Cherry-eye Sprite (Pseudagrion sublacteum)

Cover photo by Carel van der Merwe.

Find the Cherry-eye Sprite in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Coenagrionidae

Identification

Small size

Length up to 41mm; Wingspan attains 48mm.

Male Cherry-eye Sprites are readily identified by the bright red front half of their eyes, combined with the purplish upper thorax and postocular spots. In older males, the colouration on the thorax, postocular spots, and terminal tail segments may become obscured by greyish pruinosity. In the hand, the shape of the male claspers is diagnostic.

Females are mainly dull brownish with darker markings and resemble those of many other Pseudagrion species. Best identified by their association with the males.

Males are most similar to Pseudagrion acaciae (Acacia Sprite). The two species often occur alongside one another and have similar habitat requirements. The Cherry-eye Sprite is told apart by having cherry-red eyes, rather than the orange-red eyes of the Acacia Sprite. In addition P. sublacteum has a purplish upper thorax and postocular spots. P. acaciae has greenish postocular spots and an orange upper thorax.

Click here for more details on identification.

Habitat

The Cherry-eye Sprite inhabits flowing rivers and streams in savanna regions. It prefers sites with a healthy growth of grass and reeds along the banks. The cherry-eye Sprite is found up to 700m above sea level.

Behaviour

The Cherry-eye Sprite perches close to the water on rocks or on emergent, or overhanging vegetation, tree roots, sandbars, and floating vegetation. Males are often seen sitting on rocks in or near the midstream while females are usually found in long grass and reeds near the riverbank.

The Cherry-eye Sprite has been recorded throughout the year at some sites, mainly in warmer areas. It is most active from November to April (See Phenology below).

Status and Conservation

In South Africa the Cherry-eye Sprite is common in the north-eastern parts of the country but is uncommon elsewhere. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Distribution

The Cherry-eye Sprite’s range extends across Africa, including parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

In South Africa Pseudagrion sublacteum is found mainly in the North-East where it is most numerous. It is more sparsely distributed in the Eastern Cape and along the Orange River.

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

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Cherry-eye Sprite in the OdonataMAP database as at 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 Carel van der Merwe and Rowan Poortier is acknowledged.

Cherry-eye Sprite Pseudagrion sublacteum (Karsch, 1893)

Other common names: Kersieoog-gesie (Afrikaans).

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Cherry-eye Sprite Pseudagrion sublacteum.  Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/05/22/cherry-eye-sprite-pseudagrion-sublacteum/

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.