright orange thorax sides and antehumeral stripes.

Click here and here for more details on identification.

Habitat

The Painted Sprite is a shade-loving species. It inhabits slow-flowing parts of forested or densely wooded streams and rivers, often with a jumbled undergrowth of tall grasses, bushes, sticks, and ferns, etc. They are frequently found where the tree canopy is closed over. However, the Painted Sprite also occurs at glades and clearings within this habitat, but never far from shade. Pseudagrion hageni also inhabits in dark swamp forests along the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

The Painted Sprite requires clean water and is often found in places where the water is dark and tannin-stained. Painted sprites are intolerant of turbid, muddy water.

Behaviour

The Painted Sprite is almost always found in deep shade areas where males perch on plant stems over the water. The males are conspicuous due to their bright colouration. The females can be found in the same area as the males but often perch higher up and further away from the water. Individuals frequently hover for a few seconds close to the water before alighting on a perch.

The Painted Sprite is most active from October to April but has been recorded year round at a number of sites (See Phenology below).

Status and Conservation

Pseudagrion hageni is a common but localised species. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. The Painted Sprite is moderately sensitive to habitat disturbance. It can be found in suitable man-made habitats and in areas with some alien plants.

Distribution

Painted Sprites are found from the Western Cape in South Africa to Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola. In South Africa, the Painted Sprite is widespread in the north, east and south of the Country.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Painted Sprite in South Africa. Taken from the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Painted Sprite in South Africa. Taken from 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 Ilse Hulme is acknowledged. Other photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Painted Sprite Pseudagrion hageni Karsch, 1893

Other common names: Blanketselgesie (Afrikaans).

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Painted Sprite Pseudagrion hageni. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/03/09/painted-sprite-pseudagrion-hageni/

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.

Similar Species

Cover photo by Basil Boer.

Find the Masai Sprite in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Coenagrionidae

Identification

Small size

Length up to 38mm; Wingspan reaches 45mm

The Masai Sprite is similar to the other ‘red’ sprites, but most resembles Pseudagrion sjoestedti (Variable Sprite) and Pseudagrion vaalense (Vaal Sprite).

Males are characterised by their largely red head and thorax, including red postocular spots. The lower thorax is pale pruinose blue, while the dark abdomen ends with a bright blue terminal segment.

Females are drab brown and best recognised by their association with the males.

Click here for more details on identification.

Habitat

The Masai Sprite is found mostly at still-water habitats such as pans, dams, ponds, lakes and slow flowing parts of rivers and streams. Masai Sprites prefer well vegetated parts of water bodies, however they can also be found at water with bare gravelly or sandy banks provided there is at least some aquatic vegetation.

Behaviour

The Masai Sprite perches on waterlilies and other emergent plants and twigs close to the water surface. It sometimes also sits on rocks or exposed sand at the waters edge. Flies low over the water when disturbed, hunting or changing perches. Females can be found near the males, but are frequently found away from the water in the surrounding bushes or woodlands.

The Masai Sprite has been recorded throughout the year at some sites, but is most active from September to April. See Phenology below.

Conservation and Status

The Masai Sprite is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Pseudagrion massaicum is an abundant and widespread species that has widely benefited from the use of man-made impoundments. It can be found in somewhat degraded habitats, including sewage treatment ponds and areas with alien plants.

Distribution

The Masai Sprite is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. It has been recorded from all provinces in South Africa and is likely to occur almost anywhere but is less numerous in arid regions.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Masai Sprite in the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Masai 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.

Phenology

Further Resources

The use of photographs by Basil Boer is acknowledged. All other photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Masai Sprite Pseudagrion massaicum Sjöstedt, 1909

Other common names: Masaigesie (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Masai Sprite Pseudagrion massaicum. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/03/04/masai-sprite-pseudagrion-massaicum/

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.

Similar Species