Dythemis sterilis

Meurgey, François & Poiron, Celine, 2011, The true Dythemis multipunctata Kirby, 1894, from the West Indies and proposed new taxonomic status (Odonata: Anisoptera: Libellulidae), Zootaxa 3019, pp. 51-62 : 52

Key to the Dythemis sterilis group

1. Eyes shining blue in life (Fig. 16f); frons with metallic blue well defined anteriorly and extending to or just before frontoclypeal suture (Fig. 7); pale spots on S7 short, rounded or oval and about half or less the length of the segment (Figs. 3,4); Mexico south through northern Argentina in South America and Trinidad.................................... Dythemis nigra

- Eyes red above in life (Figs. 16a,c,d,e); frons entirely orange-brown, or, with metallic blue ( D. sterilis multipunctata, St. Vincent ) restricted to postfrons; antefrons mostly or entirely orange brown (Figs. 5–6); pale spots on S7 elongate, about 2/3 the length of segment (Figs. 1, 2; 16b, e); Mexico south through northern South America ( Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana), Trinidad, Tobago, and Lesser Antilles................................................. Dythemis sterilis …2

2. Face yellowish; frons, post-frons and vertex orange-red with at least a pearly sheen on vertex (Figs. 16c,e); thorax chocolate brown (Fig. 16c); abdomen obscure dark-brown. Mexico south through northern South America, Trinidad, Tobago, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Grenada.................................................. Dythemis sterilis sterilis …3

- Face whitish, frons orange red; post-frons entirely metallic blue, vertex metallic blue (Fig. 16a); thorax metallic black (Fig. 16a); abdomen black. Endemic to St. Vincent....................................... Dythemis sterilis multipunctata