Dragonfly

A large number of this dragonfly species congregated on the trunk of a solitary tree in the evening. The absence of iridiscence on the outer parts of the wings makes for a curious visual effect of a truncated insect. Does this serve as a form of camouflage or is it simply the result of selection pressure by discerning damsels?

Comments

Hey, I don't remember seeing the iridiscence on this dragonfly, must take a closer look next time. Did you observe that whenever you spot this species, there will be another in red nearby? Sexual dimorphism? Due to cultural corruption, my mind will think that the blue one if the male and red one is the female ; D

[Yen Kheng]

Hey, I don't remember seeing the iridiscence on this dragonfly, must take a closer look next time. Did you observe that whenever you spot this species, there will be another in red nearby? Sexual dimorphism? Due to cultural corruption, my mind will think that the blue one if the male and red one is the female ; D

[budak]

There were also some specimens of a totally differently patterned dragonfly on the same tree – see the new pic.

[Ian]

Both the dragonfly specimens are Tyriobapta torrida. Tyriobapta torrida is a sex dimorphic dragonfly. The large image is a male specimen and the small image is a female. The male specimen has iridescent patch at the base of hind wings. Tyriobapta torrida is normally spotted on tree trunk in shady environment.

Ian