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.

 

 

Libellulidae - Indothemis limbata

Rather Obscure-Looking Yet Pleasing

 

I found this dragonfly perched on a grass stem at a pond recently. 

It is the Indothemis limbata of the family Libellulidae.  This medium-sized dragonfly has hindwing length of 29mm, dark wing tips and a dark patch at the base of its hindwings that aid in the identification of this species.

Here's a look at his face...

 

 

There is a slaty blue patch on its face that is almost a match to the colour of its abdomen whereas the compound eyes, thorax and basal dark patch on its hindwings are uniformly dark-coloured.  The colours and the way it is perched makes it almost inconspicuous in its surroundings.  It seems like a rather obscure-looking dragonfly yet the slaty blue colours give it a pleasing look.

The Pocket Guide lists this species as rare and local over open water and I did not see too many of them at the pond.