Asiatic Blood Tail

Description:

A medium sized dark brown dragonfly with blood red tail. Male: Face is yellow below and upper surface of frons is steel black or iridescent blue black. Eyes: Eyes are broadly confluent. The upper surface is brown and lower surface is bluish grey. Thorax: Dark coppery- brown above and bright yellow on sides. In subadults, the upper surface is coppery brown with two parallel yellow stripes. A narrow lateral yellow stripe extends to mid leg. In addition to this, two black lateral “Y” shaped markings are present. Legs: Dark reddish brown to black. The anterior femora is yellow on inner side. Wings: Transparent with smoky brown tips. Wing spot: Reddish brown. Abdomen: The segments 1-2 with a broad lateral and fine mid dorsal yellow stripe. In older individuals these markings covered by fine bluish white pruinescence. The segments 3-8 are bright crimson red and segments at the tip are black. Female: Resemble males, however the abdomen is rich olivaceous brown. A middorsal greenish yellow stripe is present, which is bordered with black lateral stripes.

Habitat:

This shy dragonfly is found in ponds, tanks and marshes.

Notes:

Spotted from Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary