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Variation of hind-wing colour and length in Sympetrum internum (Odonata: Libellulidae) from the Canadian prairie provinces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Paul M. Catling
Paul M. Catling
Affiliation:
Biodiversity, National Program on Environmental Health, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, William Saunders Building, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6 (e-mail: catlingp@agr.gc.ca)
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Abstract

Amber coloration, called saffroning, extends from 1 to 15 mm across the hind-wing base in females of Sympetrum internum Montgomery from the prairie provinces but extends only from 2 to 3 mm in males. There are no substantial differences in hind-wing length between the sexes. A significant correlation was found between hind-wing length and the extent of saffroning for both males and females. Regressions of these characters against latitude and longitude revealed that (1) there is a significant decrease in hind-wing length northward for both sexes; (2) there is a significant decrease in saffroning northward that is more significant for females; (3) there is no significant effect of longitude on hind-wing length; and (4) saffroning in females significantly increases westward but there is no similar effect in males, and the trend in females is much less significant than the latitudinal trend. Within the prairie provinces, extensive saffroning is confined to the Prairie Ecozone and moderate saffroning occurs around the edges of this ecozone. The surrounding Boreal Plains Ecozone is characterized by females with very limited saffroning. There is generally extensive variation in the extent of saffroning within some Prairie Ecozone locations, ranging from limited to moderate or extensive, but limited and moderate saffroning were more frequent at most locations in the Prairie Ecozone. Various explanations for saffroning are considered. Since limited, moderate, and extensive saffroning occur together throughout an extensive area, and occur within many populations and within a group emerging at the same time, formal taxonomic recognition of individuals with moderate or extensive saffroning seems unwarranted.

Résumé

Une coloration ambrée, appelée ici safranisation, s’étend sur une distance de 1 à 15 mm à la base de l’aile postérieure des femelles de Sympetrum internum Montgomery des provinces des Prairies, mais seulement sur 2 à 3 mm chez les mâles. Il n’y a pas de différence importante de longueur de l’aile postérieure entre les deux sexes. Il existe une corrélation significative entre la longueur de l’aile et l’étendue de la safranisation, tant chez les mâles que les femelles. Des régressions de ces caractères en fonction de la latitude et la longitude montrent: (1) une diminution significative de la longueur de l’aile vers le nord chez les deux sexes, (2) une diminution significative de la safranisation vers le nord, plus marquée chez les femelles, (3) aucun effet significatif de la longitude sur la longueur de l’aile postérieure et (4) une augmentation significative de la safranisation en direction ouest, chez les femelles, mais nullement chez les mâles; cette tendance chez les femelles est beaucoup moins significative que la tendance latitudinale. Dans les provinces des Prairies, la safranisation étendue est confinée à l’écozone des Prairies avec une safranisation modérée en périphérie de l’écozone. Les femelles de l’écozone environnante des Plaines boréales se caractérisent par une safranisation très réduite. Il y a généralement une importante variation de l’étendue de la safranisation dans quelques localités de l’écozone des Prairies, allant de réduite à modérée et à importante; la safranisation réduite ou modérée est la plus commune dans la plupart des localités de l’écozone des Prairies. Plusieurs explications de la safranisation sont considérées. Puisque des safranisations réduites, modérées et importantes peuvent se retrouver ensemble sur une grande étendue géographique et qu’elles peuvent survenir au sein de plusieurs populations et dans un groupe qui émerge ensemble à la même période, il n’est pas justifié de reconnaître taxonomiquement les individus qui possèdent une safranisation modérée ou importante.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 139 , Issue 6 , December 2007 , pp. 872 - 880
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2007

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