''Proischnura rotundipennis'', the round-winged bluet is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is scarce and localised. This species is found in the

grassland biome A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natural ...

, where its natural habitat is grassy verges of ponds and slow-flowing

stream A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream ...

s. This bluet is 22–27 mm long, with a wingspan of 30–32 mm. The thorax is greenish blue with black dorsal and antehumeral stripes. The upper abdomen is mainly black; segments eight and nine are bright blue and segment ten is black. Key features for identification in the field are rounded wing-tips and the short, broad

pterostigma The pterostigma (plural: pterostigmata) is a group of specialized cells in the outer insect wing, wings of insects, which are often thickened or coloured, and thus stand out from other cells. It is particularly noticeable in dragonfly, dragonfli ...

ta which are dark with pale edges. P_rotundipennis_AManson2015_01_17_1349.jpg, Male P_rotundipennis_AManson2015_01_10_14_24_30_0330.jpg, Male P rotundipennis AManson2015 01 17 1351.jpg, Male head and thorax P_rotundipennis_AManson2015 01 17 1360.jpg, Male abdomen P_rotundipennis_AManson2015 01 17 1363.jpg, Male abdomen P_rotundipennis_AManson2015 02 14 9093.jpg, Male wing detail showing pterostigmata P_rotundipennis_AManson2015 01 10 14 26 50 0361.jpg, Female P_rotundipennis_AManson2015 02 14 9105.jpg, Mating pair

References

Coenagrionidae Insects of South Africa Insects described in 1921 {{Coenagrionidae-stub