Little Wisp (Agriocnemis exilis)

Cover photo by John Wilkinson.

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

Family Coenagrionidae

Identification

Very small size

Length up to 20mm; Wingspan attains 27mm.

The Little Wisp is most like Agriocnemis pinheyi (Pinhey’s Wisp). They are similar in size and are, in fact the two smallest damselflies in the region. Pinhey’s Wisp has an unbroken green line across the face and an incomplete green line across the prothorax. The Little Wisp shows the exact opposite, having a broken green moustache and an unbroken green line on the prothorax.

Females are variable and best told by their association with the males.

Click here for more details on identification.

Habitat

The Little Wisp inhabits the dense grass and sedge margins of pools, dams, marshes, and floodplains, as well as the fringes of slow-moving streams. Little Wisp is generally found at lower altitudes than Agriocnemis pinheyi.

Behaviour

Little Wisps usually perch vertically on a sedge or grass stem, typically low down near the water. UDue to their small size, they are unobtrusive and easily overlooked.

The Little Wisp is on the wing from November to March (see Phenology below).

Status and Conservation

Agriocnemis exilis is fairly common but localised in South Africa. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Distribution

The Little Wisp is widespread throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa.

In South Africa, the Little Wisp is restricted to the north-east, where it ranges from Limpopo down to north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal.

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

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Little Wisp 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 John Wilkinson is acknowledged. Other photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Little Wisp Agriocnemis exilis Selys, 1872

Other common names: Kleinsoetjie (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Little Wisp Agriocnemis exilis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/04/22/little-wisp-agriocnemis-exilis/

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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