UPDATED CHECKLIST: An Adobe pdf version of the checklist as at December 2018 is available here (click to view/download - approx 10 MB).

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Pseudagrion hageni
      Painted Sprite
   

View photos in Biodiversity Explorer

Distribution: Common throughout the warmer areas north of Port St Johns where there is clear water and deep shade, but most common at lower elevations on coast. To East and West Africa.
Body Length: 36-43 mm
Hind Wing Length: 21.5-23.5 mm
Habitat: Under tree cover, even in very dark locations. Sluggish parts of streams and rivers, seeps, bogs and lakes, with non-turbid water, some tall grass stems and shade.
Flight Period: November to May
Features: Small to medium-sized, slender, orangy red face. The northern form (P. h. tropicanum) has a light green and black striped thorax. Black abdomen with violet tip. Among tall grass at shaded pools and still reaches of streams and rivers at low elevations.
Comments: Occurrence in Eswatini confirmed by photos by Gerhard Diedericks, and by SA damselflies and dragonflies checklist (Durban Natural Science Museum, 2000).

2 records, from 11/19/2013 to 4/17/2019

Information extracted from "Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa" by Michael J Samways, which also includes detailed descriptions of each species.