Anisoptera
Species Name: Indaeschna grubaueri
Family: Aeshnidae
Male resting beside pond
Members of the family Aeshnidae are the gaints of the Odonata and this is one of the largest of the gaints. This is the second time that I've seen and photographed this species at the very same pond at the edge of a forest reserve near Lahad Datu town. The first time was in 2006 when I saw a male resting on vegetation at the side of the pond, and today I was fortunate enough to see this huge female ovipositing at this pond. Interestingly she was laying her eggs in the moist soil just above the water. This species is also known to lay its eggs in water-filled tree holes and on buttress cavities of large trees.
Female on the wing
Females of I. grubaueri have hindwings that measure up to 68mm while males are thinner and smaller with 59-62mm long hindwings. Both sexes are similarly coloured with bright lime-green markings on the thorax and wide bands on the abdomen.
Female ovipositing on wet soil above water line
This species is said to be widespread in lowland forest in Sundaland and the Philippines.
9 comments:
I like the flying grubaueri..... fantastic! You managed to capture it with your camera and it is so sharp!
Hello.
It is the season of the long-awaited dragonfly.
A great number of dragonflies appear every day.
Last year I witnessed my Darners ovipositing on ponds'edge as well as among trees! I was able to capture those images, BUT...your images are clear and sharp! Wonderful captures, Joe!
Thanks for comments, all. I guess I was just lucky when this big female flew in front of me and hovered around for a few moments looking for a suitable site to deposit her eggs. She then just simply disappeared after completing her task.
Nice flight shot!!
Very impressive looking bug! Darners are so hard to get photos of too. Saw several blue darners while at Yosemite National Park, but never nabbed any photos.
It does look a biggie. We do not have any representative of that genus. I have not had any luck with Darners, so far.
Vety interesting site introduced to me by Gallicissa.
I shall gain a lot from you.
They are not insects they are dragons or damsels.
wonderful capturers of them, I just wish the ones here in Egypt would sit long enough to get photos like yours.
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