Stream hawker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pinheyschna subpupillata |
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| male | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Aeshnidae |
| Genus: | Pinheyschna |
| Species: |
P. subpupillata
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| Binomial name | |
| Pinheyschna subpupillata (McLachlan, 1896)
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| Synonyms | |
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Aeshna subpupillata |
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The stream hawker (Pinheyschna subpupillata) is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to the Aeshnidae family, which includes many large dragonflies. This insect was first described in 1896 by Robert McLachlan.
Contents
Where Does the Stream Hawker Live?
This special dragonfly is found only in southern Africa. It is very common in many parts of southern and eastern South Africa. You can also find it in some areas of Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
What Kind of Home Does It Like?
Stream hawkers prefer to live near fast-flowing streams and rivers. These places are usually in mountainous or high-land areas. They especially like rivers and streams that have lots of plants along their banks. This includes both grassy and bushy areas.
What Does a Stream Hawker Look Like?
The stream hawker is a large dragonfly. It measures about 61 to 64 millimeters (about 2.4 to 2.5 inches) long. Its wingspan is around 87 to 91 millimeters (about 3.4 to 3.6 inches).
Colors and Markings
- Eyes: Its eyes are a bright green color.
- Face: The face is usually deep yellow or greenish-yellow.
- Head: On the top part of its face, called the frons, there is a black spot. This spot is inside a yellow ring.
- Body: The main body part, called the thorax, is brown with green stripes. The long tail-like part, called the abdomen, is green with brown patterns.
- Wings: Its wings look a bit smoky. They have brown and yellow veins. The small, dark spot near the tip of the wing, called the pterostigma, is reddish-brown to yellow-brown.
How Is It Different from Similar Dragonflies?
The stream hawker looks a lot like two other dragonflies: Zosteraeschna minuscula and Zosteraeschna usambarica. However, there are some key differences:
- Abdomen Color: The other two species have more brownish abdomens. The stream hawker's abdomen is greener.
- Thorax Stripes: Zosteraeschna species have long green stripes on their thorax.
- Face Markings:
* The black mark on the face of Zosteraeschna minuscula looks like an anchor. * The mark on Zosteraeschna usambarica looks like a pentagon (a five-sided shape). * The stream hawker has a simple, rounded black spot on its face.
- Male Differences: Male stream hawkers have special parts on their second abdomen segment (S2) that stick out. Male Zosteraeschna dragonflies do not have these parts. They also have a blue patch on their second abdomen segment, which stream hawkers do not.
Images for kids
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Male in flight
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Male perched
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Male
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Male face
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Female
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Female laying eggs
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Female laying eggs
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Female laying eggs
 | James B. Knighten |
 | Azellia White |
 | Willa Brown |
