Brachydiplax chalybea

Brachydiplax chalybea
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Brachydiplax
Species: B. chalybea
Binomial name
Brachydiplax chalybea
(Brauer, 1868)

Brachydiplax chalybea is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is known by the common names yellow-patched lieutenant[1] and blue dasher.[2] It is native to much of eastern Asia, from India to Japan to Indonesia. It is common and widespread.[3]

The male of the species is 33 to 35 millimeters long and has a hindwing 24 to 27 millimeters long. It is powder blue with light brown sides and a dark tip to the abdomen. It can be distinguished from Brachydiplax farinosa by a yellow tinge to the base of the hindwing. The female is brownish yellow in color with darker markings along the dorsal abdomen. Its wings lack the yellow tinge.[2]

This species is found in many types of wet habitat, including brackish and disturbed waters.[3] The males are seen more often, due to their territorial behavior. Females oviposit by "flicking" an egg mass out of the water into rocks and vegetation nearby.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brachydiplax chalybea.
  1. Cheong, L. F., Lua, H. K., & Murphy, D. H. (2008). The dragonflies (Odonata) of Singapore: Current status records and collections of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
  2. 1 2 3 Brachydiplax chalybea. Digital Nature Archive of Singapore, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.
  3. 1 2 Dow, R. A. 2010. Brachydiplax chalybea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 06 February 2016.
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