Volume 29, 2026

Intraspecific rather than interspecific drivers of female-limited polymorphism in Calopteryx splendens (Odonata: Calopterygidae)

Female-limited colour polymorphism is widespread in Odonata, particularly in the Coenagrionidae, where it is determined by simple Mendelian inheritance. In contrast, female-limited colour polymorphism in Calopterygidae is restricted to some populations of the Palaearctic Calopteryx splendens complex, whose males have blue-spotted wings and females occur either as gynochromes with transparent wings or as androchromes with dark brown-spotted wings.

Hetaerina giselae sp. n. (Odonata: Calopterygidae) from Southeastern Brazil, with larval and adult diagnosis

Hetaerina giselae sp. n. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected at Pico do Itambé State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Integration of morphological and molecular data (COI) supports the recognition of the new species.

Description of Lyriothemis keralensis sp. n. (Odonata: Libellulidae) from the southwestern coast of India

A new species of dragonfly, Lyriothemis keralensis sp. n. is described from the coastal plains adjoining the Western Ghats of Kerala, southern India, based on a male holotype (IBC-CD161) and a female paratype (IBC-CD310) (type specimens are deposited in the Biodiversity Lab Research Collections, currently held at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru).

Larval competition does not affect the frequency of androchrome females but changes sex-ratio in Ischnura graellsii (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

The maintenance of colour polymorphisms in natural populations is often explained by contrasting selective forces acting on the life cycle stage that shows the polymorphism. Nevertheless, in animals with complex life cycles, selection during the larval stage, which usually is the longest development phase and might accumulate 99% of overall mortality, could be a determinant force if the genes that affect adult colour have pleiotropic effects on larval phenotype.