Libellulidae R-Z

Family Libellulidae R-Z

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 at lower elevations.

Rhyothemis plutonia

Selys 1883

Elevation 200-800m

Abdomen 20-22mm

Widely distributed across Southeast Asia to India. It is a wetland species that emerge 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 triangularis

Kirby 1889

Elevation 600 - 900m

Abdomen 16-20mm

A very uncommon resident of canals, ponds, and small lakes in the reed beds and 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.

Rhyothemis v. 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 also live near lakes and ponds. 

Sympetrum hypomelas

(Selys, 1884)

Elevation 1500-3600m

Abdomen Length 25-26mm

This one was fully reproduced at Dhaap in May. The grassy edges of the lake were full of them drying their newly opened wings in the sun while others were mating and ovipositing beside them. I have found them breeding in a wetland in Upper Mustang above 3000m. It is very similar to S. orientale but differs by markings on the thorax and the shape of the genitalia. It is found in NE India, NW India, Nepal, Bhutan, and possibly other locations along the Himalayas.

Sympetrum striolatum commixtum

(Selys 1884)

Elevation 1500- 3800m

Abdomen Length 28-30mm

The identification for this one is a count of the antinodal index - there are 7 1/2 cells in the forewings. The anal appendages are red, tipped black, and a few black markings on the dorsum of segments 8, 9, and 10. It is a high-altitude wetland species. Several photos were taken in Upper Mustang at 3800m. The distribution is more narrow than its two relatives.

Tetrathemis platyptera

Selys 1878

Elevation 500-1000m

Abdomen length 15-18mm

This blue-eyed beauty is typically found on fast-flowing streams. I did see it in India once on a small cement water tank in a game park. I have no photos of females. I have seen it right before monsoon and through November. It is regionally widespread in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Male

Tramea basilaris

(Palisot de Beauvois 1805)

Elevation Sea-level to 1700m

Abdomen Length 30-35mm

The Key Hole Glider is appropriate with the wing pattern showing from below as it sits above in trees and rests on bare branches from where it will zing out after something to eat. It is a high flyer and that allows for long-distance flights. This one and the one below were on top of trees at Tiger Mountain. Regionally in NE India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

Tramea virginia

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation 500-900m

Abdomen Length 34-37mm

Found across the region from India to East Asia. It breeds in ponds and flies to treetops where they spend time watching for prey. This one was sharing the same treetop at Tiger Mountain as T basilaris burmeisteri. The wing pattern is a good way to identify this one because it is usually up on high branches. It is found in Pakistan, NW India, NE India, China, and East Asia.

Trithemis aurora

(Burmeister 1839)

Elevation 200-1800mm

A very common and beautiful species is found next to ponds, lakes, wetlands, and canals. The female shown below is yellow but similar to the male and sometimes has a bit of brown at the wingtips. It is easy to spot from the bright fuchsia-colored abdomen, brown wing spot, and red veins. The females are different having a golden color abdomen. Distributed across Asia to Australasian regions.

Trithemis festiva

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation sea-level - 2000m

Abdomen Length 22-28mm

Resting on a branch to survey the area for females and prey. T. festiva is one of the most commonly seen species on small streams, rivers, and lakes. It is also found all over Nepal. The females are rarely seen, once they mate and oviposit, they quickly vanish into the shrubbery. 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. Their elevation limit is about 2000m. It is found in many places from Greece, all of Asia, and Australasia.

Trithemis pallidinervis 

(Kirby 1888)

Elevation sea-level to 2500m

Abdomen Length 28-32mm

The Dancing Dropwing or the more descriptive Long-legged Marsh Glider, was a late arrival - well after the monsoon in late September through the end of October, in the swampy grassland on the west side of Phewa Taal. They have a very distinctive pose with long spidery legs and are often perched on top of grasses in or near wetlands, swamps, and next to ponds with the wings and abdomen held high. Male and Female below. Like T. festiva they are widely placed from the Middle East to Papua New Guinea.

Tholymis tillarga

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

In the late evenings, T. tillarga is cleaning 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.

Urothemis s. signata

(Rambur 1842)

Elevation 80-800m

Abdomen Length 27-28mm

Very similar to Crocothemis servilia but smaller and darker red and black marks only on the dorsum of segments 8 & 9. The female is a dark yellow version of the male but wing markings are the same. They are found in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

Zygonyx iris

Selys 1869

Elevation 80-800m

Abdomen Length 39mm

The Iris Cascader needs fast-moving water and loves waterfalls. It breeds in the fast currents and larva develop clinging to the stones in the fast-moving water. Rare to find one at rest as in the above photo as they usually cruise over their territory. There are several sub-species listed and that results in wider distribution but mostly it is found on mountain streams across SE Asia and to Thailand and Vietnam. 

Tansen area
Rani Mahal at Ranighat on Kali Gandaki River in 2016 and 2019

Rani Mahal or Queen's Palace was built in 1887 by General Khadga Samsher Rana and dedicated to one of his deceased wives Tej Kumari Devi. It is located at a lonely spot called Rani Ghat on the Kali Gandaki River. Over years of abandonment and disrepair, Rani Mahal was falling apart until recently the government began investing in fixing it up for use as a museum. Once a good road is made the number of visitors will increase. There is a beautiful untouched forest called Rani Ban along the road and it meets with a stream where many lovely dragonflies were found.