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Erythrodiplax atroterminata

Erythrodiplax atroterminata


Family: Libellulidae
Order: Odonata
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Description


Belongs to a group of medium-sized anisopteran odonates, characterized by a total body length ranging between 30 and 35 millimeters. Mature males develop a striking, dark pruinose blue-black coloration covering the abdomen and thorax, while their most diagnostic physical feature is the presence of a distinct, dark-brown to black patch at the apex of each hyaline wing. In contrast, females and immature individuals display a lighter yellowish-brown ground color with dark lateral stripes on the abdomen, and their wings are mostly clear, sometimes possessing only a diffuse, pale amber tint at the base. The head features large compound eyes that meet broadly at the dorsal midline, showing a dark reddish-brown hue in fully mature specimens.

Geographical distribution: Is widely distributed across the temperate and subtropical regions of southern South America. Its presence is thoroughly documented throughout Argentina, particularly in the central and northern provinces such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Entre Ríos. Additionally, its geographical range extends across the entire territory of Uruguay, southern Brazil (specifically within the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina), and various wetland systems in Paraguay.

Habitat: Primarily colonizes lentic freshwater systems, showing a strong preference for permanent and temporary ponds, marshes, swamps, sluggish streams, and lake margins. This species exhibits remarkable ecological plasticity, frequently inhabiting disturbed and peri-urban environments such as artificial reservoirs, drainage ditches, and ornamental ponds in city parks, provided there is sufficient emergent or floating aquatic vegetation to support their perching and breeding requirements.

Feeding: Functions as a highly effective, opportunistic generalist predator in both its aquatic and aerial life stages. As adults, they hunt on the wing, capturing a wide variety of small flying insects such as mosquitoes, midges, flies, and small moths. The aquatic nymphs, or naiads, are cryptic predators that utilize a specialized prehensile labium to ambush prey among benthic debris and submerged vegetation, consuming dipteran larvae, microcrustaceans, and occasionally tiny tadpoles.

Behavior: Males exhibit prominent territorial and heliophilic behavior, actively selecting elevated perches like reeds, twigs, or tall grasses near the water´s edge. From these vantage points, they monitor their territory, aggressively chasing away conspecific males and intercepting incoming females. During peak temperature hours around midday, they adopt the obelisk posture, raising their abdomen vertically toward the sun to minimize surface area exposure and regulate their body temperature.

Reproduction: The mating sequence begins with a rapid aerial pursuit, leading to the formation of the characteristic copulatory wheel. Once copulation is completed—often while perched on shoreline vegetation—the female performs exophytic oviposition. She hovers close to the water surface, repeatedly dipping the tip of her abdomen into the water to wash off and deposit her eggs over submerged plants or muddy substrates. During this process, the male typically performs non-contact guarding, hovering closely nearby to fend off rival males and ensure the female completes egg deposition undisturbed. The aquatic larvae undergo multiple molts before climbing onto emergent vegetation to undergo their final emergence.

Conservation status: Is currently not listed under any high-risk threat categories globally, being generally regarded as a species of Least Concern (LC). Its high tolerance to habitat modification and its ability to colonize human-made wetlands buffer it against localized habitat loss, although excessive chemical pollution from agricultural runoff remains a localized threat to larval survival in farming regions.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 12/09/2026




Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Count: 72

Foto
Photography ID: 681689
  Adult

Maipu
Mendoza
Argentina
04/03/2026
Damián Carnevale
Foto
Photography ID: 665123
  Adult

General Pico
La Pampa
Argentina
12/28/2025
Hugo Alberto Valderrey
Foto
Photography ID: 660888
  Adult

Lujan de Cuyo
Mendoza
Argentina
11/14/2025
Damián Carnevale
Foto
Photography ID: 629312
  Adult

El Cantadero
La Rioja
Argentina
03/02/2025
Alec Earnshaw
Foto
Photography ID: 628156
  Adult

Godoy Cruz
Mendoza
Argentina
03/18/2025
Damián Carnevale
Foto
Photography ID: 626575
  Adult

El Mollar
Tucumán
Argentina
03/04/2025
Viviana Fuentes
Foto
Photography ID: 624230
  Adult

San Huberto
Córdoba
Argentina
02/02/2025
Eduardo Nadal
Foto
Photography ID: 623921
  Adult

Coronel Suárez
Buenos Aires
Argentina
03/01/2025
Daniel Chiesa
Foto
Photography ID: 617696
  Adult

Sarandi
Rocha
Uruguay
12/05/2024
Walter Liriel Gómez Umpierrez
Foto
Photography ID: 597016
  Adult

La Cumbre
Córdoba
Argentina
11/23/2018
Walter Bustamante



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Species reports



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Species records

Count: 105



Page 1 of 11
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
245665703/04/2026ArgentinaMendozaClub de caza y pesca Maipu, MaipuDamián Carnevale
242399407/01/202611:44ArgentinaMisionesReserva Natural Silvestre Parque Federal Campo San Juan, Santa Ana1Gustavo Fernando Durán
240692228/12/2025ArgentinaLa PampaBarrio Pueblo Nuevo, General PicoHugo Alberto Valderrey
239251914/11/2025ArgentinaMendozaDique Cipolletti, Lujan de CuyoDamián Carnevale
231334303/06/202511:33ArgentinaMisionesParque Nacional Iguazú1Gustavo Fernando Durán
230322703/05/202510:58ArgentinaEntre RíosUbajay1Gustavo Fernando Durán
226611718/03/2025ArgentinaMendozaVilla Hipódromo, Godoy CruzDamián Carnevale
226276604/03/2025ArgentinaTucumánDique La Angostura, El MollarViviana Fuentes
226955002/03/2025ArgentinaLa RiojaEl CantaderoAlec Earnshaw
225537801/03/2025ArgentinaBuenos AiresCoronel SuárezDaniel Chiesa
Page 1 of 11

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Erythrodiplax atroterminata – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 14/09/2026.