This is the las t posting for the series of "Dragonflies of Malaysia". The sheetlet of this stamp issue contains 25 stamps portraying many species of drangonflies and damselflies found in Malaysia. I have depicted each of them along with beautiful photographs taken by myself. I hope you have enjoyed the presentation of this series.
Vestalis gracilis
Vestalis gracilis is one of the large size damselfly species. The metalic green colour on its body is particulary stricking. This species resembles Vestalis amoena in many ways. The main characteristic to distinguish V. gracilis from V. amoena is on the green colour pattern on thorax. Vestalis gracilis has discrete light green patches on the thorax whereas V. amoena has almost continuous green patches. Vestalis gracilis is a forest species which is normally found at flowing clear forest stream.
Paragomphus capricornis
The dragonfly species in the stamp (see below) is actually Paragomphus capricornis. However, it is misidentified as Burmagomphus divaricatus. Burmagomphus divaricatus is rather a green dragonfly and it does not have a pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail. On the other hand, Paragomphus capricornis is yellowish in colour and the pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail is particular prominent. Paragomphus capricornis likes clear forest stream with cobbled or gravel bottom.
Vestalis gracilis
Vestalis gracilis is one of the large size damselfly species. The metalic green colour on its body is particulary stricking. This species resembles Vestalis amoena in many ways. The main characteristic to distinguish V. gracilis from V. amoena is on the green colour pattern on thorax. Vestalis gracilis has discrete light green patches on the thorax whereas V. amoena has almost continuous green patches. Vestalis gracilis is a forest species which is normally found at flowing clear forest stream.
Paragomphus capricornis
The dragonfly species in the stamp (see below) is actually Paragomphus capricornis. However, it is misidentified as Burmagomphus divaricatus. Burmagomphus divaricatus is rather a green dragonfly and it does not have a pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail. On the other hand, Paragomphus capricornis is yellowish in colour and the pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail is particular prominent. Paragomphus capricornis likes clear forest stream with cobbled or gravel bottom.
Crocothemis servilia
Crocothemis servilia is a large red dragonfly. It is normally spotted at open exposed habitat. This species likes sun and frequently perches under sun. The female individual of C. servilia has dull yellow colour. The male and female of C. servilia are depicted in the stamps.
Orthetrum testaceum
Orthetrum testaceum is quite similar to Crocothemis servilia from many aspects - the colour and the size. From far it is quite difficult to tell which is which. The main characters distingiushing these two species are the eyes and wing venation. The two eyes of O. testaceum are touching each other, but they are barely touching each other in C. servilia. O. testaceum has complete distal antenodal (forewing) whereas C. servilia has incomplet distal antenodal. O. testaceum is commonly seen perching under shade with sun spots.
Crocothemis servilia is a large red dragonfly. It is normally spotted at open exposed habitat. This species likes sun and frequently perches under sun. The female individual of C. servilia has dull yellow colour. The male and female of C. servilia are depicted in the stamps.
Orthetrum testaceum
Orthetrum testaceum is quite similar to Crocothemis servilia from many aspects - the colour and the size. From far it is quite difficult to tell which is which. The main characters distingiushing these two species are the eyes and wing venation. The two eyes of O. testaceum are touching each other, but they are barely touching each other in C. servilia. O. testaceum has complete distal antenodal (forewing) whereas C. servilia has incomplet distal antenodal. O. testaceum is commonly seen perching under shade with sun spots.
Trithemis festiva
Trithemis festiva is a medium size dark blue dragonflies commonly found at disturbed open area. The orange/yellow streaks on the end of the dorsal abdomen distinguish Trithemis festiva from other closely related species.
Diplacodes trivialis
Diplacodes trivialis is also another common dragonfly species found at open disturbed area. The mature male individuals have blue marking while the female and immature male individuals have yellow marking. In many ways the female and immature male of D. trivialis resemble Orthetrum sabina....... but the size of D. trivialis is much smaller than O. sabina.
Trithemis festiva is a medium size dark blue dragonflies commonly found at disturbed open area. The orange/yellow streaks on the end of the dorsal abdomen distinguish Trithemis festiva from other closely related species.
Diplacodes trivialis
Diplacodes trivialis is also another common dragonfly species found at open disturbed area. The mature male individuals have blue marking while the female and immature male individuals have yellow marking. In many ways the female and immature male of D. trivialis resemble Orthetrum sabina....... but the size of D. trivialis is much smaller than O. sabina.
Aethriamanta gracilis
There are a few dragonfly species with blue abdomen. One of these is Aethriamanta gracilis. Aethriamanta gracilis can be distinguished from the other blue dragonfly species by having open venation on its wings. However, the dragonfly image shown in the stamp is not accurate in the characteristics of the wing venation (the venation looks very close), of which it could be misidentified as other blue dragonfly species such as Brachydiplax chalybea, Brachydiplax farinosa or Brachydiplax sobrina.
There are a few dragonfly species with blue abdomen. One of these is Aethriamanta gracilis. Aethriamanta gracilis can be distinguished from the other blue dragonfly species by having open venation on its wings. However, the dragonfly image shown in the stamp is not accurate in the characteristics of the wing venation (the venation looks very close), of which it could be misidentified as other blue dragonfly species such as Brachydiplax chalybea, Brachydiplax farinosa or Brachydiplax sobrina.
Lathrecista asiatica
Lathrecista asiatica is a medium size dragonfly species. The red abdomen and blue thorax are particular elegant. It is commonly found at forest margins. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
Ictinogomphus decoratus
Ictinogomphus decoratus is a large dragonfly species in the family of Gomphidae. It is the most common Gomphidae species in Malaysia. This dragonfly species has strong wings and you can hear the wing beats when it flies passing you. It is normally found at slow flowing muddy stream. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
Orthetrum sabina
Ictinogomphus decoratus is a large dragonfly species in the family of Gomphidae. It is the most common Gomphidae species in Malaysia. This dragonfly species has strong wings and you can hear the wing beats when it flies passing you. It is normally found at slow flowing muddy stream. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
Orthetrum sabina
Orthetrum sabina is a medium size dragonfly species. It is normally found at degraded open habitats. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
Brachythemis contaminata
Brachythemis contaminata is a brownish orange colour dragonfly species commonly found at open weedy ponds or lakes. The wings are partially in orange colour.
Brachythemis contaminata is a brownish orange colour dragonfly species commonly found at open weedy ponds or lakes. The wings are partially in orange colour.
Pseudothemis jorina
Pseudothemis jorina is rather an active dragonfly species. It patrols unstoppingly lakes, ponds and slow flowing rivers. Therefore, taking a good photography on this species is most likely impossible....... However, it could be easily identified by its unmistakable marking on its abdomen even in flying.
Orthetrum glaucum
Orthetrum glaucum is considered a large size dragonfly species. Immature individual has yellowish marking on body but the mature individual develops blue marking. It is commonly found at disturbed open habitats.
Acisoma panorpoides
Orthetrum glaucum is considered a large size dragonfly species. Immature individual has yellowish marking on body but the mature individual develops blue marking. It is commonly found at disturbed open habitats.
Acisoma panorpoides
Acisoma panorpoides is a small size dragonfly species. Its unique blue marking (male) makes it conspicious. The female is rather in greenish yellow. It is normally found at open grassy ponds, marshes and open swamps.
Rhyothemis phyllis
Rhyothemis phyllis is particularly unique. I quite like its colour pattern on wings - looks like strips of tiger! This species is quite common at open and exposed aquatic habitats such as marshes, paddy fields and weedy poods. You will frequently see them hovering over the sky under the sun. The male and female of R. phyllis have similar colour pattern on wings.
Rhyothemis obsolescens
Rhyothemis phyllis is particularly unique. I quite like its colour pattern on wings - looks like strips of tiger! This species is quite common at open and exposed aquatic habitats such as marshes, paddy fields and weedy poods. You will frequently see them hovering over the sky under the sun. The male and female of R. phyllis have similar colour pattern on wings.
Rhyothemis obsolescens
Rhyothemis obsolescens somehow is less common compared to R. phyllis, but it normally shares habitat with R. phyllis. R. obsolescens has beautiful dark brown colour wings, of which making this specis easily be identified. The male and female are not much different from each other for their colour pattern on wings. Male individual may have more coloured area on wings than the female.
Neurobasis chinensis
Prehaps one of the most spectacular dragonfly species in Malaysia is Neurobasis chinensis. It has a pair of metalic green hind wings, and it looks like a butterfly from far when in flight. N. chinensis is rather a damselfly than a dragonfly. The odonatologist Lieftinck described this damselfly as one of the "Birds of Paradise amongst Odonata". The male individual has metalic green hind wings while the female lacks of this character. This damselfly species is strictly found in clear flowing streams in forest. Both the male and female N. chinensis are shown in the dragonfly stamps issued by Pos Malaysia.
The top one is a male individual and the bottom one is a female individual.
Prehaps one of the most spectacular dragonfly species in Malaysia is Neurobasis chinensis. It has a pair of metalic green hind wings, and it looks like a butterfly from far when in flight. N. chinensis is rather a damselfly than a dragonfly. The odonatologist Lieftinck described this damselfly as one of the "Birds of Paradise amongst Odonata". The male individual has metalic green hind wings while the female lacks of this character. This damselfly species is strictly found in clear flowing streams in forest. Both the male and female N. chinensis are shown in the dragonfly stamps issued by Pos Malaysia.
The top one is a male individual and the bottom one is a female individual.
Diplacodes nebulosa
Diplacodes nebulosa is a small size greyish blue dragonfly commonly found at marshes and weedy ponds. The wing tips for both the fore and hind wings (for male) are tinted in dark colour. However, the female lacks this characteristic and the colour of the body is yellowish olive.
Neurothemis tulliaNeutothemis tullia is another small dragonfly species. The black and white colour on wings (in male) is particular striking, a conspicious dragonfly species indeed. The wing colour pattern of the female is different from that of the male. N. tullia normally shares same habitats as Diplacodes nebulosa. The species name on the stamp is wrongly spelt (tulia).
Neurothemis fluctuans
Neurothemis fluctuans is one of the most common dragonflies in Malaysia. It is found almost everywhere except undisturbed forest. It red coloured wings (male individual) is particularly prominent and one can easily identify it. However, the female N. fluctuans is rather dull in colour (yellowish brown), and its wings is transparent or hyaline (not red in colour).
Neurothemis fulviaNeurothemis fulvia resembles N. fluctuans for having red coloured wings. However, the former can be distingiushed by having smaller hyaline area at the wing tips, particularly on the hind wing. N. fulvia is less common compared to N. fluctuans, and it is normally found in forest or edge of forest. The male and female N. fulvia have similar red colour pattern on wings. N. fulvia is slightly larger than N. fluctuans in size.
Hi, I am from Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo) and currently developing a place for dragonflies enthusiast somewhere in Tambunan district.
BalasHapusGive me a feedback..