Dragonflies & Damselflies - Odonata
Dragonflies - Anisoptera
Asian Pintail - Acisoma panorpoides Elusive Adjutant - Aethriamanta brevipennis Fiery Emperor - Anax immaculifrons Blue Dasher - Brachidiplax chalybea Asian Amberwing - Brachythmis contaminata Crimson Darter - Crocothemis servilia Blue Percher - Diplacodes trivialis Blue-Spotted Dusk-hawker - Gynacantha japonica Common Flangetail - Ictinigomphus pertinax Dancing Shadow-Emerald - Idionyx victor Hong Kong Clubtail - Leptogomphus hongkongensis Forest Chaser - Lyriothemis elegantissima Russet Percher - Neurothemis fulvia Wandering Pennant - Macrodiplax cora Pied Percher - Neurothemis tullia Red-Faced Skimmer - Orthetrum chrysis |
Common Blue Skimmer - Orthetrum glaucum
Marsh Skimmer - Orthetrum luzonicum Mangrove Skimmer - Orthetrum poecilops Common Red Skimmer - Orthetrum pruinosum Green Skimmer - Orthetrum sabina Lesser Blue Skimmer - Orthetrum triangulare Wandering Glider - Pantala flavescens Pied Skimmer - Pseudothemis zonata Ruby Darter - Rhodothemis rufa Sapphire Flutterer - Rhyothemis triangularis Variegated Flutterer - Rhyothemis variegata Golden Flangetail - Sictinogomphus clavatus Evening Skimmer - Tholymis tillarga Saddlebag Glider - Tramea virginia Crimson Dropwing - Trithemis aurora Indigo Dropwing - Trithemis festiva Scarlet Basker - Urothemis signata Emerald Chaser - Zygonyx iris |
Damselflies - Zygoptera
Chinese Yellowface - Agriomorpha fusca Orange-Tailed Sprite - Ceriagrion auranticum Blue Forest Damsel - Coeliccia cyanomelas Yellow Featherlegs - Copera marginipes Black-Banded Gossamerwing - Euphaea decorata Common Bluetail - Ischnura senegalensis Indochinese Copperwing - Mnais mneme Chinese Greenwing - Neurobasis chinensis Marsh Dancer - Onychargia atrocyana Eastern Lilysquatter - Paracercion melanotum Black Threadtail - Prodasineura autumnalis Orange Threadtail - Protosineura croconota White-Banded Shadowdamsel - Protosticta taipokauensis Orange-Faced Sprite - Pseudagrion rubriceps Black-Kneed Featherlegs - Pseudocopera ciliata Common Blue Jewel - Rhinocypha perforata Hong Kong Flatwing - Rhipidolestes janetae |
Dragonflies - Anisoptera
Asian Pintail 錐腹蜻 Acisoma panorpoides
A small, fairly common dragonfly. The males are blue and black, whereas the females are green and black. The abdomen has an unusual tapering shape which quickly narrows to a point. Found in heavily weeded ponds and abandoned paddies.
Fiery Emperor 黃偉蜓 Anax immaculifrons
Elusive Adjutant 短腹異蜻 Aethriamanta brevipennis
A new dragonfly in Hong Kong, its range is India and SE Asia.
Blue Dasher 橙斑蜻蜓 Brachydiplax chalybea
The males are half-blue, half-yellow, whereas the females are yellow with black markings. It can be found near the coast and tolerates brackish water. Found in India, SE Asia and Southern/Eastern China.
Asian Amberwing 黃翅蜻 Brachythemis contaminata
A very common smallish libellulid of stout build. It is able to survive in the semi-intensive polyculture fish ponds centred in the north-west New Territories. Not usually found far from ponds or the borders of streams. They have orange-coloured wings. Emerges early in the year and is seen on the wing during late March until December. Also known as a 'ditch jewel'. Its range is India, SE Asia and Southern/Eastern China.
Crimson Darter 紅蜻 Crocothemis servilia servilia
A medium-sized, brilliant red species which favours cultivated areas, ponds and marshes in the New Territories. The male is bright red whereas the female is a light yellow colour with a dark stripe along the top of the abdomen. Its range is India, SE Asia and Southern/Eastern China.
Blue Percher 紋藍小蜻 Diplacodes trivialis
A small libellulid which frequents swampy areas or shallow weedy margins of ponds and lakes. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, Northern Australia and Fiji.
Blue-Spotted Dusk-hawker 倭鋏晏蜓 Gynacantha japonica
Common Flangetail 霸王葉春蜓 Ictinogomphus pertinax
A large and robust species appearing on the wing in late spring from late May/early June. In late summer it is common and widespread at suitable non habitats. Males are aggressive at the breeding sites and will actively defend territories. Its range is Southern/Eastern China with some sightings also in Japan.
Dancing Shadow-Emerald 威異偽蜻 Idionyx victor
A dragonfly that is local to Hong Kong and not found in nearby eco-regions such as SE Asia or Taiwan, but probably also present in Guangdong province.
Hong Kong Clubtail 香港纖春蜓 Leptogomphus hongkongensis
Forest Chaser 華麗寬腹蜻 Lyriothemis elegantissima
This is an attractive broad-bodied species usually found in or near woodland or at forest edge adjacent to marshy areas. Its range is SE Asia, Taiwan and Southern China. The male has a red abdomen.
Wandering Pennant 高翔漭蜻 Macrodiplax cora
Uncommon in Hong Kong, but with a wide range worldwide from Africa to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Medium-sized and highly migratory.
Russet Percher 網脈蜻 Neurothemis fulvia
An medium-sized dragonfly with very distinctive reddish brown wings. Usually found in higher numbers later in the year during summer. Found in cultivated areas and streams. Well established in streams, tanks and irrigation feeders in the Lam Tsuen Valley. The female looks like a faded version of the male. Its range is India, SE Asia and Southern China.
Pied Percher 截斑脈蜻 Neurothemis tullia
A very attractive small and distinctive dragonfly. The male's wings are predominantly black. The flight is weak and usually only short distances are covered. It is quite common at the Wetland Park near Tin Shui Wai. Occurs on the wing from early April until late autumn. Its range is India, SE Asia and Southern/Eastern China.
Red-Faced Skimmer 華麗灰蜻 Orthetrum chrysis
A medium sized libellulid, the males bright blood red in colour. It has a brown thorax. It appears to favour pools and marshy areas adjacent to flowing streams. Its range is India, SE Asia and Southern/Eastern China.
Common Blue Skimmer 黑尾灰蜻 Orthetrum glaucum
One of the most familiar of the territory's dragonflies. Seen on the wing during all months of the year though numbers during the winter are greatly reduced. The males with bright powder blue abdomens, often perch on the ground, adjacent to streams, conduits, drainage channels, seepages and even road gutters if wet. Also known as a 'blue marsh hawk'. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern China and Taiwan.
Marsh Skimmer 呂宋灰蜻 Orthetrum luzonicum
The males are powder blue whereas the females are yellow-bronze in colour. The thorax is somewhat hunchbacked in appearance and the eyes are light blue. The Latin name suggests that this species was first documented on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern China and Taiwan.
Mangrove Skimmer 斑灰蜻 Orthetrum poecilops poecilops
Easily confused with orthetrum luzonicum (above), the main differences being the black lines on the face, the enlarged first segment of the tail and being found in or by mangroves.
Common Red Skimmer 赤褐灰蜻 Orthetrum pruinosum
Males have an indigo or prune-coloured thorax and a purple-tinged red thorax. Females, like most orthetrum species are brownish-yellow. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern China and Taiwan.
Green Skimmer 狹腹灰蜻 Orthetrum sabina
This species is immediately distinguished from other Hong Kong libellulids by the shape of the abdomen and the yellowish green and black colouration. It is an extremely aggressive species and often predates on other dragonflies. Its range is Asia Minor, India, SE Asia and Southern China, Taiwan and Northern/Eastern Australia.
Lesser Blue Skimmer 鼎異色灰蜻 Orthretum triangulare triangulare
Similar to the common blue skimmer, but with a dark end to the tip of the abdomen and perhaps slightly smaller. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern China and Taiwan.
Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens
Also known as the typhoon dragonfly this is Hong Kong's most common type of dragonfly, often occurring in huge swarms during the summer months. It rarely settles, but if it does land it will hang down from its perching spot. It's considered the most widespread dragonfly on the planet being present in every continent except Antartica.
Pied Skimmer 玉帶蜻 Pseudothemis zonata
A black and white medium-sized libellulid. Preferred breeding sites include reservoirs, sluggish streams, ponds, tanks and marshes. It patrols its territory tirelessly. Its range is Eastern/Southern China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The male has a broad white stripe whereas the female has a separated stripe that it more yellowish in colour.
Ruby Darter 紅胭蜻 Rhodothemis rufa
Easy to confuse with Crocothemis servilia. The extremely prominent and robust spines on the legs are the ruby darter's most distinguishing feature. Present at the Wetland Park.
Sapphire Flutterer 三角蜻蜓 Rhyothemis triangularis
A small but handsome dragonfly with black wing bases, which have strong violet metallic reflections. The reflections are very pronounced in strong sunlight. The males perch on the tops of grass stems at the sides of weedy ponds, sluggish rivers and marshes. They can fly away quickly when disturbed. Its range is SE Asia, Southern China and Taiwan.
Variegated Flutterer 斑麗翅蜻 Rhyothemis variegata arria
A fairly large and extremely attractive libellulid which is immediately recognised by the fully coloured wings with their distinctive amber and dark brown variegated pattern. Some individuals lose the colour from the tips of the wings, which I think is to do with age. Occurs in groups of soaring and gliding individuals which hover at low altitude over wind-sheltered locations close to the breeding sites. Only abundant in late summer. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern China and Taiwan.
Golden Flangetail 大團扇春蜓 Sictinogomphus clavatus
Similar to the common flange tail, but with yellow femurs and a yellow half-moon on the 'flange'.
Evening Skimmer 雲斑蜻 Tholymis tillarga
Moderately large dragonfly with predominantly crepuscular habits, appearing towards the end of the day. Occurs in marshes, weedy ponds and tanks.
Saddlebag Glider 華斜痣蜻 Tramea virginia
A large dragonfly with long wings and hind wings much broader at base than fore wing. It is easily identified by the large dark marking at the base of the hind wing. This feature coupled with the large head and heavy thorax is very distinctive in flight. It has a powerful flight and will remain on the wing for long periods. Abundant in mid-summer it is seen on the wing from mid-April. Its range is Southern/Eastern China and Taiwan.
Crimson Dropwing 曉褐蜻 Trithemis aurora
An extremely common and brightly coloured pink species. It is a smallish libellulid which is found and marshes, ponds, streams and even ornamental ponds in urban areas. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern/Eastern China and Taiwan.
Indigo Dropwing 慶褐蜻 Trithemis festiva
A small blackish libellulid which favours sluggish sections of streams with strong current. Is also found high up in the boulder and bedrock sections of mountain streams. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern/Eastern China and Taiwan.
Scarlet Basker 赤斑曲鈎脈蜻 Urothemis signata signata
First recorded from Hong Kong in 1995 from the River Jhelum near Hok Tau. Prefers weedy ponds and sluggish rivers. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern/Eastern China and Taiwan.
Emerald Cascader 彩虹蜻 Zygonyx iris ssp. insignis
The largest dragonfly found in Hong Kong with a long blackish body and broad wings. After emergence the young adults are seen soaring over woodland often several hundred feet in the air. The mature adults are found settled adjacent to or seen patrolling waterfalls, or cascades of streams. The adults emerge in late April with numbers declining in late summer. This subspecies is found only in Hong Kong and nearby parts of Guangdong province.
Damselflies - Zygoptera
Chinese Yellowface 白尾蹣蟌 Agriomorpha fusca
Its range includes Hong Kong, Guangdong province and northern Vietnam. Found in well-shaded woodland near small forest streams, often just trickles of water. Distinguished by its small, yellow 'face'.
Orange-Tailed Sprite 翠胸黃蟌 Ceriagrion auranticum ssp. ryukyuanum
Its range includes Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Hainan. It is large for a damselfly species, and found near ponds. Highly recognisable by its bright green and orange colouration. On the wing from March until December.
Blue Forest Damsel 黃紋長腹扇蟌 Coeliccia cyanomelas
A common forest stream species with very long black abdomen and males with cyan blue terminal segments and anal appendages. It is common in forest in the New Territories and on Hong Kong Island during the late spring and summer months. It's found in Southern/Eastern China and Taiwan.
Yellow Featherlegs 黃狹扇蟌 Copera marginipes
This is the most common Copera species in South East Asia and occurs in streams and rivers throughout Hong Kong. It has bright yellow to orange legs. I think the white one below is a female of this species. Its range is India, SE Asia, Southern/Eastern China and Taiwan.
Black-Banded Gossamerwing 方帶幽蟌 Euphaea decorata
This is the first dragonfly record ever published from Hong Kong by Selys in 1854. It is a dark blackish species with a distinctive black band towards the tip of male hind wing. The female does not have the black band. A common species occurring in both lowland fast flowing streams and mountain streams. It is also found near the summit of Tai Mo Shan. Occurs on the wing from mid April and is seen throughout the summer. It disappears quickly in the autumn during October. Its range is southern China and northern Vietnam.
Common Bluetail 褐斑異痣蟌 Ischnura senegalensis
An extremely common damselfly that tolerates a wide variety of habitats, often found in ditches and even areas with brackish water. Its worldwide range extends from Africa to New Guinea.
Indochinese Copperwing 煙翅綠色蟌 Mnais mneme
This is an attractive demoiselle with bright orange-winged males. Males are found holding territories at sunny spots in woodland streams. It is a spring species, emerging early in the year in March but quickly disappears by early summer. It occurs in woodland streams in the New Territories. Its range includes Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong.
Marsh Dancer 毛面同痣蟌 Onychargia atrocyana
A small blackish damselfly with blue stripes on the thorax. Occurs in abandoned paddy fields. Its further distribution ranges from Nepal to Hong Kong.
Chinese Greenwing 華艷色蟌 Neurobasis chinensis
A metallic green species, widely distributed throughout India and SE Asia. The hindwing of the male are a brilliant metallic green, especially noticeable when in flight. The female is more brownish with two white markings on the wings. It is present in a number of clean streams. It has a long season, emerging in April, with some individuals still in flight in late December. Also known as a 'stream glory'. Its range is India, SE Asia, and southern China.
Eastern Lilysquatter 黑背尾蟌 Paracercion melanotum
Uncommon. First found in Macau in 1996. Hong Kong records from the HK Wetland Park, Lai Chi Wo, Luk Kong and She Kwu Chau.
Black Threadtail 烏齒原蟌 Prodasineura autumnalis
A common and widespread predominantly black damselfly. Males have a habit of hovering in a static position for long periods at the stream breeding sites. It appears in late April until late summer. Males are plain black, whereas the females have yellow stripes on the thorax. Its range is in SE Asia and Southern China.
Orange Threadtail 朱背樸蟌 Prodasineura croconota
A beautiful black damselfly with striking bright orange thorax and white anal appendages. It occurs in well wooded streams throughout the north-east New Territories. Also present in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Taiwan.
White-Banded Shadowdamsel 白瑞原扁蟌 Protosticta taipokauensis
A blackish damselfly with creamy-white anal appendages, a long thin body and relatively short wings. It was described from Tai Po Kau. Outside of Hong Kong it occurs in Guangdong and Fujian.
Orange-Faced Sprite 丹頂斑蟌 Pseudagrion rubriceps
Its range is India, SE Asia and southern/eastern China. It has a bright orange face, a green thorax and cyan blue segments at the end of its abdomen. Occurs in ponds and weedy margins of slow flowing streams.
Black-Kneed Featherlegs 白狹扇蟌 Pseudocopera ciliata
Males are black and pale greenish-blue with white legs and black 'knees'. It is fairly common occurring in open country in lowland streams, ditches and weedy margins of lakes and ponds. Appears on the wing in mid April until late autumn. Its range is India, SE Asia, southern/eastern China and Taiwan.
Common Blue Jewel 華斜痣蜻 Rhinocypha perforata perforata
A small colourful stream species which is commonly found at clean fast flowing streams throughout the Hong Kong territory. Males are black and patterned with cyan blue stripes and spots. The wings are much longer than the abdomen and brilliantly coloured with small clear windows in darkened wing tips. The Latin name perforata alludes to the coloured windows in the wings. The males use their highly visible wings to display to females and signal to competing males at their stream territories. It is seen on the wing in Hong Kong from early spring until early January although numbers of adults fall markedly in the autumn. Its range is SE Asia and southern China.
Hong Kong Flatwing 黃紋棘腹蟌 Rhipidolestes janetae
First described in 1997. Endemic to Hong Kong.