CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENUS SYMPETRUM NEWMAN, 1833 (ODONATA, ANISOPTERA) FROM SW ROMANIA, WITH A GENERAL DISCUSSION ON SYMPETRUM SPECIES

The paper presents the results of an exploratory research on the genus Sympetrum in two regions in the SW part of Romania (Timiș Plain and Oltenia region), in terms of the faunistic account, species distribution and comparative morphology. The variable, constant and distinctive characters are given for each species. The variability of some taxonomic characters – pterostigma, the male accessory genitalia and the vulvar scale is compared with data from the available literature. The analysis reveals that pterostigma variability and set (combinations) of morphological characters (legs and vulvar scale) go out of the current knowledge, questioning their taxonomic value. A discussion on Sympetrum species is provided from the perspective of the classical principles of systematic zoology: the biological species concept, the reproductive isolation of species, species delimitation, speciation.