Female Comparison of Indothemis limbata, Indothemis carnatica and Trithemis aurora

Both Indothemis limbata and Indothemis carnatica are present in Peninsular Malaysia but absent in Borneo. Both species have the same aquatic habitat - ponds. The females of Indothemis limbata and Indothemis carnatica look alike, but yet they are distinguishable based on the extensiveness of tinted area at wing bases and the presence/absence of tinted wing tips (see photo images below). The female of Trithemis aurora may make one confused with the female of Indothemis limbata. Though both the females (Indothemis limbata and Trithemis aurora) have extensive tint on wing bases, they are readily be told apart by the presence/absence of tinted wing tips. Their dorsal thoracic and abdominal markings are actually different (see photo images below). One may ask about the female of Trithemis festiva. Well, the female of Trithemis festiva is also yellowish brown in colour with black marking. However, its thoracic and abdominal black marking pattern is different from those of Trithemis aurora and Indothemis limbata/carnatica. Click here to see the female of Trithemis festiva.

female of Indothemis limbata

Kajang, Selangor

female of Indothemis carnatica

UKM Bangi, Selangor

female of Trithemis aurora

UKM Bangi, Selangor

Pseudagrion australasiae vs Pseudagrion microcephalum

The blue markings of the male individuals of Pseudagrion australasiae and Pseudagrion microcephalum are quite similar to each other. However, Pseudagrion australasiae is slightly larger than Pseudagrion microcephalum. Apart from that, their anal appendages are different as shown in the diagram below:

Anal appendages (left lateral view). Top is Pseudagrion australasiae and bottom is Pseudagrion microcephalum.

Diplacodes nebulosa - Young Male

Below photo shows a very young male individual of Diplacodes nebulosa. The body marking of young male Diplacodes nebulosa resembles the female (click here to see Diplacodes nebulosa female). Matured male individual of Diplacodes nebulosa has greyish blue body colour and the forewing and hindwing tips are tinted (click here to see the mature male individual). The dark wing tips in male individual are developed progressive on maturity (click here to see a slight tinted wing tips in not so young male individual of Diplacodes nebulosa). 

Diplacodes nebulosa - young male

Kajang, Selangor

Indothemis carnatica VS Indothemis limbata

Two Indothemis species are found in Malaysia - Indothemis carnatica and Indothemis limbata. Both the species are dark blue in colour, and they are normally found at ponds. The matured males of the species are not too hard to be distinguished by two characters. In I. carnatica, the wing tips are not tinted and the tail end (anal appendages) is slight lighter (a bit cream in colour). On the other hand, I. limbata has tinted wing tips and the tail end is dark in colour.

Indothemis carnatica - male

UKM Bangi, Selangor

Indothemis limbata - male

Kajang, Selangor

Cratilla lineata vs Cratilla metallica - Famale

The females of Cratilla lineata and Cratilla metallica are not too hard to be told apart. At first glance, the wing tips for both the females are tinted. However, the edge of the tinted area is more defined and darker in C. metallica than C. lineata. Apart from that, the colour of C. metallica is metallic but not so in C. lineata. 

Cratilla lineata - female

UKM Bangi, Selangor

Cratilla metallica - female

UKM Bangi, Selangor

Orthetrum glaucum vs Orthetrum luzonicum

It is quite a challenge for laymen to tell apart Orthetrum glaucum from Orthetrum luzonicum because both (matured males) are light blue in colour. Actually, we are still able to distinguish them if we look at them carefully. Orthetrum glaucum is slightly larger than Orthetrum luzonicum. The hindwing base of Orthetrum glaucum has dark patch, but this is absent in Orthetrum luzonicum. Apart from that, the abdomen of Orthetrum luzonicum is slightly slender if compared to Orthetrum glaucum.

Orthetrum luzonicum (male; left) and Orthetrum glaucum (male; right)

UKM Bangi, Selangor

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

Bandar Bukit Raja Townpark

Bandar Bukit Rajah Townpark is located at Klang District of Selangor. The townpark is open to public and facilitated with plenty of free car parking space. It is a good place for dragonfly watching. Sime Darby Property has given some info on the Odonata diversity of the townpark. If you want to photograph Trithemis pallidinervis, Diplacodes nebulosa and Neurothemis tullia, this is a good place to go for because these species are found in abundance at the townpark.

one of the ponds at Bandar Bukit Raja Townpark

drainages at Bandar Bukit Raja Townpark

Here is the url link on the Sime Darby Property's urban biodiversity of Bandar Bukit Raja Townpark:

https://www.simedarbyproperty.com/sustainability/urbanbiodiversity/spotlight-bandar-bukit-raja.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Reji_Lp4tiR0U_p1RWYMr8tpVAnlKZwIU7MERKduPHck_MHYevGxpxRI_aem_s9DUHiBVCc97iBQRv2ZxHg

Females of Heliocypha biforata, Heliocypha perforata and Aristocypha fenestrella

Aristocypha fenestrella, Heliocypha biforata and Heliocypha perforata are found in Peninsular Malaysia. The size of  these species is not much different from each other. The males of these species  are easily told apart by the coloration of their body. On the other hand, the females have quite similar coloration. However, they can be distinguished by the yellow marking of their bodies (see the below photos).

 

Argiocnemis rubescens - Changing Colour

Argiocnemis rubescens - male

UKM Bangi, Selangor

During maturing, the colour change from red/yellow to blue.