Showing posts with label dragonfly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dragonfly. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 February 2008

Hydrobasileus croceus

Anisoptera
Species Name: Hydrobasileus croceus
Family: Libellulidae

The Amber-winged Glider is quite a common dragonfly around ponds in open areas, however they are almost always seen on the wing "sailing" to and fro non-stop. Males and females are similarly coloured and marked.

This species has a vast range all over Asia, from Japan and China to India and in the whole of Southeast Asia.

Photo above: A pair "in tandem" photographed over a pond where the female lays her eggs among the thick water weeds.

An empty larval case or exuvia
of H. croceus.

Sunday, 30 December 2007

Neurothemis terminata

Anisoptera
Species Name: Neurothemis terminata
Family: Libellulidae


This is one of the common red-winged dragonflies that one sees often in drains, small ditches and ponds. There are several species of Neurothemis whose males typically have dark red pigmented wings with some clear (hyaline) areas, usually at the tips. The females however usually have clear wings with some darker markings. The common species are quite similar in appearance and are difficult to identify in the field.

N. terminata is common on Borneo, most of Indonesia, the Philippines and less so in Peninsular Malaysia.

Sunday, 25 November 2007

Orthetrum testaceum


Anisoptera
Species Name: Orthetrum testaceum
Family: Libellulidae

Close-up view of male O. testaceum


This
is one of the largest of the red dragonflies. However it's only the males that are red, the female is olive-green to brown in colour. The males are often seen perched near ponds and drains, flying every now and then. The females are seldom seen, and come to water only during mating and egg-laying when the males will guard her by hovering like a helicopter over her.

This dragonfly is very common in Borneo and is also found in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines and Burma.


Saturday, 10 November 2007

Rhyothemis phyllis

Anisoptera
Species Name: Rhyothemis phyllis
Family: Libellulidae



This is another common species that is readily recognizable because of its beautiful markings in the base of its hindwings. They are usually found flying, fluttering a little like butterflies do, to and fro in large numbers on open spaces catching small insects. However, they can sometimes be seen perched singly on plants near ponds and drains where they breed.

It is another widespread species, ranging all across Asia from India, China, Japan to SE Asia down to Australia. One of their common English names is Yellow-striped Flutterer. Both male and female are similarly marked.

I find its markings rather nice and use it to make this design:

Sunday, 4 November 2007

Orthetrum sabina

Anisoptera
Species Name: Orthetrum sabina
Family: Libellulidae

Most people in Sabah would have seen this very common dragonfly in the compound of houses and buildings both in rural areas as well as in towns, in gardens and parks, on the roadside, near drains and ponds. It is definitely one of the dragonflies that I had played with in my childhood!

It is in fact a very wide-spread species that occurs from North Africa, through the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, to China and Japan, through Indonesia to Australia and Oceania.

This dragonfly's distinctive yellowish-green colour with black markings and a slender abdomen or "tail" make it very recognizable and cannot be mistaken for any other dragonfly of this size. It breeds in drains, shallow ponds and even muddy pools of water. Its common name is the Slender Skimmer.