Orthetrum - group

Family Libellulidae

Orthetrum glaucum

(Brauer 1865)

Elevation 80-1600m

Abdomen Length 29-35mm

Asian Skimmer is identified from the blackface and dusky blue abdomen with a dark brownish-black or pruinosed dark blue thorax. It is found in a variety of habitats from stones in streams and rivers to wetlands near ponds. Distribution is from the western coast of India, Sri Lanka to Japan, and the Philippines.

Male

Female

Mating

Orthetrum internum

MacLachlan 1894

Elevation 1000-3800m

Abdomen 28-30mm

A powder-blue, wide-bodied dragonfly that was formerly referred to as Orthetrum japonicum internum is now separated. It is a Himalayan species from Kashmir, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Assam. The body shape is more of a flat tube, equally flat almost to the end of the abdomen. The color is a very light blue with a dirty blue face. This one is not as common as other Orthetrum relatives. It is found at elevations above 2000m resting on lily pads or reed beds in wetlands and small freshwater ponds. Breeding is in April and through the end of the Monsoon.

Male

Mating

Female

Orthetrum luzonicum 

(Brauer 1868)

Elevation 200-2000m

Abdomen 28-30mm

A widespread species across the Asian region including Afghanistan to the Philippines. It is found in wetlands, old paddy fields, weedy, and semi-disturbed areas. Females are yellowish in color but with a similar shape as the male. The male coloration is similar to the female from juvenile to more mature, fully mature is pruinosed blue. They are active before, during, and after the monsoon.

Male

Female

Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum

(Rambur, 1842)

Elevation 200 - 2000m

Abdomen Length 28-31mm

A very common species in a variety of habitats all across Nepal. The color is distinctive and not easily confused with other red-colored species, but females are more difficult to determine. The pinkish-red body and purplish thorax are unusual and so very easy to ID. It is seen before during and after the monsoon. They have two mating periods at the beginning of the season in May and again in October. It is common in many locations from Afghanistan to Japan. 

Male

Female

Mating

Orthetrum s. sabina 

(Drury 1770)

Elevation of sea level to 2300m

Abdomen Length 30-36mm

Called the Slender or Green Skimmer; it is very common throughout Nepal and across Asia usually found next to ponds and lakes. Not particular about habitat this Green Skimmer is found in many locations both close to the water and some distance away. Below are male and female specimens taken from the lakeside near the city. These are seen almost all year in the warmer areas. It is very commonly found in many countries from Egypt to Australia. Common in CNP, Parsa, and other locations up to about 1600m.

Male

Female

Orthetrum taeniolatum 

(Schneider, 1845)

Elevation 80 - 2000m

Abdomen Length 22-25mm

The Small Skimmer is found in the Himal-Hindu Kush region. It is identified from the dirty blue-grey face, hyaline wings, and yellowish-orange pterostigma. It is not common in the Godavari area because it prefers hotter lower regions. Still, it is occasionally seen early in the season April to June before Monsoon.

Male

Female

Orthetrum t. triangulare 

(Selys 1878)

Elevation 800 - 2600m

Abdomen Length 29-33mm

Very common in the Godavari area from May through November. It is called the Triangle Skimmer. The male is easy to distinguish having a black thorax and end of abdomen with bright blue in between. The wings have a small triangular black color in the hind wing. It is found breeding from April to October. It has a wide distribution across the Himalayas Hindu Kush, Sri Lanka, East Asia, and Taiwan.

Male

Female

 Mating