Partial field key to the dragonflies known from the Tambopata Reserve, Madre de Dios, Peru
1994
Report
Unpublished report.
Odonata field guide Reserva Nacional Tambopata Parque Nacional Bahuaja-Sonene animals invertebrates arthropods insects dragonflies field techniques Madre de Dios Bibliography
This key has been developed as an aid in the identification of the mature adult Odonata in the field. This key is based, mainly in the coloration of life individuals, which is not applied to the museum specimens. When possible the wing venation is not considered, but it is required basic knowledge of the anatomy of the Odonata. To use the key, it is required to have the individual in the hand, since many details have to be observed very closely. At this time, the key presents many limitations: (1) it is not applied to females of Calopterygidae, Protoneuridae, Coenagrionidae or Libellulidae (since they are difficult to differentiate): (2) Tenerals (just-emered individuals) have a different coloration than the adults and it is not always possible to differentiate the sexes: (3) inmature adults generally are very different than the mature adults and generally look like females: (4) even males of some very similar species cannot be distinguished (5) there is an identification problem among the Coenagrionidae and (6) despite that a considerable work has been carried out in Tambopata, there are still many species to collect, which does not permit an adequate identification. Some guidelines are also given for collection techniques, data registration and specimens preservation.