Palmiet Sprite (Pseudagrion furcigerum)

Cover photo by Gregg Darling.

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

Family Coenagrionidae

Identification

Small size

Length attains 37mm; Wingspan up to 49mm.

Male Palmiet Sprites closely resemble Pseudagrion kersteni (Powder-faced Sprite). The Palmiet Sprite is best identified by having a bright, lime green labrum whereas the Powder-faced Sprite has a blackish labrum.

Females are unusual among sprites in being quite colourful. They range in colour from green to bright orange and show diagnostic blackish (occasionally blue) markings near the tip of the abdomen.

Click here for more details on identification.

Habitat

The Palmiet Sprite occupies clear, rocky streams and rivers, often in mountainous areas. It frequents both still and flowing sections, but prefers habitats with a rich growth of sedge, grasses, ferns, and especially Palmiet reeds. The Palmiet Sprite inhabits both well-wooded and open habitats.

Behaviour

The Palmiet Sprite is a conspicuous species that sits in the open on an overhanging reed or on a rock close to the water. They often spend long periods perched, and both sexes regularly occur together. They feed on small, aerial insects.

Most active from September to April (see Phenology below).

Status and Conservation

The Palmiet Sprite is locally common. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Palmiet Sprite is only known from high-quality habitats and as such is not tolerant of habitat degradation.

Distribution

The Palmiet Sprite is endemic to South Africa. It is restricted to the Western Cape and the south-western parts of the Eastern Cape Province.

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

Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Palmiet 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 Gregg Darling and Sharon Stanton is acknowledged. All other photos by Ryan Tippett.

Palmiet Sprite Pseudagrion furcigerum (Rambur, 1842)

Other common names: Palmietgesie (Afrikaans).

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025.Palmiet Sprite Pseudagrion furcigerum.  Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/05/15/palmiet-sprite-pseudagrion-furcigerum/

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

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