19. Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787)

19. Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787)

Number: 19

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Palpopleura 

Species: Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787)

Common name: Blue-tailed Yellow Skimmer, Asian Widow

Habitat: Hilly areas, forest patches and water bodies 

Distribution: Sylhet, Chittagong

Abundance: Common 

Flight Season: February - December

Palpopleura sexmaculata, most likely the smallest dragonflies of Bangladesh, are common in Chittagong and Sylhet. 

The male

The juvenile males can be differentiated from the broad greenish thorasic stripe, which are yellow in the adult.

Dorsal view of Palpopleura sexmaculata juvenile male  

The juvenile males are similar to female, are yellow in color, has white pterostigma. However they can be distinguished by their anal appendages. 

Dorsal view of Palpopleura sexmaculata juvenile male 

The adult male have broad yellow thorasic, the abominal segments are white dorsally which is very prominent can can be used to differentiate from female. The wings are transparent, black stripes present in the wing bases, pterostigma and anal appendages are black  

Dorsal view of Palpopleura sexmaculata adult male 

The female

The females are yellow in color and very similar to juvenile male. They are often found associated with the male. 

Dorsao-lateral view of Palpopleura sexmaculata  female