Phenetic Analysis of the Anisoptera (Insecta: Odonata) in Jeju Island, Korea, Based on Morphological Characters

This study was conducted from April 2002 to September 2007 to investigate the, relationships of 27 species of Anisoptera which were collected in wetlands of Jeju Island, using a phenetic analysis of external morphological characters. The generated phenogram revealed the presence of two superfamilies within Anisoptera, Aeshnoidea and Libelluloidea. Moreover, the three groups, Aeshinidae, Libellulidae and Corduliidae, were clearly branched. As a result, the phenogram was sin-alar to that of the ordinary systematic classification. The Aeshnidae was divided into Anax and Gynacantha, and Polycanthagyna and Aeschnophleebia. Three species of Anax (e.g., guttatus, parthenope and nigrofasciatus) presented to have very similar external morphological characteristics. Particularly, A. guttatus has confused its name, e.g., someone treated it as a synonym with A. parthenope due to the presence of very similar morphological characters. However, major differences were observed in the upper edge of the frons and the anterior femur in these species. Therefore, we obtained a conclusion that is more valid to classify A. guttatus as all independent species rather than as a synonym. The Libellulidae consisted of three subgroups. When the relationship of the genus Sympetrum were considered, the key characteristics were determined to be the patterns of the first lateral suture, the second lateral suture and the humeral suture. The Cordullidae was divided into Macromiinae and Cordulinae. Particularly, Somatochlora. graeseri and S. clavata were confirmed to be unregistered species in Jeju Island.