Dragonfly, Cyprus (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

A couple of these keep landing on our washing line.

 

[pdwinter]

Female Epaulet Skimmer Orthetrum chrysostigma

 

[Andy Adcock]

Ah, thanks Paul, I should have got that one.

 

[ApusApus]

Female Epaulet Skimmer Orthetrum chrysostigma

Is it not an immature male, the abdomen looks to have too much blue on it for a female?


Shane

 

[pdwinter]

No - it's a female. Although you can't see the area where there might be secondary genitalia, because of the posiitioning of the wings, it has a very chunky abdomen - and male chrysostigma are one of the few orthetrum males with a waist. I can also see widely spaced appendages at the end of the abdomen.
The defence rests its case with the attached 2 photos of female Epaulet Skimmer.

 

[pdwinter]

Not forgetting this one from before I had a DSLR

 

[ApusApus]

Interesting, must admit the females I see in Cyprus have the more normal yellow-brown abdomen colouration. Will have to look closer at the males in future!


Shane

 

[pdwinter]

Interesting, must admit the females I see in Cyprus have the more normal yellow-brown abdomen colouration. Will have to look closer at the males in future!


Shane

Good numbers of older female Orthetrums become bluish and good numbers of older female Sympetrums (and Crocothemis) become reddish - to make life difficult!