This large damselfly earns its common name from its dark metallic, cryptic colouration, which perfectly camouflages it against the mottled, lichen-covered boulders upon which it habitually sits. Its body is primarily black, but features brown markings along its long, slender abdomen, it is particularly at the joints between segments, and is bluish, slate-grey colouring at the tip.
Geographical range
The marbled malachite is endemic to South Africa. It is only known from protected areas within the Cape Fold Mountains of the Western Cape.
Habitat
Its natural habitat is rivers. It is also found along clear, shallow streams with an abundance of large, lichen-covered boulders. Two populations of marbled malachites exist at high elevation locations over 1,000 metres above sea level, while a third population is at 400 metres above sea level.
Biology
There is virtually nothing known about the marbled malachite’s reproductive biology, life history patterns or feeding behaviour.
Threats
Marbled malachites were probably never widespread or abundant, but early records nevertheless reveal that it was once found at many more localities than it is today. Despite its historical declines, however, the current population of this species appears to be stable, both in range and size, and habitat destruction, mostly for plantation forestry, has largely subsided. Even so, this damselfly species remains vulnerable to several threats that have the potential to impact dramatically on such small and specialized populations. Alien invasive trees, which shade out the habitat, are considered one of the most pervasive and significant threats facing specialized, endemic South African dragonflies and damselflies. Introduced trout pose a serious threat to endemic dragonflies and damselflies through predation.
Conversation
The marbled malachite occurs within protected areas. A massive national rehabilitation programme (Working with Water Programme) began in 1995 with the aim of eradicating invasive alien plants in South Africa. The programme has been a fantastic success story, with other dragonflies and damselflies like Pseudagrion newtoni that were presumed to be extinct being rediscovered along river stretches where invasive alien trees were removed and the natural vegetation reestablished. This programme has also greatly benefited the marbled malachite, but it is imperative that there is no further encroachment of plantation forestry. It is important that populations are regularly monitored to make sure that they are remaining stable. However, for the time being, this enigmatic damselfly is thought relatively safe from the threat of extinction.
^Samways, M.J. (2018). "Ecchlorolestes peringueyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T6975A75510976. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T6975A75510976.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
Further reading
Ris, F. (1921). "The Odonata or Dragonflies of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 18 (3): 282–283; Pl. 7, Fig. 3. {{cite journal}}: External link in |postscript= (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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ecchlorolestes, peringueyi, species, damselfly, family, synlestidae, commonly, known, marbled, malachite, wings, peringueyi, from, ceres, south, africa, conservation, statusnear, threatened, iucn, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, arthropodacl. Ecchlorolestes peringueyi is a species of damselfly in the family Synlestidae It is commonly known as the marbled malachite Ecchlorolestes peringueyiWings of E peringueyi from Ceres South Africa Conservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder OdonataFamily SynlestidaeGenus EcchlorolestesSpecies E peringueyiBinomial nameEcchlorolestes peringueyi Ris 1921 Contents 1 Description 2 Geographical range 3 Habitat 4 Biology 5 Threats 6 Conversation 7 References 8 Further readingDescription EditThis large damselfly earns its common name from its dark metallic cryptic colouration which perfectly camouflages it against the mottled lichen covered boulders upon which it habitually sits Its body is primarily black but features brown markings along its long slender abdomen it is particularly at the joints between segments and is bluish slate grey colouring at the tip Geographical range EditThe marbled malachite is endemic to South Africa It is only known from protected areas within the Cape Fold Mountains of the Western Cape Habitat EditIts natural habitat is rivers It is also found along clear shallow streams with an abundance of large lichen covered boulders Two populations of marbled malachites exist at high elevation locations over 1 000 metres above sea level while a third population is at 400 metres above sea level Biology EditThere is virtually nothing known about the marbled malachite s reproductive biology life history patterns or feeding behaviour Threats EditMarbled malachites were probably never widespread or abundant but early records nevertheless reveal that it was once found at many more localities than it is today Despite its historical declines however the current population of this species appears to be stable both in range and size and habitat destruction mostly for plantation forestry has largely subsided Even so this damselfly species remains vulnerable to several threats that have the potential to impact dramatically on such small and specialized populations Alien invasive trees which shade out the habitat are considered one of the most pervasive and significant threats facing specialized endemic South African dragonflies and damselflies Introduced trout pose a serious threat to endemic dragonflies and damselflies through predation Conversation EditThe marbled malachite occurs within protected areas A massive national rehabilitation programme Working with Water Programme began in 1995 with the aim of eradicating invasive alien plants in South Africa The programme has been a fantastic success story with other dragonflies and damselflies like Pseudagrion newtoni that were presumed to be extinct being rediscovered along river stretches where invasive alien trees were removed and the natural vegetation reestablished This programme has also greatly benefited the marbled malachite but it is imperative that there is no further encroachment of plantation forestry It is important that populations are regularly monitored to make sure that they are remaining stable However for the time being this enigmatic damselfly is thought relatively safe from the threat of extinction References EditThis article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Samways M J 2018 Ecchlorolestes peringueyi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T6975A75510976 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 1 RLTS T6975A75510976 en Retrieved 15 November 2021 Further reading EditRis F 1921 The Odonata or Dragonflies of South Africa Annals of the South African Museum 18 3 282 283 Pl 7 Fig 3 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a External link in code class cs1 code postscript code help CS1 maint postscript link This article related to damselflies is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ecchlorolestes peringueyi amp oldid 1055311586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
