Another Trithemis Dragonfly

 

I had first come across this dark blue dragonfly early in the year and recently spotted it again in the last few weeks.  Both times at two different areas in Langkawi.

 

 

This dragonfly is the Trithemis festiva of the family Libellulidae.  The male has hindwing length of 28mm, it is common around streams and is widespread in tropical Asia.

The Trithemis festiva is often easily confused with the Indothemis limbata, another dark blue dragonfly of similar size. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trithemis festiva (L) and Indothemis limbata (R)

Looking at both the photos above, the following comparisons can be made:  I. limbata has dark wing tips but not the T. festiva; the abdomen of the T. festiva is darker with orange streaks and lastly, the basal dark patch on the hindwing differs in shape for both dragonflies.

 

NOTE: Click on 'indothemis' in the Tags below for more info on this species.