Ischnura chingaza


Ischnura chingaza is a species of damselfly in the genus Ischnura, of the family Coenagrionidae, endemic to the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. It was first described by Emilio Realpe in 2010.

Etymology

Ischnura chingaza is named after the Chingaza National Natural Park, where the species has been found.

Description

Ischnura chingaza is a yellow-green to green species of damselfly with a total length of. The back part of the head is light yellow. The labia are white. The male samples described have black with light yellow compound eyes, while the eyes females are black with light blue.
A study published in 2012 describes the behaviour of the larvae in a pond located in Cogua, Cundinamarca at an altitude of and an average temperature of. The eggs of Ischnura chingaza are oval in shape with a length of and a width of. The egg stage of the species ranged from two weeks to one month. The average larvae stage was 258.2 days, longer than of other species of Ischnura.

Habitat

The species occurs in and near the grasslands and páramo biomes of Chingaza National Natural Park, Cundinamarca at altitudes between and. The breeding area are freshwater ponds. The species is relatively tolerant to the presence of cattle. Ischnura chingaza also has been reported in the wetlands of Parque Metropolitano La Florida and La Conejera.