Distribution, habitats, phenology and conservation of New Caledonian Odonata
Author
Grand, Daniel
Author
Marinov, Milen
Author
Jourdan, Herve
Author
Cook, Carl
Author
Rouys, Sophie
Author
Mille, Christian
Author
Theuerkauf, Jörn
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-07-19
4640
1
1
112
journal article
26165
10.11646/zootaxa.4640.1
1c74afbc-0c31-4b2b-b975-af79979613ab
1175-5326
3342242
434B2D49-EC2C-4246-8703-42C6CFD31B87
Anax papuensis
(
Burmeister, 1839
)
(
Fig. 46
)
Aeschna papuensis
Burmeister, 1839: 841
;
Anax congener
Rambur, 1842
;
Hemianax papuensis
(
Burmeister, 1839
)
.
Systematics.
This species was formerly placed in the genus
Hemianax
Selys, 1883
but various recent authors have treated this as a synonym of
Anax
Leach, 1815
(
Heidemann & Seidenbusch 2002
;
Dijkstra & Lewington 2007
;
Boudot
et al.
2009
; Kalkman
et al.
2010c;
Lopau 2010
). We follow
Orr & Kalkman (2015)
in placing
A. papuensis
in the genus
Anax
.
Distribution
(
Fig. 47
). This Australasian species extends to eastern
Indonesia
(
Tsuda 2000
) and, during migrations, it reaches the islands of Sumba, Coco-Keelings, Lord Howe and Raoul (
Rowe 1987
). In
New Caledonia
, only one specimen has been caught in Nouméa, on
20
th
November 1955
(Winstanley 1983). We did not observe this species, but
Davies (2002)
reports
A. papuensis
as “frequently seen in all parts of
New Caledonia
in season” but he did not specify any locality. Only Winstanley (1983) indicates the collection of two males of
A. papuensis
on
20
th
February 1955
by J. Rageau in Nouméa.
Habitat.
Anax papuensis
frequents standing waters and, occasionally, quiet sectors of springs (
Theischinger & Hawking 2006
).
Biology and behaviour.
This migratory species was studied by
Rowe (1987)
whose observations we summarize. Eggs are laid in plants and measure from 1.5 to 1.7 mm long and develop within 16 days at a temperature of 21–24°C. Depending on temperature, the larval cycle takes between 100 to 250 days in
Australia
(probably similar in
New Caledonia
), whereas in
New Zealand
, it may last two years. In laboratory conditions, emergence starts early in the morning and takes two and a half hours. The larvae are between 40 and
45 mm
long. Males patrol a territory of about
50 to 60 m
of riverbank waiting for females to appear. Approaching water, the female is quickly seized by the closest male, and then the couple lands on nearby vegetation. Eggs are laid mainly in tandem and occasionally females may oviposit alone (
Rowe 1987
). The female inserts her eggs into floating or emergent vegetation. The larva was described by
Hawking (1986)
and its habitus is shown by
Rowe (1987)
.
Status.
As it has been only recorded once with certainty and this species appears to be migratory, we considered it to be DD.