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Xanthocnemis zealandica (Common Redcoat)

One of [four] two Redcoat damselflies which are endemic to New Zealand, Xanthocnemis zealandica is the only widespread one of them being recorded extensively on both North and South Islands. This was certainly our most frequently encountered odo in New Zealand.

Two former relatives had a very limited distribution, X. sinclairi (Alpine Redcoat) being recorded only at the headwaters of the Rakaia river on South Island and X. sobrina (Kauri Redcoat) being limited to the Kauri forests of Northland and the Coromandel on North island. In 2014 and 2016 both of these former species were reclassified as being X. zealandica (Common Redcoat).

The formerly fourth, now second redcoat species, X. tuanii (Chatham Redcoat) is limited to Chatham Island 500mls/800kms east of South Island and is still regarded as a distinct species.

Having agonized about our first redcoat encounters at the Gilmour Reserve potentially being X. sobrina – these individuals struck us as relatively large, which X. sobrina was originally said to be – the reclassification has removed our debate.

male
J17_3819 Xanthocnemis zealandica male J17_4815 Xanthocnemis zealandica male J17_3979 Xanthocnemis zealandica male
J17_4251 Xanthocnemis zealandica male J17_4473 Xanthocnemis zealandica male J17_4478 Xanthocnemis zealandica male
J17_4482 Xanthocnemis zealandica male J17_4538 Xanthocnemis zealandica male J17_4543 Xanthocnemis zealandica male
female
J17_4332 Xanthocnemis zealandica female J17_3840 Xanthocnemis zealandica female J17_4547 Xanthocnemis zealandica imm female
in tandem
J17_3816 Xanthocnemis zealandica tandem J17_4476 Xanthocnemis zealandica tandem J17_4495 Xanthocnemis zealandica tandem
J17_4551 Xanthocnemis zealandica tandem J17_4702 Xanthocnemis zealandica tandem J17_4704 Xanthocnemis zealandica tandem