19 December 2024

Xiphiagrion cyanomelas

Xiphiagrion cyanomelas
being preyed - the male has lost his thorax and head and the female has lost her abdomen
Imbak Canyon, Sabah

17 December 2024

Pseudagrion pruinosum

I witnessed partial submerging oviposition of Pseudagrion pruinosum. I believe in rare occasion it will do a total submerging oviposition.



Pseudagrion pruinosum - oviposition
UKM Bangi, Selangor

14 December 2024

02 December 2024

Oviposition of Vestalis amoena

I observed the mating of a pair Vestalis amoena by the shore of a stream (Sg Durian). Right after the mating, the female was laying eggs on the leaf substrate in the stream. The male was perching at another leaf to guard the female.  


Vestalis amoena
left bottom = female; right top = male
Sg Durian, Lintang, Perak

23 November 2024

Lestes praemorsus

Lestes praemorsus - female
a failed larval emergence - left hindwing is still in the wing sheath of the exuvia
UKM Bangi, Selangor

Indothemis carnatica

Indothemis carnatica - mating
UKM Bangi, Selangor

19 November 2024

Genitalia of Orthetrum testaceum and Orthetrum chrysis

Orthetrum testaceum and Orthetrum chrysis are red dragonflies. Click here to see the slight difference of colour marking between these two species. Their genitalia are also between (see below). 


Left side lateral view of genitalia. A is Orthetrum testaceum and B is Orthetrum chrysis.

16 November 2024

15 November 2024

Larva - Indaeschna grubaueri

Indaeschna grubaueri - female
Taman Pertanian Sekayu, Terengganu

click here to see the adult of Indaeschna grubaueri

12 November 2024

06 November 2024

29 October 2024

28 October 2024

25 October 2024

Vestalis amethystina vs Vestalis amoena

Peninsular Malaysia has three Vestalis species - Vestalis amethystina, Vestalis amoena and Vestalis gracilis. Vestalis gracilis is easily told apart from the previous two species based on the thoracic marking. However, both Vestalis amethystina and Vestalis amoena are similar to each other in overall marking. The only character used to distinguish both the species is their anal appendages.


Vestalis amethystina - male
Hutan Simpan Gunung Tebu, Terengganu


Vestalis amoena - male
Taman Negeri Rompin, Pahang



The anal appendages of Vestalis amethystina and Vestalis amoena are different (see images below). Close inspection on the anal appendages is needed for proper species identification. 


anal appendages of Vestalis amethystina. top = lateral view, middle = dorsal view, and bottom = ventral view

anal appendages of Vestalis amoena. top = lateral view, middle = dorsal view, and bottom = ventral view

23 October 2024

Acisoma panorpoides feeding on Agriocnemis femina

Acisoma panorpoides (male) is feeding on Agriocnemis femina (young male)
Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Selangor

20 October 2024

16 October 2024