Opal Slim (Aciagrion dondoense)

Opal Slim, Aciagrion dondoense, Opaalskraaltjie is medium sized,very slender opal and blue.Key identification features:

Previously known as the Emerald Slim Aciagion pinhey or Emerald-striped Slim

Very rare species in Southern Africa
Images will be posted as soon as available

Medium sized,very slender opal and blue.Key identification features:

Male

Face dull greenish blue. Labrum sky blue. Anteclypeus opal with a sky blue centre. Cheeks, postclypeus and front of frons opal. Head greyish blue above with two blackish prongs, the hind margins of which form the front margins of two large bright blue postocular spots. Hind margins of postocular spots form a black bar and black spot adjacent to each eye.
Eyes greyish blue in front above, light blue above behind, lime green and turquoise below behind. Neck with sky blue front margin, restopal with some black markings.
Thorax greenish blue above, sides bright blue, fine black lines present, one along top, one along each side,two black dots on each side. Blue spots present between wing bases.
Wings clear. Pterostigmas very short, rounded, dark greyish brown with fine whitish borders. Legs dull pink.
Abdomen long, very slender, glossy black above. Segments 1 to 3 bright blue at sides. S4 to 7 pinkish brown at sides. S 8 to 10 bright blue.Appendages long, black, divergent.

Female

Face dull opal
Labrum pale pink, anteclypeus and postclypeus dull pinkish green, head and postocular spots greyish sage green above, eyes dull opal above and pale green below,
Neck and thorax dull opal above and green along sides
Abdomen blackish above, segments 1 to 7 pale greenish at sides, segments 8 to 10 pale sky blue.

Not known well, but probably standing and often temporary waters shaded by forest, but possibly
also in more open landscapes. Probably often with emergent vegetation and coarse detritus.
Recorded mostly near sea level, but possibly up to 400.

Possible to be confused with Graceful Slim, Aciagrion gracile. Claspers are different. Thorax colour also differ with A. gracile being bright green in colour

South Africa

Africa