Dragonflies have long been described as magical creatures. These beautiful insects with pretty wings symbolize success , victory, happiness, strength and courage ( That is what the Japanese believe ). I came across this statement while searching for more information about the pictures I have from Thovampallil.
Another interesting belief is 'Dragonflies are bringers of dreams. When a dragonfly sits on your shoulder, all your dreams will come true.' Well it did not sit on my shoulder, but on my camera :)
For most of us, dragonflies may be a part of our childhood memories. Watching them like a mini-helicopter, playing with them, trying to catch them or trying to test their capacity to lift a stone heavier than itself (Thumbiye kondu kalleduppikkuka !) are some things we never forget.
'Dragonflies and Damselflies'
Damselflies might be a new term for most of you. Both Dragonflies and Damselflies belong to the Subspecies of Odonata (Odonata is an order of flying insects)
(Dragonfly)
(Damselfly)
Zygoptera (damselflies) means “equal winged,” while Anisoptera (dragonflies) means “unequal winged.”
Dragonflies and damselflies are aquatic insects that spend most of their lives in or around the water. They lay their eggs in the water and perch on surrounding vegetation.
Dragonflies have much larger eyes than damselflies. Damselflies also have large eyes, but they are smaller than a dragonfly's and there is always a space between their eyes.
Damselflies are smaller than dragonflies, Dragonflies also have thicker, bulkier bodies, while damselfly bodies are thin like a twig.
Wings of Dragonflies and Damselflies are a key distinction between the two, when not in flight, a dragonfly's wings stick straight out, perpendicular to their body like an airplane's wings. A damselfly's wings fold back so they are in line with their body, giving them a more sleek, slender appearance at rest.
Dragonflies and Damselflies are extremely beautiful, beneficial predators because they help control populations of harmful insects
Continuation to my Thovampallil Garden series,
Here are some pictures I clicked during my vacation and some information gathered about them.
1. Common Picture Wing
(Male)
(Female)
Common Picture Wing (Rhyothemis variegata). A weak flyer, easily mistaken with butterflies from distance. It is a medium-sized dark bodied dragonfly with colorful wings tinted with pale yellow. It breeds in marshes, ponds and paddy fields.
More pictures at
2. Pied Paddy Skimmer (Neurothemis tullia)
(Male)
It is the males which have the black colored wings, while the females have golden yellow wings with dark spots/tips.
(Female)
Flight is slow and weak. Usually perches on twigs, aquatic weeds and other plants. This species is very common along irrigation canals in paddy fields. Though seen throughout the year, studies show that they are most abundant during the summer monsoon – when the water supply is plentiful – and increases the survival rates of the larvae.
More Pictures at
3. Scarlet marsh hawk
(Male)
(Female)
It is a small dragonfly with dark reddish-brown eyes. Its thorax is dark chocolate-brown on dorsum and humeral region, paling on sides. Wings are transparent, tinted with deep golden-amber at base. Abdomen and anal appendages are bright red. Female is similar to the male; but greenish-yellow in colors
Found in weed covered ponds, tanks and ditches. They have adapted to urban environment and could be seen in garden ponds in cities.
4.Scarlet Bhasker
(Male)
(Female)
It is a medium-sized dragonfly with red eyes. thorax and abdomen. Its wings are transparent with a amber colored spot surrounded by a dark-brown patch in the base of hind-wings. Its abdomen is blood-red, with some black marking on the dorsum of segments 8 and 9. Female is similar to the male; but yellowish in color.
More pictures
5. Coromandel marsh dart
It is a medium sized damselfly with yellowish green eyes. Its thorax is olive green above and yellowish green on the sides. Its abdomen is yellow. Its anal appendages are citron-yellow or ochreous, the inferiors tipped with black. The superiors are sub-quadrate as seen from above, with the corners gently rounded. The inferiors are sloped strongly upwards, broad at base, then tapering rapidly to an acute point. Female is more robust and dull colored. Its thorax is more greenish and abdomen is golden yellow to brown
6. Blue-tailed damselfly
(Immature male)
Adult male blue-tailed damselflies have a head and thorax patterned with blue and black. There is a bi-coloured pterostigma on the front wings. Eyes are blue.They have a largely black abdomen with very narrow pale markings where each segment joins the next. Segment eight, however, is entirely pale blue. At rest, the wings of most damselfly species are held back together The thorax of juvenile males has a green tinge.
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My Instagram handle- reena.rendeep
Other Blogs in the same series
Butterflies- https://colorfulwingedwonders.blogspot.com/2021/09/colorful-wonders-of-thovampallil-aug.html
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References:-
Wikipedia
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org
https://www.rocksea.org
https://indiabiodiversity.org
https://www.inaturalist.org
Pictures :- August 2021, Thovampallil, Chettikulangara, Kerala
