A male Gomphus fraternus (Say) (Odonata: Gomphidae) was vouchered from the Meramec River at Castlewood State Park, St. Louis, County, Missouri on 7 June 2005. The collection of this specimen is a new state record for Missouri and represents a significant range extension south and westward for this species

Walker, Jane C

English

Jane C Walker

Crossref

Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Record

ValpoScholar

The Great Lakes Entomologist 
Volume 38 
Numbers 1 & 2 - Spring/Summer 2005 Numbers 
1 & 2 - Spring/Summer 2005 
Article 12 
April 2005 
Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State 
Record 
Jane C. Walker 
Washington University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Walker, Jane C. 2005. "Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Record," The 
Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 38 (1) 
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol38/iss1/12 
This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. 
For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 
104 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 38, Nos. 1 & 2
GOMPHUS FRATERNUS (ODONATA: GOMPHIDAE)
A NEW MISSOURI STATE RECORD
Jane C. Walker1
ABSTRACT
A male Gomphus fraternus (Say) (Odonata: Gomphidae) was vouchered from
the Meramec River at Castlewood State Park, St. Louis, County, Missouri on 7
June 2005.  The collection of this specimen is a new state record for Missouri and
represents a significant range extension south and westward for this species.
____________________
Gomphus fraternus (Say) (Odonata: Gomphidae) is a medium-sized
gomphid in the subgenus Gomphurus.  A male G. fraternus was collected on a
gravel bar on the Meramec River where it flows through Castlewood State Park,
24 miles upstream of the confluence with the Mississippi River, on 7 June, 2005
(38.5434° N, 90.5390° W).  It flew low at the edge of the water ahead of the
author, landing frequently.
The Meramec River is a medium-sized, undammed Ozark river with a
diverse odonate fauna, particularly rich in the family Gomphidae.  We have
collected or observed 16 species of gomphids on this 212 mile river, including:
Dromogomphus spinosus Selys, D. spoliatus (Hagen), Erpetogomphus designatus
Hagen, Gomphus (Gomphurus) externus Hagen, G. graslinellus Walsh, G.
(Gomphurus) lineatifrons Calvert, G. (Gomphurus) ozarkensis Westfall, G.
quadricolor Walsh, G. (Gomphurus) vastus Walsh, G. (Gomphurus) ventricosus
Walsh, Hagenius brevistylus Selys, Ophiogomphus westfalli Cook & Daigle,
Progomphus obscurus (Rambur), Stylogomphus sigmastylus Cook & Laudermilk,
Stylurus plagiatus (Selys), and Stylurus spiniceps (Walsh).  This lower section of
the Meramec River is low gradient with occasional shallow riffles alternating
with long deeper pools.  Pool substrate consists of sand-silt with widely spaced
cobble; riffles are gravel-sand.  Water quality is generally good, although sus-
pended sediment is usually present after rain.  Anthropogenic disturbances
within this portion of the watershed include sand and gravel dredging, a large
landfill immediately downstream, and urban development.
The Missouri collection of G. fraternus represents a major range extension
south and westward.  Donnelly (2004) maps the range of this species from
northern Iowa and Illinois north into Manitoba, east through Ontario and Que-
bec to Maine, south to North Carolina and westward to Tennessee.  Based on
the number of county records, it appears to be most abundant in northern Iowa,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky (Donnelly 2004).
Legler, Legler and Westover 1998 (Wisconsin), Curry 2001 (Indiana), and
Glotzhober and McShaffrey 2002 (Ohio), all list G. fraternus as common.   One
specimen of G. fraternus from Greene County and housed at the United States
National Museum, was misidentified and has been redetermined as G.
ozarkensis Westfall by Dr. Sidney W. Dunkle (in litt.).  Review of earlier collec-
tions in Missouri (Williamson 1932; Needham and Westfall 1954) show no
records of G. fraternus.  Donnelly (2004) and Dunkle (2000) also do not list
records of G. fraternus.  Montgomery (1967) and Needham, Westfall, and May
(2000) do list G. fraternus as occurring in Missouri, but give no further data.
1Washington University Tyson Research Center, P.O. Box 258, Eureka, MO 63025.
(email: walker@biology.wustl.edu).
1
Walker: Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Recor
Published by ValpoScholar, 2005
2005 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 105
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank Tim Vogt and Dr. Owen Sexton for reviewing the draft.  Tim Vogt,
Dr. Paul McKenzie, and Dr. George Shinn were helpful with the species determi-
nation.  Acknowledgements go to Dr. Everett (Tim) D. Cashatt for comparing the
specimen to other specimens in the Illinois State Museum collection and Dr.
Thomas W. (Nick) Donnelly for verifying the determination and giving a de-
tailed analysis of morphological features of the specimen and its closely related
species.  Thanks go to Dr. Sidney W. Dunkle for confirming the misidentification
of the Greene County specimen from the United States National Museum.  Fi-
nally, my greatest thanks go to my partner, Joe Smentowski, for paddling his
canoe up the Meramec River.  The voucher will be housed in the Enns Entomol-
ogy Museum, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
LITERATURE CITED
Curry, J. R. 2001. Dragonflies of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science. 303 pp.
Donnelly, T. W. 2004. Distribution of North American Odonata. Part I: Aeschnidae,
Petaluridae, Gomphidae, Cordulegastridae. Bulletin of American Odonatology 7:
61-90.
Dunkle, S. W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars. A Field Guide to the Dragonflies
of North America. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
Glotzhober, R. C., and D. McShaffrey. 2002. The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio.
Ohio Biological Survey. 364 pp.
Legler, K., D. Legler, and D. Westover. 1998. Color Guide to Common Dragonflies of
Wisconsin, Sauk City. 64 pp.
Montgomery, B. E. 1967. Geographical distribution of Odonata of the north central
states. Proc. N. Cent. Branch Ent. Soc. America. 22: 121-129.
Needham, J. G., and M. J. Westfall, Jr. 1955. A Manual of the Dragonflies of North
America (Anisoptera). University of California Press, Berkeley. 615 pp.
Needham, J. G., M. J. Westfall, Jr., and M. L. May. 2000. Dragonflies of North America.
Scientific Publishers, Gainesville. 939 pp.
Williamson, E. B. 1932. Dragonflies collected in Missouri. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ.
Mich. 240: 1-40.
2
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 38, No. 1 [2005], Art. 12
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol38/iss1/12


Valparaiso University

The Great Lakes Entomologist Volume 38 Numbers 1 & 2 - Spring/Summer 2005 Numbers 1 & 2 - Spring/Summer 2005 Article 12 April 2005 Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Record Jane C. Walker Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle  Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Walker, Jane C. 2005. "Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Record," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 38 (1) Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol38/iss1/12 This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 104 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 38, Nos. 1 & 2GOMPHUS FRATERNUS (ODONATA: GOMPHIDAE)A NEW MISSOURI STATE RECORDJane C. Walker1ABSTRACTA male Gomphus fraternus (Say) (Odonata: Gomphidae) was vouchered fromthe Meramec River at Castlewood State Park, St. Louis, County, Missouri on 7June 2005.  The collection of this specimen is a new state record for Missouri andrepresents a significant range extension south and westward for this species.____________________Gomphus fraternus (Say) (Odonata: Gomphidae) is a medium-sizedgomphid in the subgenus Gomphurus.  A male G. fraternus was collected on agravel bar on the Meramec River where it flows through Castlewood State Park,24 miles upstream of the confluence with the Mississippi River, on 7 June, 2005(38.5434° N, 90.5390° W).  It flew low at the edge of the water ahead of theauthor, landing frequently.The Meramec River is a medium-sized, undammed Ozark river with adiverse odonate fauna, particularly rich in the family Gomphidae.  We havecollected or observed 16 species of gomphids on this 212 mile river, including:Dromogomphus spinosus Selys, D. spoliatus (Hagen), Erpetogomphus designatusHagen, Gomphus (Gomphurus) externus Hagen, G. graslinellus Walsh, G.(Gomphurus) lineatifrons Calvert, G. (Gomphurus) ozarkensis Westfall, G.quadricolor Walsh, G. (Gomphurus) vastus Walsh, G. (Gomphurus) ventricosusWalsh, Hagenius brevistylus Selys, Ophiogomphus westfalli Cook & Daigle,Progomphus obscurus (Rambur), Stylogomphus sigmastylus Cook & Laudermilk,Stylurus plagiatus (Selys), and Stylurus spiniceps (Walsh).  This lower section ofthe Meramec River is low gradient with occasional shallow riffles alternatingwith long deeper pools.  Pool substrate consists of sand-silt with widely spacedcobble; riffles are gravel-sand.  Water quality is generally good, although sus-pended sediment is usually present after rain.  Anthropogenic disturbanceswithin this portion of the watershed include sand and gravel dredging, a largelandfill immediately downstream, and urban development.The Missouri collection of G. fraternus represents a major range extensionsouth and westward.  Donnelly (2004) maps the range of this species fromnorthern Iowa and Illinois north into Manitoba, east through Ontario and Que-bec to Maine, south to North Carolina and westward to Tennessee.  Based onthe number of county records, it appears to be most abundant in northern Iowa,Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky (Donnelly 2004).Legler, Legler and Westover 1998 (Wisconsin), Curry 2001 (Indiana), andGlotzhober and McShaffrey 2002 (Ohio), all list G. fraternus as common.   Onespecimen of G. fraternus from Greene County and housed at the United StatesNational Museum, was misidentified and has been redetermined as G.ozarkensis Westfall by Dr. Sidney W. Dunkle (in litt.).  Review of earlier collec-tions in Missouri (Williamson 1932; Needham and Westfall 1954) show norecords of G. fraternus.  Donnelly (2004) and Dunkle (2000) also do not listrecords of G. fraternus.  Montgomery (1967) and Needham, Westfall, and May(2000) do list G. fraternus as occurring in Missouri, but give no further data.1Washington University Tyson Research Center, P.O. Box 258, Eureka, MO 63025.(email: walker@biology.wustl.edu).1Walker: Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State RecorPublished by ValpoScholar, 20052005 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 105ACKNOWLEDGMENTSI thank Tim Vogt and Dr. Owen Sexton for reviewing the draft.  Tim Vogt,Dr. Paul McKenzie, and Dr. George Shinn were helpful with the species determi-nation.  Acknowledgements go to Dr. Everett (Tim) D. Cashatt for comparing thespecimen to other specimens in the Illinois State Museum collection and Dr.Thomas W. (Nick) Donnelly for verifying the determination and giving a de-tailed analysis of morphological features of the specimen and its closely relatedspecies.  Thanks go to Dr. Sidney W. Dunkle for confirming the misidentificationof the Greene County specimen from the United States National Museum.  Fi-nally, my greatest thanks go to my partner, Joe Smentowski, for paddling hiscanoe up the Meramec River.  The voucher will be housed in the Enns Entomol-ogy Museum, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.LITERATURE CITEDCurry, J. R. 2001. Dragonflies of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science. 303 pp.Donnelly, T. W. 2004. Distribution of North American Odonata. Part I: Aeschnidae,Petaluridae, Gomphidae, Cordulegastridae. Bulletin of American Odonatology 7:61-90.Dunkle, S. W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars. A Field Guide to the Dragonfliesof North America. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.Glotzhober, R. C., and D. McShaffrey. 2002. The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio.Ohio Biological Survey. 364 pp.Legler, K., D. Legler, and D. Westover. 1998. Color Guide to Common Dragonflies ofWisconsin, Sauk City. 64 pp.Montgomery, B. E. 1967. Geographical distribution of Odonata of the north centralstates. Proc. N. Cent. Branch Ent. Soc. America. 22: 121-129.Needham, J. G., and M. J. Westfall, Jr. 1955. A Manual of the Dragonflies of NorthAmerica (Anisoptera). University of California Press, Berkeley. 615 pp.Needham, J. G., M. J. Westfall, Jr., and M. L. May. 2000. Dragonflies of North America.Scientific Publishers, Gainesville. 939 pp.Williamson, E. B. 1932. Dragonflies collected in Missouri. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ.Mich. 240: 1-40.2The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 38, No. 1 [2005], Art. 12https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol38/iss1/12

https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2129&amp;context=tgle

Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Record

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Crossref

ValpoScholar

Valparaiso University