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Orthetrum serapia
A very common species, within Australia and outside; it has a stable population the there are no known threat affecting it at present. Similar to O. sabina sabina (Slender Skimmer), O. serapia is yellow to greenish yellow in color, with black markings. There are yellow and black strips on the body sides and brown spot at base of hindwings.
Backyard garden. Spotted in Biñan Laguna, Philippines, perched along a Vanda orchid leaf.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/16356... http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Orthet... Similar spottings in the Philippines: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/384...
Spotted on Sep 27, 2012
Submitted on Sep 30, 2012
11 Comments
Happy New Year to you too Agnes! :-)
I couldn't open that link, but what I've seen so far makes me (as a total non-expert in dragonflies!!) lean towards O. serapia...
Hi Ann. I believe our spottings are of the same species. But this gets me to thinking again if this is O. serapia and not O. sabina. The 2 spp overlap their range in the Philippines, and the key to differentiate between the 2 is the color pattern of the abdominal tergite 4. I just saw this reference - http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/fiji/pdf/wat... page 9 says: color pattern of the abdominal tergite 4 separates the 2 species; the yellow marks are lateral and marginal in 0. sabina, but are more complex in 0. serapia, with an additional dorsolateral yellow stripe on each side, fused or not with the lateral yellow band. Comparing with the illustrations, the pattern of our spotting looks more like serapia. Pls check also and let me know your thoughts. And before I forget -- Happy New Year !!! :)
Hi Agnes! Could our spottings be the same species? - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/169...
you are welcome Agnes,that was great normaly they are allways moving and very dificult to spott :-)
Thank you Antonio! Appreciate your comments a lot. The dragonfly was very cooperative, I was able to get more shots in different angles.
Wow great capture Agnes,super macro details,congrats and thanks for sharing
Thanks Leana for the appreciation. And you're welcome too. :)
The distinctive characteristic, dark spot on the base of the hindwing is clearly seen on the third picture. Nice spot and thanks for the link on my similar spotting.
Appreciate your comments, KarenL and Noel. Thanks!!
Lovely detailed series Agnes!
Beautiful series!