OdonataMAP Report for 2019

OdonataMAP is the Atlas of African Odonata and forms part of the Virtual Museum. OdonataMAP was launched in 2010. The first record was uploaded into the database on 22 September 2010. At its starting point the project described itself as a section of the Virtual Museum which aimed (1) “to map the current distribution of the insect Order Odonata, i.e. dragonflies and damselflies, occurring in Africa” and (2) “to serve as a repository of all existing distribution data for this group.”

OdonataMAP provides an atlas of the up-to-date distributions of the dragonflies and damselflies, which is a critical component of addressing their own conservation priorities, and also the conservation of freshwater ecosystems. The project provides a valuable input to the Red List status of each species. Besides the distribution maps, OdonataMAP aims to make a contribution to understanding the seasonal phenology of these species. Documenting and quantifying changes in seasonality are a critical component of understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity

Although filled with challenges, like an ongoing drought throughout most parts of South Africa, 2019 was a good year for OdonataMAP. OdonataMAPpers submitted a total of 19,119 records to the Virtual Museum. And thanks to the amazing members of the OdonataMAP expert panel, 99% of the records have been identified already. Below is a map of Africa, and South Africa, showing the locations (grid cells) of the OdonataMAP data submitted during 2019

We received records from 26 African countries (Table 1). Apart from South Africa, most of the other records came from Zambia (388), Namibia (369) and Swaziland (278), all three these countries having totals of more than 100 records submitted for the year.

Table 1: OdonataMAP records for 2019 by country

Diana Russell submitted the most records to OdonataMAP for the year, with a great total of 2555 records, followed by Richard Johnstone on 1427 records and Corrie du Toit with 1378 records (Table 2).

Table 2: OdonataMAP Observers with more than 100 records submitted for 2019

Observer	Records
Russell Diana	2555
Johnstone Richard	1427
du Toit Corrie	1378
de Vries Andries Petrus; Joey de Vries	1120
La Grange Pieter	853
Hirons Jean	651
Bensch Gert; Juan-Pierre Antunes	396
Barrett Norman	273
Kleynhans Evert Philippus Jacobus	256
Small Christopher Peter	255
Nuttall Rick	248
Steenkamp Wilna	247
Van Rensburg Maritza	246
Wilkinson John	245
de Vries Andries Petrus; Blyde River OdonataBash	233
Bensch Gert	232
Willis Chris	227
Stanton Sharon	214
Stanton Sharon; Heleen Louw	208
Liebenberg Altha	180
Robinson Lance	177
Cronje Pieter	176
Nieuwoudt Phillip	172
van Dyk Zenobia	164
Hulme Ilse	155
de Vries Andries Petrus; Joey de Vries; Team Swadini Bio-Search	151
Stanton Mark	150
Kleynhans Evert Philippus Jacobus; Cherése Kleynhans	148
Kleynhans DH; Sarieta Kleynhans	147
Tippett Ryan	145
Braun Kate	140
Liptrot Mark	139
Thomson Neil	134
Antunes Juan-pierre Antunes; Gert Bensch	126
Snyman Antoinette	120
Dickinson Robyn	118
Kleynhans Dawie; Sarieta Kleynhans	113
de Vries Andries Petrus; Joey de Vries; Neels Snyman; Antoinette Snyman	106
Darling Desire; Gregg Darling	104
Troskie Eugene Anton; Lerm Rion	102

The two species most often recorded for 2019 were Broad Scarlet Crocothemis erythraea and Red-veined Dropwing Trithemis arteriosa (Table 3).

Table 3: Number of OdonataMAP records by species, sorted from highest to lowest number of records (only contains records that have been identified)

Sp. code	Family	Scientific Name	Common name	Red data status	Records
667130	Libellulidae	Crocothemis erythraea	Broad Scarlet	LC	1109
668670	Libellulidae	Trithemis arteriosa	Red-veined Dropwing	LC	1109
663100	Coenagrionidae	Ischnura senegalensis	Tropical Bluetail	LC	891
667950	Libellulidae	Orthetrum julia	Julia Skimmer	LC	743
667890	Libellulidae	Orthetrum capicola	Cape Skimmer	LC	632
668420	Libellulidae	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Red-veined Darter or Nomad	LC	548
662720	Coenagrionidae	Ceriagrion glabrum	Common Citril	LC	495
667030	Libellulidae	Brachythemis leucosticta	Southern Banded Groundling	LC	477
667770	Libellulidae	Orthetrum			462
667690	Libellulidae	Nesciothemis farinosa	Eastern Blacktail	LC	418
664140	Aeshnidae	Anax imperator	Blue Emperor	LC	416
669120	Libellulidae	Trithemis kirbyi	Orange-winged Dropwing	LC	405
668200	Libellulidae	Palpopleura lucia	Lucia Widow	LC	387
663820	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion massaicum	Masai Sprite	LC	384
668890	Libellulidae	Trithemis furva	Navy Dropwing	LC	371
662330	Coenagrionidae	Africallagma glaucum	Swamp Bluet	LC	344
668120	Libellulidae	Orthetrum trinacria	Long Skimmer	LC	336
668660	Libellulidae	Trithemis annulata	Violet Dropwing	LC	336
663460	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion kersteni	Powder-faced Sprite	LC	335
669080	Libellulidae	Trithemis stictica	Jaunty Dropwing	LC	333
663195	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion			320
663560	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion salisburyense	Slate Sprite	LC	298
667860	Libellulidae	Orthetrum caffrum	Two-striped Skimmer	LC	298
667200	Libellulidae	Diplacodes lefebvrii	Black Percher	LC	284
667900	Libellulidae	Orthetrum chrysostigma	Epaulet Skimmer	LC	274
669190	Libellulidae	Urothemis edwardsii	Blue Basker	LC	242
662630	Coenagrionidae	Azuragrion nigridorsum	Sailing Bluet	LC	236
661810	Platycnemididae	Elattoneura glauca	Common Threadtail	LC	220
661180	Chlorocyphidae	Platycypha caligata	Dancing Jewel	LC	208
668230	Libellulidae	Pantala flavescens	Wandering Glider	LC	199
667140	Libellulidae	Crocothemis sanguinolenta	Little Scarlet	LC	197
668870	Libellulidae	Trithemis dorsalis	Highland Dropwing	LC	195
667380	Libellulidae	Hemistigma albipunctum	African Piedspot	LC	183
668640	Libellulidae	Trithemis			161
668110	Libellulidae	Orthetrum stemmale	Bold Skimmer	LC	160
663780	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion hamoni	Swarthy Sprite	LC	155
663350	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion furcigerum	Palmiet Sprite	LC	142
664830	Gomphidae	Ictinogomphus ferox	Common Tigertail	LC	141
666770	Libellulidae	Acisoma variegatum	Slender Pintail		139
664550	Gomphidae	Ceratogomphus pictus	Common Thorntail	LC	132
660360	Lestidae	Lestes plagiatus	Highland Spreadwing	LC	129
663410	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion hageni	Painted Sprite	LC	121
668540	Libellulidae	Tetrathemis polleni	Black-splashed Elf	LC	120
665790	Gomphidae	Paragomphus genei	Common Hooktail	LC	118
669180	Libellulidae	Urothemis assignata	Red Basker	LC	116
661480	Platycnemididae	Allocnemis leucosticta	Goldtail	LC	113
668370	Libellulidae	Rhyothemis semihyalina	Phantom Flutterer	LC	111
668210	Libellulidae	Palpopleura portia	Portia Widow	LC	110
668620	Libellulidae	Tramea basilaris	Keyhole Glider	LC	109
663880	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion sublacteum	Cherry-eye Sprite	LC	108
665740	Gomphidae	Paragomphus cognatus	Rock Hooktail	LC	108
663300	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion draconis	Mountain Sprite	LC	107
667210	Libellulidae	Diplacodes luminans	Barbet Percher	LC	105
668630	Libellulidae	Tramea limbata	Ferruginous Glider	LC	84
660080	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes umbratus	White Malachite	LC	81
668900	Libellulidae	Trithemis pluvialis	Russet Dropwing	LC	80
661640	Platycnemididae	Mesocnemis singularis	Common (Forest/Savanna) Riverjack	LC	80
661790	Platycnemididae	Elattoneura frenulata	Sooty Threadtail	LC	79
668800	Libellulidae	Trithemis donaldsoni	Denim Dropwing	LC	74
660120	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes fasciatus	Mountain Malachite	LC	71
667090	Libellulidae	Chalcostephia flavifrons	Inspector	LC	70
664120	Aeshnidae	Anax ephippiger	Vagrant Emperor	LC	65
667930	Libellulidae	Orthetrum hintzi	Dark-shouldered Skimmer	LC	65
660300	Lestidae	Lestes virgatus	Smoky Spreadwing	LC	64
660580	Calopterygidae	Phaon iridipennis	Glistening Demoiselle	LC	63
663710	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion coeleste	Catshead Sprite	LC	62
663260	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion citricola	Yellow-faced Sprite	LC	60
660330	Lestidae	Lestes tridens	Spotted Spreadwing	LC	60
668740	Libellulidae	Trithemis aconita	Halfshade Dropwing	LC	57
662470	Coenagrionidae	Agriocnemis falcifera	White-masked Wisp	LC	56
667780	Libellulidae	Orthetrum abbotti	Little Skimmer	LC	52
668190	Libellulidae	Palpopleura jucunda	Yellow-veined Widow	LC	52
660410	Lestidae	Lestes pallidus	Pallid Spreadwing	LC	51
664170	Aeshnidae	Anax speratus	(Eastern) Orange Emperor	LC	50
667020	Libellulidae	Brachythemis lacustris	Red Groundling	LC	49
668060	Libellulidae	Orthetrum robustum	Robust Skimmer	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	49
662370	Coenagrionidae	Africallagma sapphirinum	Sapphire Bluet	LC	44
669390	Libellulidae	Zygonyx natalensis	Blue Cascader	LC	44
668000	Libellulidae	Orthetrum machadoi	Highland Skimmer	LC	42
668180	Libellulidae	Palpopleura deceptor	Deceptive Widow	LC	41
660130	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes tessellatus	Forest Malachite	LC	41
661210	Chlorocyphidae	Platycypha fitzsimonsi	Boulder Jewel	LC	39
663360	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion gamblesi	Great Sprite	LC	35
663610	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion spernatum	Upland Sprite	LC	35
666750	Libellulidae	Acisoma inflatum	Stout Pintail	LC	35
668250	Libellulidae	Parazyxomma flavicans	Banded Duskdarter	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	34
667730	Libellulidae	Notiothemis jonesi	Eastern Forestwatcher	LC	33
667060	Libellulidae	Bradinopyga cornuta	Horned Rockdweller	LC	32
664470	Aeshnidae	Pinheyschna subpupillata	Stream Hawker	LC	31
664880	Gomphidae	Lestinogomphus angustus	Spined Fairytail	LC	28
669200	Libellulidae	Urothemis luciana	St Lucia Basker	NT	27
663720	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion commoniae	Black Sprite	LC	24
666620	Macromiidae	Phyllomacromia picta	Darting Cruiser	LC	23
662140	Platycnemididae	Spesbona angusta	Ceres Streamjack	EN	23
661710	Platycnemididae	Elattoneura	African threadtails		22
664070	Aeshnidae	Anaciaeschna triangulifera	Evening Hawker	LC	21
667760	Libellulidae	Olpogastra lugubris	Bottletail	LC	21
663670	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion acaciae	Acacia Sprite	LC	20
669420	Libellulidae	Zygonyx torridus	Ringed Cascader	LC	19
662150	Coenagrionidae				18
662290	Coenagrionidae	Africallagma	African bluets		18
664510	Aeshnidae	Zosteraeschna minuscula	Friendly Hawker	LC	17
662320	Coenagrionidae	Africallagma fractum	Slender Bluet	LC	17
665480	Gomphidae	Notogomphus praetorius	Yellowjack Longleg	LC	17
668600	Libellulidae	Tholymis tillarga	Twister	LC	17
663920	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion vaalense	Vaal Sprite	LC	16
663890	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion sudanicum	Blue-sided Sprite	LC	15
665640	Gomphidae	Onychogomphus supinus	Lined Claspertail	LC	15
666920	Libellulidae	Aethriamanta rezia	Pygmy Basker	LC	15
660320	Lestidae	Lestes dissimulans	Cryptic Spreadwing	LC	14
666420	Macromiidae	Phyllomacromia contumax	Two-banded Cruiser	LC	14
662490	Coenagrionidae	Agriocnemis gratiosa	Gracious Wisp	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	13
662530	Coenagrionidae	Agriocnemis pinheyi	Pinhey’s Wisp	LC	13
663170	Coenagrionidae	Proischnura rotundipennis	Round-winged Bluet	LC	13
663530	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion newtoni	Harlequin Sprite	VU	13
664640	Gomphidae	Crenigomphus hartmanni	Clubbed Talontail	LC	13
666730	Libellulidae				13
668030	Libellulidae	Orthetrum monardi	Woodland Skimmer	LC	13
662410	Coenagrionidae	Agriocnemis	wisps		11
662660	Coenagrionidae	Ceriagrion	citrils		11
660370	Lestidae	Lestes uncifer	Sickle Spreadwing	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	11
668160	Libellulidae	Palpopleura			10
669110	Libellulidae	Trithemis hecate	Silhouette Dropwing	LC	10
666270	Libelluloidea incertae	Syncordulia gracilis	Yellow Presba	VU	10
664080	Aeshnidae	Anax			9
663870	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion sjoestedti	Variable Sprite	LC	9
664560	Gomphidae	Ceratogomphus triceraticus	Cape Thorntail	NT	9
667940	Libellulidae	Orthetrum icteromelas	Spectacled Skimmer	LC	9
669250	Libellulidae	Zygonoides fuelleborni	Southern Riverking	LC	9
664180	Aeshnidae	Anax tristis	Black Emperor	LC	8
662790	Coenagrionidae	Ceriagrion suave	Suave Citril	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	8
665890	Gomphidae	Paragomphus sabicus	Flapper Hooktail	LC	8
667920	Libellulidae	Orthetrum guineense	Guinea Skimmer	LC	8
661670	Platycnemididae	Metacnemis valida	Kubusi Streamjack	EN	8
660070	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes conspicuus	Conspicuous Malachite	LC	8
660220	Lestidae	Lestes	true spreadwings		7
666740	Libellulidae	Acisoma			7
663680	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion assegaii	Assegai Sprite	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	6
665130	Gomphidae	Microgomphus nyassicus	Eastern Scissortail		6
667830	Libellulidae	Orthetrum brachiale	Banded Skimmer	LC	6
668340	Libellulidae	Rhyothemis fenestrina	Skylight Flutterer		6
669130	Libellulidae	Trithemis werneri	Elegant Dropwing	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	6
666300	Libelluloidea incertae	Syncordulia venator	Mahogany Presba	VU	6
660060	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes apricans	Amatola Malachite	EN	6
663750	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion glaucescens	Blue-green Sprite		5
667120	Libellulidae	Crocothemis divisa	Rock Scarlet	LC	5
669170	Libellulidae	Urothemis			5
660040	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes	true malachites		5
660160	Synlestidae	Ecchlorolestes peringueyi	Rock Malachite	NT	5
663250	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion caffrum	Springwater Sprite	LC	4
660350	Lestidae	Lestes pinheyi	Pinhey’s Spreadwing		4
667220	Libellulidae	Diplacodes pumila	Dwarf Percher	LC (Global); EN (RSA)	4
660110	Synlestidae	Chlorolestes elegans	Elegant Malachite	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	4
660150	Synlestidae	Ecchlorolestes nylephtha	Queen Malachite	NT	4
664270	Aeshnidae	Gynacantha villosa	Brown Duskhawker	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	3
662460	Coenagrionidae	Agriocnemis exilis	Little Wisp	LC	3
665780	Gomphidae	Paragomphus elpidius	Corkscrew Hooktail	LC	3
667010	Libellulidae	Brachythemis impartita	Northern Banded Groundling		3
668610	Libellulidae	Tramea			3
661140	Chlorocyphidae	Platycypha	dancing jewels		2
662220	Coenagrionidae	Aciagrion gracile	Graceful Slim	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	2
662540	Coenagrionidae	Agriocnemis ruberrima	Orange Wisp	LC (Global); EN (RSA)	2
663440	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion inopinatum	Balinsky’s Sprite	NT	2
663200	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion (A–group)			2
666720	Corduliidae	Hemicordulia africana	African Emerald	LC (Global); VU (RSA)	2
664530	Gomphidae				2
666070	Gomphidae	Phyllogomphus selysi	Bold Leaftail	LC	2
667070	Libellulidae	Bradinopyga strachani	Red Rockdweller		2
668070	Libellulidae	Orthetrum rubens	Elusive Skimmer	CR	2
669290	Libellulidae	Zygonyx			2
669440	Libellulidae	Zyxomma atlanticum	Smoky Duskdarter	LC	2
664320	Aeshnidae	Gynacantha manderica	Little Duskhawker	LC	1
660570	Calopterygidae	Phaon camerunensis	Emerald Demoiselle (RAINFOREST?)		1
660690	Calopterygidae	Umma electa	Metallic Sparklewing		1
660820	Chlorocyphidae	Chlorocypha	African jewels		1
660870	Chlorocyphidae	Chlorocypha consueta	Ruby Jewel	LC (Global); RE (RSA)	1
662160	Coenagrionidae	Aciagrion	slims		1
662600	Coenagrionidae	Azuragrion	sailing bluets		1
662810	Coenagrionidae	Ceriagrion whellani	Yellow-faced Citril		1
663150	Coenagrionidae	Proischnura	fork-tailed bluets		1
663480	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion makabusiense	Makabusi Sprite	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	1
663910	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion torridum	Wing-tailed Sprite		1
663660	Coenagrionidae	Pseudagrion (B–group)			1
664540	Gomphidae	Ceratogomphus			1
664770	Gomphidae	Gomphidia quarrei	Southern Fingertail	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	1
664860	Gomphidae	Lestinogomphus			1
665060	Gomphidae	Mastigogomphus			1
665100	Gomphidae	Microgomphus			1
665520	Gomphidae	Onychogomphus			1
665720	Gomphidae	Paragomphus cataractae	Cataract Hooktail		1
666810	Libellulidae	Aethiothemis bequaerti	Skimmer-like Flasher		1
667100	Libellulidae	Crocothemis			1
667180	Libellulidae	Diplacodes			1
668480	Libellulidae	Tetrathemis camerunensis	Forest Elf		1
669070	Libellulidae	Trithemis palustris	Marsh Dropwing		1
666280	Libelluloidea incertae	Syncordulia legator	Gilded Presba	VU	1
666320	Macromiidae	Phyllomacromia	Flymacs?		1
666350	Macromiidae	Phyllomacromia africana	Sahel Cruiser		1
666560	Macromiidae	Phyllomacromia monoceros	Sable Cruiser	LC (Global); NT (RSA)	1