Dragonflies and Damselflies of Malaysia

21 September 2026

Semenyih - Brachydiplax chalybea

Brachydiplax chalybea - female

Eco Forest Sales Gallery, Semenyih, Selangor

20 September 2026

Exuvia - Could it be Chalybeothemis chini?

Could it be Chalybeothemis chini?

I spotted a small exuvia clinging on a aquatic pandanus leaf at Central Park Eco Forest, Semenyih, Selangor. It is a Libellulidae female exuvia with a body length (from the head to the anal pyramid) of 11.5 mm. I have been visiting to Central Park Eco Forest for the past 4 weeks (for 5 visits) to check the Odonata. 14 Libellulidae species (Acisoma panorpoides, Brachydiplax chalybea, Brachythemis contaminata, Chalybeothemis chini, Diplacodes trivialis, Hydrobasileus croceus, Neurothemis fluctuans, Orthetrum sabina, Pantala flavescens, Rhyothemis variegata phyllis, Rhyothemis triangularis, Tholymis tillarga, Tramea transmarina and Urothemis signata) have been recorded by me for the past 4 weeks there.

The exuvia is small with stout dorsal spines. From the Libellulidae list above (spotted at Central Park Eco Forest), dorsal spines are present for the exuviae of Brachydiplax chalybea, Hydrobasileus croceus, Orthetrum sabina, Rhyothemis triangularis, Rhyothemis variegata phyllis, Tholymis tillarga and Urothemis signata. The exuvia spotted at the pandanus leaf does not seem to match well the shape of the spines and abdomen of these species. Up to date, the larva of Chalybeothemis chini is unknown.

The exuvia was spotted at a specific site with well grown aquatic pandanus at Central Park Eco Forest, where Chalybeothemis chini (at least 5 individuals) were seen always hanging around at the leaves of pandanus plants. I was just wondering if this exuvia is of Chalybeothemis chini.

a Libellulidae exuvia clinging on the pandanus leaf

dorsal and lateral views of the exuvia

18 September 2026

Kajang - Ischnura senegalensis

Ischnura senegalensis - A Male Attacking A Wheel Pair

I managed to capture with camera the moment of a male attacking a wheel pair (all are Ischnura senegalensis). The wheel pair was perching on a grass blade at the water edge of a pond. Suddenly, the male from nearby attacked the wheel pair (on the male individual of the wheel pair). The wheel pair together with the male fell down to the water surface (the moment captured by the photo below). Within a short moment of struggling, the male retreated from the attack, and the wheel pair managed to reposition themselves lifting from the water surface.