Lowland - Terai

Terai - National Parks Koshi Tapu, Parsa, Chitwan, and Bardia

Chitwan National Park was the first designated national park in Nepal, established in 1973. Before that, it was used for hunting by the Royal family of Nepal. It is most famous for tiger, elephant, rhino, and Garhial crocodiles. Tame elephants were used for jungle safaris but then in 2012, they were not allowed except in the buffer zones. Lodges were also removed from the park. Now the large tourist population stays on the north side of the Rapti River and visits the park by jeep or on foot. Dragonflies are found along with the banks of the Rapti River and on ponds and lakes within the park and a Ramsar site called Bees Hajar Taal or Twenty Thousand Lakes.

 Elephants and Rhinos are regular sights in the National Park.

Bardiya or Baria National Park was established in 1988. It is Nepal's largest National Park with 968 sq km of land, located in the far west region. It is well-known for tigers, rhinos, wild elephants, deer, and many types of birds.

Zygoptera

Neurobasis chinensis 

Linnaeus 1758
Elevation 80 - 1700m

A ubiquitous species in Nepal found from the Terai (80m) and up to mid-hills at Godavari 1500m. The main requirement is a well-vegetated, relatively clean, and flowing stream to sit on. The female is easily recognized by the cream-colored patches in the wings and the male with a flash of emerald green from the wings. 

Heliocypha biforata

(Selys 1859)

Elevation 80 - 1000m

Abdomen 19-20mm

At CNP there is a small stream and a pond inside the Chitwan buffer zone jungle. This species was found in the stream that was flowing through the jungle near the elephant center. It is the only sighting I have had of this species in Nepal, but it is common throughout Southeast Asia. The sighting was in April and there were a few females present but no photos were captured.

Libellago lineata

(Burmeister 1839)

Elevation 80-1000m

Abdomen length 14-16mm

Usually, found on flowing water, small to medium-sized rivers and streams. This one was on the Budhi Rapti River that feeds into the larger Rapti River which flows past Chitwan National Park and it was on the canal in the Bees Hajar Taal wetland, a Ramsar site. In Pokhara, it is found along the edges of Phewa Taal. The female is seen below resting on a stick with Trithemis festiva female.

Family Coengarionidae

Agriocnemis clauseni 

Fraser 1922

Elevation 80-1000

Abdomen 20-22mm

A small attractive damselfly that I saw at Bees Hajar sitting on vegetation next to the canal. It is fairly common regionally. It is also located at Rupa Taal near Pokhara. It has two color forms for the female, one similar to a juvenile male and a red form.

Male

Female

Agriocnemis femina 

(Brauer 1868)

Elevation Sea-level to 1000m

Abdomen length 16-17mm

Very similar to A. pygmaea in size and color, but usually has a pruinose thorax and darker abdomen to distinguish it from A. pygmaea. It is widely distributed throughout S and SE Asia and Australasia. It is found primarily in grasslands near ponds and lakes. This photo is from Parsa Reserve. 

Agriocnemis lacteola

Selys 1877

Elevation 150-800m

Abdomen 16-18mm

A lovely milky white damselfly that is found in wetland areas. It was found in Bes Hajar Taal and in Haldi Bari forest wetland. The females are very attractive with a blue and black abdomen. About the same size as A. pygmaea but much easier to spot.

Agriocnemis pygmaea 

Rambur 1842

Elevation of sea level to 1370m

Abdomen 16-17mm

Hard to detect due to its minuscule size but it drifts between blades of grass next to ponds, streams, and wetland areas. Females have two color forms red and green that look similar to the male. Very common. Found at CNP, Bees Hajar, Parsa, Godavari, and many other locations around Nepal.

Aciagrion approximans approximans

Selys 1876

Elevation 80-800m

Abdomen Length 22-24mm

Another species from the Beeshajar Ramsar site and at Dipang Taal in Pokhara. Several wetland areas beside the road are accessible from the main track. The wetland was just beside a canal near one of the larger lakes - a very attractive purplish damselfly. Besides Nepal, it is found mostly in NE India.

Aciagrion pallidum

Selys, 1891

Elevation 800 to 1500m

Abdomen Length 31mm

With a ground-colored body, this one is hard to spot. The thorax has blue stripes and is very attractive up close. In Bees Hajar, it was next to a partially dried wetland. Also, it has been recorded at Lamjung, Bardia, and Syangja. It is usually found after the monsoon.

Ceriagrion coromandelianum

Fabricus 1798

Elevation sea-level to 1000m

Abdomen Length 28-30mm

The Yellow Waxtail is a very common species in wetland areas throughout the region and even as far as Japan. The bright yellow body color is unmistakable. Females are similar in size but the color is more grass green.

Ischnura rubilio

(Brauer 1865)

sea-level to 1500m

Abdomen 16-20mm

The yellow and blue are a good contrast to the grassy areas where these small damselflies live. Still overlooked due to size it is found in ponds and wetlands. It is both common and widespread found all over Asia. In Nepal, it is seen in CHP, Godavari, Pokhara, Lamjung, and many other locations.

Ischnura forcipata

Morton 1907

Elevation 500 - 1800m

Abdomen 22-23mm

A pretty species with a bright green thorax, blue and black abdomen, and polychromatic females for a bit of confusion. Found mostly in wetlands and beside sluggish streams. It is common across the Asian region and across a range of elevations.

Pseudagrion microcephalum

Rambur 1842

Elevation sea level to 400m

Abdomen 27mm

Location Parsa in the Terai

A small bright blue damselfly with a goblet-shaped mark on the 2nd segment of the abdomen. Females are quite different from the male being suffused with greenish orange in color on the eyes and thorax and with a small bifid black mark on the dorsum of segment 9.

Pseudagrion rubriceps

Selys 1876
Elevation 200-2000m
Abdomen 29mm

Saffron-faced Blue Dart is the common name for the reddish-colored eyes and the blue tip of the abdomen. A sub-species are found in Sri Lanka. These are common on many small ponds, lakes, and slow canals.

Male

Female

Pseudagrion spencei

Fraser 1922

Elevation 200 - 2000m

Abdomen 22-24mm

A small bright blue damselfly with black that resembles several other blue types such as P. hypermelas. The broad black X-shaped mark on segment 10 and a thistle-shaped black mark on the 2nd segment are IDs. The female is an olive green color with fine lines on the surface of the abdomen and the thorax. 

Female

Onychargia atrocyana

Selys, 1865

Elevation 80-800mm

Abdomen length 23mm

Location Terai - Parsa and Chitwan

Appearance is a black damselfly with small bluish-white colored rings at the abdominal segments. Younger males have yellowish stripes on the thorax that disappear with age, but stay visible on the females.

Family Platycnemididae

Copera vittata

Selys 1863

Elevation 200m

Long dark yellow-orange spidery legs without enlarged tibias and the longer caudal anal appendages at the end of the abdomen are ID indicators. There are several Copera sp that closely resemble each other and probably need a bit of work to separate them. C. vittata assamensis, C. vittata vittata, and C. marginipes are found in many regions across India and Southeast Asia. They are usually seen on slow or even slightly stagnate water and often in dark damp forested areas. Immature forms can be whitish in color and confusing at first glance.

This is Copera vitata from Manipur.

Copera marginipes

(Rambur 1842)

200-300m

The common name is Yellow Feather Legs. Closely related to C. vittata, this species has bright yellow legs with expanded tibias and very small caudal appendages. The habitat is very similar for both species. White forms exist for both teneral males and females.

One of many dragonfly predators

Family Aeschnidae

Gynacantha khasiaca

MacLachlan, 1896

Elevation 200m
Abdomen Length 48-49mm

Rare find! It was deep in the Chitwan jungle and only spotted as it was disturbed. This is listed as data deficient because so little is known about its habits and numbers. This one was about 10m from the Rapti River in a very thick jungle.

Family Gomphidae

Ictinogomphus rapax

Rambur 1842

Elevation 100- 1700m
Abdomen Length 40mm

It is a common sight on small ponds, lakes, and along rivers. This one was next to a very swampy pond in Bishajar Taal. While taking this photo I heard a grunt and looked up to see a large one-horned Rhino about 30 meters away. I was so focused on all the dragonflies that I failed to notice it...oops

Macrogomphus montanus 

Selys 1869

Elevation 80- 1000m

Abdomen Length 50mm

Newly emerged found clinging to the grass next to the Rapti River in the Chitwan National Park buffer zone (CNP). This is another listed as data deficient by IUCN, but it should be found in similar locations in India and Bangladesh. It is probably under-reported. This was photographed in early July and other records show specimens from June. Distribution is in NW India; NE India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Nepogomphus modestus

(Selys 1878)

Elevation 80-1000m

Abdomen Length 27-29mm

This one is found in the Himalayan region, Northeast India, Myanmar, and possibly Bhutan. I have seen it on rivers in Nepal and Northeast India usually July through September. This newly emerged specimen was seen in July in the buffer zone of CNP.

Nychogomphus duaricus

(Fraser 1924)

Elevation 60 - 800m

Abdomen length 39-41mm

The first name was Onychogomphus duaricus Fraser, 1924. This one was found in the Chitwan buffer zone near the National Park. A female was nearby but the photo is not very good. The habitat is near running water, usually small streams. They are usually found later in the season after the monsoon. Distribution is in NW & NE India, plus Bengal and Thailand.

Platygomphus dolabratus

(Selys 1854)

Elevation 200m

Abdomen Length 41mm

Found in the CNP buffer zone early morning resting on the grasses near the Rapti River, probably waiting for the weather to warm up. The female was found inside the jungle and some distance from the male closer to a small side river called the Budhi Rapti. Both were on the same day in early July. Distribution is in northern India, Nepal, and West Bengal.

Libellulidae

Acisoma panorpoides
Rambur 1842
Elevation 130 - 1900m

This is a common and widespread species across Asia and Africa. There are several common names such as Grizzled Pintail or Asian Pintail. It is usually found near small streams, wetlands, and swampy areas. In warmer regions, there may be several cycles in one year. The female is golden yellow and the male light blue.

Arethiamanta brevipennis 

Rambur 1842

Elevation 200 - 800m

Abdomen 17-20mm

A small lovely red (male) or yellow (female) dragonfly with a bright red spot on the backside of the hind trochanters. Not too common in Nepal but is common in certain areas, such as forests and well-vegetated wetland areas. It is also seen in the wetlands in Pokhara.

Brachydiplax sobrina

Rambur 1842

Elevation sea-level - 800m

Abdomen Length 20-24mm

A species found near wetlands, marshes, and canals. It is not seen so often but not rare. The males are very small but easy to see with the powder blue abdomen tipped with black. Juvenile males (middle photo) are very similar to the females (last photo) and are striking with a yellow-orange and black coloration. The young male is still changing color, but what is striking is the metallic blue frons. B. sobrina is found in Chitwan, BesHajar Taal and in Hadi Bari Jhapa.

Brachthemis contaminata

(Fabricius 1793)

Elevation of sea level to 1500m

Abdomen length 18-21mm

Found in all types of habitats often in disturbed and dirty areas. The males have a beautiful orange color on the wings, and the females are ground color with bright yellow pterostigma. Very common in Asia.

Bradinopyga geminata

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation of level to 1400m

Abdomen 26-29mm

Usually seen on rocks near rivers or cement water tanks. A very camouflaged insect it is only seen when it moves. It is called the Granite Ghost. It is found all over India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. I recently photographed it at the Rani Mahal near Tansen.

Crocothemis servilia

Drury 1770

Elevation of sea level to 3000m

Abdomen Length 24-35mm

The Scarlet Skimmer is a bright red or yellowish-colored male depending on age. Key ID features are the reddish or yellow veins in the winds with a yellow patch on the hind wing and a dark line down the center of the top surface of the abdomen. Female is usually yellow or pale yellow depending on age with a carinated abdomen and yellow veins in wings.

Diplacodes nebulosa

(Fabricus 1793)

Elevation of sea level to 1000m
Abdomen Length 15-17mm

Another wetland species found on reeds and grasses in the water - it is unlike its relative D. trivialis which often sits on the ground. The female is similar to the female of D. trivialis but has a slightly different background pattern of black and ochre.

Diplacodes trivialis

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation of sea level to 3000m

Abdomen Length 19-22mm

Usually seen sitting on the ground and not always close to a water body. They are often at paddy fields and along canals. Sometimes called the chalky percher or the ground skimmer. Common throughout Asia and Australasia.

Neurothemis fulvia 

Drury 1773

Elevation 80 - 1500mm

Abdomen Length 21-26mm

One of the first to appear in the spring. Widely distributed and often found in disturbed land areas. The male has clear discs at the tip of the wings, and the female has solid-colored wings.

Neurothemis t. tulia

Drury 1773

Elevation 180 - 800m

Abdomen Length 16-20mm

A lovely wetland, paddy land, and swamp species the male has beautiful wings with a white stripe and blue-black venation and the body is midnight blue with white appendages. Females are very different in color; brown and tan with some wing markings.

Orthetrum luzonicum 

Brauer 1868

Elevation 200-2000m

Abdomen 28-30mm

A widespread species across the region including Afghanistan to the Philippines. It is found in wetlands, old paddy fields, and weedy and semi-disturbed areas. Females are yellowish in color.

Orthetrum glaucum

Brauer 1865

Elevation 240-2600m

Abdomen 29-35mm 

The black-colored face and pale pruinose abdomen are good ID features for this species of Orthetrum. Found along streams, canals, and ponds - it is common throughout Asia.

Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum 

Burmeister 1839
Elevation 180-2600m

Attractive and fast-moving so it catches attention. The pinkish-red body and purplish thorax are unusual and so very easy to ID. Very common and widespread throughout the region event as far as Taiwan and Japan.

Orthetrum s. sabina

(Drury 1773)

Elevation 130 - 1800m

Not particular about habitat this Green Skimmer is found in many locations both close to the water and some distance away. Common in CNP, Parsa, and other locations up to about 1600m. 

Palpopleura sexmaculata

Fabricius 1787

Elevation 200-2700m

Abdomen 14-16mm

Found across Asia from Afghanistan to China. It is often found in grasslands and paddy fields. Very small in size and lovely to see. 

Pantala flavescens

Fabricius 1798

Elevation sea-level - 4000m

Abdomen 29-35mm

Males and females are very similar. A wide-ranging species thought to migrate great distances. They are commonly called Globe Wanderers. They are found in abundant numbers just after heavy rain. They tend to breed quickly which aids their migratory habits.

Potamarcha congener

Rambur 1842
Elevation of sea level to 1500m
Abdomen 29-32mm

Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer is the common name. Here this specimen is older and the yellow color of the abdomen is less pronounced. The top of the eyes is a dark red color. The female is ochre-colored with expansions at the 8th abdominal segment.

Trithemis aurora

(Burmeister 1839)

Elevation 200-1800mm

A very common and beautiful species found along ponds, lakes, wetlands, and many other types of water bodies throughout Asia. The female shown below is yellow but similar to the male and sometimes has a bit of brown at the wingtips.

Trithemis festiva 

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation 180-2000m

A very widespread species and commonly found near running water. In Nepal, it is found in CNP and up to 1600m in the hills. The females are more difficult to spot as mating is rapid and females stay in the brush off to the sides of streams.

Trithemis palidinervis

(Kirby 1889)

Elevation 300 -2000mm

The Dancing Dropwing has long spidery legs and is often perched on top of grasses in or near wetlands, swamps, and next to ponds. Common throughout Asia.

Rhodothemis rufa 

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation 80-200m

Abdomen 25-29mm

Found in CNP, this is the female and it is clearly noted for the white stripe from the prothorax to the 3-4th segment of the abdomen. The male is red very similar to Crocothemis servilia but without the black line on the abdomen surface. Found in swampy wetlands.

Rhyothemis plutonia 

(Selys 1883)

Elevation 200-800m

Abdomen 20-22mm

Widely distributed across Southeast Asia to India. It is a wetland species that emerges in large batches along with R. variegata, R. triangluaris, and Neurothemis tulia. They swirl around in the air above the water for some time before settling on the grasses next to the wetland. I was not able to find a female but they might have been in the large mass of flutterers above my head.

Rhyothemis variegata

Linnaeus 1763

Elevation 180 - 1400m

Abdomen 23-25mm

The slow fluttery flight resembles a butterfly and the gold and black pattern is easy to see. The female, below, does not have color up to the wingtips. It is a very common wetland, swampy species that also lives near lakes and ponds. 

Rhyothemis triangularis

Kirby 1889

Elevation 600 - 900m

Abdomen 16-20mm

A very uncommon resident of canals, ponds, and small lakes in the reed beds it tends to sit a bit further out on water plants away from the shore. When seen in their preferred habitat there are usually good numbers of both males and females.

Tholymis tillarga

Fabricus 1789
Elevation 200 - 2000m
Abdomen 28-33mm

In the late evenings, T. tillarga cleans up on mosquitos along the edges of canals, ponds, and paddy fields. It is called the Foggy-wing Twister because it flies rapidly up and down the banks eating as it flies and it has two small blue smudge marks on the wings. It is a very difficult species to photograph.

Parsa Wildlife Reserve - A Gaur peeking through the trees.

Parsa Reserve is famous for Gaur, tigers, birds, and many other species of plants and animals.