D3143: A match made in Vietnam: associating undescribed females with known odonate males

Odonata are prevalent worldwide, with individuals inhabiting most water habitats. Odonates exhibit a wide array of color, morphologies, and behaviors, leading both scientists and hobbyists alike to have focused on their taxonomy. However, the majority of taxonomic work has been biased towards the males, due to taxonomic convention, with female taxonomy being neglected. While females of Odonata have traditionally received little attention, their taxonomy is of significant importance. A better understanding of females can help the scientific community to assess both stream and terrestrial habitat health, to better understand the life histories of specific species, and to develop a more comprehensive knowledge of odonates as a whole. . Our research was focused throughout Vietnam, which acts as a natural cross-section of Southeast Asia and exhibits exceptional Odonate diversity. The vast majority of females found in Vietnam and the larger region have not been formally described. After collecting male and female specimens, DNA barcoding was performed to associate females with known males. These molecular analyses were paired with morphological comparisons to provide increased evidence for identification, and the result was the association of multiple females with their male counterparts.