Marsh Danccer (Onychargia atrocyana) female

Marsh Dancer female has a dark brown abdomen that is thicker toward anal end,thorax with purplish or yellow stripes,small lateral blue rings open on dorsal side along abdomen will mark the female.The large frons,black eyes with brown below and a hairy face will confirm identity.Abdomen 23mm,wing 17-18mm.

Marsh dancer can be seen in Paddy areas in wet zone near surrounding low vegetation,tank near to jungle shrubs and lower hill areas.

 

Asian Groundling (Brachythemis contaminate) – Common names are Ditch Jewel, Asian Amberwing, Orange Skimmer, Common Amberwing

Asian Groundling is a Very common dragonfly in Sri Lanka. Abdomen – 19-20mm and Wings – 22-23mm. wings 22-23mm. Female is lighter in color and much yellowish with clear wings contrary to male figured above. Habitats are  slow flowing streams, weedy tank edges and marshes from the sea level to mid-hills.  

 

The Asian Groundling males look really good with orange colouration to their wings.Their thorax and abdomen change colour slightly as it ages, from light brown to a more deep orange. The females are very similar to the males, yet they have colourless wings and their thorax and abdomen is a yellow/brown. The females become darker brown as they age.Common names of Brachythemis contaminate are Ditch Jewel, Asian Groundling, Asian Amberwing, Orange Skimmer, Common Amberwing

 

If you ever visit a pond, ditch or bucket of water in Sri Lanka you are sure to come across this species. They even like to follow you as you walk and hover in front of you. Asian Groundling Can be seen all year, everywhere in the lowlands and many uplands places too.

 

Black-tipped Flashwing – (vestalis apicalis nigrescens) – Sri Lankan Endemic species

An endemic damselfly of Sri Lanka found near forest streams and rivers from lower hills to montane areas.

It is common and often found together with Oriental Green-Wing and Shining Gossamerwing.

A male with black-tipps to wings.Both male and female have very shining colors.

I have captured this couple in Padukka,Sri Lanka 

 

Paddyfield Parasol (Neurothemis intermedia)

Paddyfield Parasol female is very similar to the young male. The black dorsal lines are thicker than the males and the terminal segments are generally darker. The colour at the base of the wings is generally much less prominent.

The adult male is easily identifiable,but not common. It is generally orange/yellow in colour and different from the female.

Paddyfield Parasol can be seen in many places from open wasteland to the edge of forests,paddy fields and can be Found in Asia; Sri Lanka ,Bangladesh, China, Hainan, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia

 

Erebus ephesperis Moth

Erebus ephesperis is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in Asia, including Sri Lanka ,India,Japan, the Korean Peninsula, China, Singapore and Borneo.

The wingspan is about 90 mm and the patterning is very obliterative, breaking the body outline with shadow like countershading.Adults feed on fruit juice, including peach.

In the adult moth Careful examination of its underside revealed that the moth is a male, possessing both retinaculum and frenulum near the wing bases .

I have captured this dorasl view of Erebus ephesperis at Kalutara,Sri Lanka on the night of 24th July 2012.

 

Green Skimmer(Green Marsh Hawk) -Orthetrum sabina sabina

The Green Skimmer is also known as the Green Marsh Hawk and can be found in parts of Africa, Australia and Asia including Sri Lanka . Both sexes are similar in appearance and can be identified by the shape of the abdomen, dilated first three segments and the alternating yellow-green and black pattern.The extraordinary swollen abdomen of this dragonfly is remarkable and a useful identification feature of it.

It is a very common dragonfly in Sri Lanka and can be found around tanks, ponds, irrigation channels and rice fields. It’s range covers the low country and extends up into the hills.

 

stick Insect-You can keep them as your pet

There are over 2,500 species of stick insect in the World. They have a worldwide distribution, but most species are found in the tropics.  The stick insect can sometimes reach over 13 inches (33 cm) long.Be  They rely on a hard outer body for rigidity.  To allow for rapid growth, they shed their outer skin several times.  After shedding a skin, they will hang from a twig to harden their new outer layer.  During this period they are weaker – try not to disturb them.These creatures breathe through a series of holes called spiracles which are located along the side of the body.

Stick insects are very good at hiding. At night they can become slightly darker to make them harder to spot .  This is their way of trying to look like a stick swinging in the breeze.Also, the swaying movements may help the insects see objects against the background. Rocking movements by these sedentary (sitting) insects may replace flying or running as way to define objects in the visual field.

Stick Insect Eggs are round and brown with a yellow nodule.  They look like tiny seeds.  One female can lay several hundred eggs during an average life of around a year.

Inconveniently for anyone keeping stick insects as pets, stick insect droppings or waste can easily be mistaken for eggs and vice versa.

 

Painted waxtail (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum)

Locally common damselfly of the low country wet zone Sri Lanka. Found in weedy areas around paddy fields, streams and ponds.
very colourfull body and eyes.

 

Spine-tufted Skimmer – Orthetrum chrysis

In males of spine tufted skimmer, the hindwing is 31 to 34 mm in length and the total body length ranges from 41 to 48 mm. The male has a red face and dark grey eyes. The thorax is dark brown and the abdomen is red. The female is reddish brown. This species is easily confused with Orthetrum testaceum and can be differentiated by the colour of the thorax and eyes of the males and females. Other separating characters include the tuft of setae below the second abdominal segment inOrthetrum chrysis male, lacking in O. testaceum.
spine tufted skimmers are Widespread in tropical Asia including Sr Lanka.Common in ponds and along streams with trees nearby.

 

 

Yellow featherleg – Copera marginipes

Males, head widened, with a yellow strip at the top. Thorax black with yellow stripes on the side. Abdomen black with yellow stripes on the bottom side, white tip. Legs flattened, yellow. Hind wing 17 mm, abdomen 32.5 mm. Female, dark dull overall. Sides of thorax yellow strip. Juvenile, head with white stripes. Side of thorax white  strip.  Abdomen white.  White legs.

Very common insect found in reeds and marshy vegetation of forest streams and ponds from lowlands to mid-hills.yellow featherleg  can be seen in South Asia, Sri Lanka, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia .