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There is 1 genus (Palpopleura) and 4 species in the southern African region.

General information:
  • All very to fairly small sized (hindwing 15-29 mm).
  • Short and broad abdomen with a characteristic pattern of three black and four yellow stripes, which pruinose with maturity.
  • They are easily recognised by the wave in the basal forewing costa, concave halfway between base and node although this is not so pronounced in P. deceptor (Deceptive Widow).
  • P. lucia (Lucia Widow) and P. portia (Portia Widow) may occur together, at most open pools or marshes in tropical areas. P. deceptor favours seasonal pools. P. jucunda (Yellow-veined Widow) prefers a grassy marsh habitat.
  • The wing markings of P. lucia and P. portia vary between specimens but still stay within the general pattern. These markings may get enhanced with age.
  • P. deceptor is named for its deceptive similarity to the African Piedspot, (Hemistigma albipunctum).
Species identification aid:
  • Females of P. lucia and P. portia are most like P. portia males, but is difficult to separate. Females must preferably be identified or photographed with males.
  • P portia and P. lucia have dark patches on the wings.
  • Black patches in both wings of the female P. lucia is more extensive than the patches of P. Portia.
  • P. lucia females have an amber patch in both wings that reaches the hind margins of the wings. These patches may also be prevalent in P. portia, but is lighter and do not reach the hind margins of the wings. Female P. jucunda has distinctive dark patches on outer part of both wings, but the males have amber patches in the area where the females have dark patches. P. deceptor has long black streaks in forewing only with an isolated dark marking around node.
  • Pterostigmas of P. lucia and P portia are bicoulored: half white and half black with black on outer side. The outer black part of the pterostigmas of P. Lucia follows to the last Px vein (on the wing tip) giving the pterostigma a cat nail like appearance P. jucunda has dark brown pterostigmas. Pterostigmas of P. deceptor are black with white/cream in inner half.

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A click on the species name will link to the main species description article and image gallery

Deceptive Widow. Palpopleura deceptor
Male Female
100 1892 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male RNR GP RSA Mch 2018r 6 100 1399 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female LP RSA Sept 2017r 1
100 1265 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male Close up Kgomo Kgomo Apr 2017r 13 100 1897 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male Close up RNR GP RSA Mch 2018r 6 100 1900 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male Close up RNR GP RSA Mch 2018r 16 100 1903 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male Close up RNR GP RSA Mch 2018r 25 100 1904 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male Close up RNR GP RSA Mch 2018r 31 100 1905 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Male Close up RNR GP RSA Mch 2018r 34 100 1933 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female Close up RNR GP RSA Feb 2018r 30 100 1924 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female Close up RNR GP RSA Feb 2018r 9 100 1925 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female Close up RNR GP RSA Feb 2018r 12 100 1928 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female Close up RNR GP RSA Feb 2018r 19 100 1929 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female Close up RNR GP RSA Feb 2018r 24 100 1930 Palpopleura deceptor Deceptive Widow Female Close up RNR GP RSA Feb 2018r 26

 

Lucia Widow, Palpopleura lucia
Male Female
100 705 Palpopleura portia Lucia Widow Numu July 2015r 7 100 707 Palpopleura portia Lucia Widow Female Numu July 2015r 1
100 1220 Palpopleura lucia Lucia WidowMale Close up Kozi Bay KZN Mch 2017r 12   100 1210 Palpopleura lucia Lucia WidowMale Close up Kozi Bay KZN Mch 2017r 2 100 1213 Palpopleura lucia Lucia WidowMale Close up Kozi Bay KZN Mch 2017r 3 100 1215 Palpopleura lucia Lucia WidowMale Close up Kozi Bay KZN Mch 2017r 7 100 1217 Palpopleura lucia Lucia WidowMale Close up Kozi Bay KZN Mch 2017r 9 100 1221 Palpopleura lucia Lucia WidowMale Close up Kozi Bay KZN Mch 2017r 14 100 1947 Palpopleura lucia Lucia Widow Female Close up1 Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 8 100 1941 Palpopleura lucia Lucia Widow Female Close up1 Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 1 100 1943 Palpopleura lucia Lucia Widow Female Close up1 Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 5 100 1944 Palpopleura lucia Lucia Widow Female Close up1 Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 6 100 1945 Palpopleura lucia Lucia Widow Female Close up1 Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 11 100 1946 Palpopleura lucia Lucia Widow Female Close up1 Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 12

 

Portia Widow, Palpopleura portia
Male Female
100 1287 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Mystic Monkeys LP RSA Jan 2017r 6 100 1297 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Female Melkrivier LP RSA Sept 2017r 1
100 1313 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Male Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 6 100 1314 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Male Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 12 100 1315 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Male Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 18 100 1318 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Male Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 4 100 1319 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Male Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 5 100 1320 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Male Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 14 100 1312 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Haenertsburg LP RSA July 2015r 8 100 1304 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Female Close Up LP RSA Sept 20171r 1 100 1305 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Female Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 9 100 1308 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Female Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 13 100 1311 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Female Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 7 100 1310 Palpopleura portia Portia Widow Natuurpraal Female Close Up LP RSA Sept 2017r 6

 

Yellow-veined Widow, Palpopleura jucunda
Male Female
100 1735 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Rustenburg LP RSA Sept 2017r 2 117 539 Palpopleura jucunda Yellow veined Widow
100 1749 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Close up RNR Apr 2017r 10 100 1738 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Close up Rustenburg LP RSA Sept 2017r 1 100 1739 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Close up Rustenburg LP RSA Sept 2017r 9 100 1741 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Close up Rustenburg LP RSA Sept 2017r 7 100 1742 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Close up Rustenburg LP RSA Sept 2017r 15 100 1743 Palpopleura jacunda Yellow veined Widow Male Close up Rustenburg LP RSA Sept 2017r 19 100 1954 Diplacodes pumila Dwarf Percherr Male Old Close up Hertzogbergr MP RSA Nov 2017r 1 100 1949 Diplacodes pumila Dwarf Percherr Male Old Close up Hertzogbergr MP RSA Nov 2017r 7 100 1951 Diplacodes pumila Dwarf Percherr Male Old Close up Hertzogbergr MP RSA Nov 2017r 11 100 1952 Diplacodes pumila Dwarf Percherr Male Old Close up Hertzogbergr MP RSA Nov 2017r 12 100 1953 Diplacodes pumila Dwarf Percherr Male Old Close up Hertzogbergr MP RSA Nov 2017r 13 100 1950 Diplacodes pumila Dwarf Percherr Male Old Close up Hertzogbergr MP RSA Nov 2017r 10