Xanthocnemis zealandica
Male holotype specimen held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Female allotype specimen held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Xanthocnemis
Species:
X. zealandica
Binomial name
Xanthocnemis zealandica
(McLachlan, 1873)
Synonyms
  • Telebasis zealandica McLachlan, 1873
  • Xanthocnemis sinclairi Rowe, 1987

Xanthocnemis zealandica, commonly known as common redcoat damselfly,[1] red damselfly, or red coat damselfly, is one of the most common native New Zealand damselflies.[2] Adult damselflies are often seen flying around vegetation close to streams.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Robert McLachlan in 1873 and named Telebasis zealandica.[3] Until 1981, it was the only species in the endemic New Zealand genus Xanthocnemis.[4][5]

Description

The larvae of the red damselfly are identified by their pointed tail gills and long hairs by the tip.[6]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is widespread and common on North, South and Stewart Islands.[7][8]

Habitat

X. zealandica larvae are widespread across New Zealand, occurring in rocky and weedy streams and ponds.[6] It is predominantly a low-altitude species but can reach 1,945 m (6,381 ft) above sea level.[1]

Behaviour

X. zealandica has a 2–3 year life cycle; the shorter one was observed near sea level while the longer one was characteristic to a mid-elevation site (579 m (1,900 ft) above sea level). Some individuals at the lowland site may even complete their life cycle in one year.[9]

Adults are most active at high air temperatures and they are not active when the temperature of the air falls below 14°C.[10] Mature females deposit one egg at a time, just below water level, whereas mature males patrol these areas and sometimes form swarming groups.[10]

X. zealandica individuals can become infested by larval water mites in the genus Arrenurus.[11] Infected damselflies may have up to 62 mites, but there was no evidence that the mating behaviour of infested male damselflies was affected.[11]

Conservation status

X. zealanica has been classified by the Department of Conservation as "Not threatened".[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rowe, R. (2020). "Xanthocnemis zealandica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T197094A83372380. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T197094A83372380.en. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "Fast versus slow: differing life history strategies of two New Zealand damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera) species". www.wikidata.org. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  3. ↑ McLachlan, Robert (1873). "A Catalogue of the Neuropterous Insects of New Zealand ; With Notes, and Descriptions of new Forms". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 12: 30–42 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. ↑ Rowe, Richard J. (1981-01-01). "A New Species of Xanthocnemis Tillyard (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from the Chatham Islands, New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 18: 205–209.
  5. ↑ Rowe, Richard J. (1985-01-01). A taxonomic revision of the genus Xanthocnemis (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) and an investigation of the larval behaviour of Xanthocnemis zealandica (Thesis). UC Research Repository.
  6. 1 2 "Red damselfly (Coenagrionidae: Xanthocnemis)". Landcare Research. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  7. ↑ "Xanthocnemis zealandica (McLachlan, 1873)". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  8. ↑ "Fast versus slow: differing life history strategies of two New Zealand damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera) species". www.wikidata.org. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  9. ↑ Deacon, K.J. (1979). The Seasonality of four Odonata species from mid Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (PDF) (Ph.D. thesis). Canterbury University.
  10. 1 2 Crumpton, W. J. (1975-01-01). "Adult behaviour of Xanthocnemis zealandica McLachlan and Austrolestes colensonis White at selected South Island (N. Zealand) habitats (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae, Lestidae)". Odonatologica. 4 (3): 149–168.
  11. 1 2 Mckee, Dermot; Harvey, Ian; Thomas, Matt; Sherratt, Tom N. (2003-01-01). "Mite infestation of Xanthocnemis zealandica in a Christchurch pond". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 30 (1): 17–20. doi:10.1080/03014223.2003.9518320.
  12. ↑ N. Grainger; J. Harding; T. Drinan; K. Collier; B. Smith; R. Death; T. Makan; J. Rolfe (November 2018). "Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater invertebrates, 2018". New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 28: 1–29. ISSN 2324-1713. OCLC 1083380599. Wikidata Q76413677.
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