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Vestalis amaryllis (Hagen in Selys, 1853) is a beautiful species with metallic green body that shine under the sun. In Sabah, it only found in clear, swift forest streams such as Danum Valley in Lahad Datu or Tawau Hills Park

Vestalis amaryllis is a broad-winged Damselfly. Broad-winged Damselflies are so called because their wings are not abruptly narrowed near the base as are the wings of other damselflies (narrow-winged damselfly and pond damselfly)

In the middle of prothorax is a round shape as if having a 4th ocellus on the prothorax

Ventral view (bottom view) of the last 3 segments of this male Vestalis amaryllis (Hagen in Selys, 1853).

There are at least 4 green Vestalis species with similar outlook and can only be differentiate from their appendages.

The family of CALOPTERYGIDAE is known as the Broad-Winged Damsels because their wings are broader than other damselflies. These are large damselflies with iridescent green or blue coloration. In most species the wing is marked with black or smoky brown.

Vestalis amaryllis's flight pattern is similar to the flitting of a butterfly. I spotted this Vestalis amaryllis by its rather bouncy erratic flight, similar to that of a butterfly. With two pairs of broad wing and fly like a butterfly, one may easily mistaken a flying Vestalis amaryllis as a butterfly.

The body color of these broad-winged damselflies is often metallic. The eyes are black in males and brown in females. They fly more like a butterflies.
Broad-winged Damsels are almost always seen perched horizontally on streamside vegetation and rarely take on any other perching position.

Broad-winged Damsels usually prefer streams and rivers. Broad-winged damselflies (Family Calopterygidae) have broader wings, black or with with blackish markings, that are narrowed at the base. When the fly is resting, the wings are held together over the body.

These are large damselflies with stout abdomens and relatively large wings that have either black or red markings. Bases of the wings are gradually narrowed. They are strong flyers, with a characteristic buoyant dancing flight style.

The females lay eggs (oviposit) in plant tissues without the male, often crawling down a plant stem a foot beneath the water. In some species the male will hover over the female to prevent other males to mate with her.

The naiads of these damselflies are usually found in streams and rivers. They cling to underwater roots and vegetation and wait for the water current to bring them food.

This female Vestalis amaryllis belongs to the family of CALOPTERYGIDAE that is known as the Broad-Winged Damselflies because their wings are broader than other damselflies. These are large damselflies with metallic green coloration.

This female measures:
Hind wing length = 36mm
Total body length = 50mm

This family of damselfly has long black legs. They are very easy to find beside mountain stream because they like to rest on sun lighted spots.

This female’s marking is same as the male except that a female has greater color variable from metallic green to metallic gold. When flying in a pair, the female can be easily identified by its golden metallic reflection.

Bright warm sunspot at a mountain stream of Tawau Hills Park. A favorite perching location of damselflies Vestalis amaryllis.

Here are index to damselflies sorted according to colour for our quick identification:

Out of the global 10 families of damselflies, the following 7 families are found in Borneo Island :

Damselfly head include :
1- compound eyes,
2- ocelli,
3- antennae,
4- mouth structures

Dragonflies of Borneo
"With 275 named species so far recorded in Borneo, the island has one of the richest and most exciting dragonfly faunas in the world. More than 40% of species occur nowhere else, making it the most distinctive sub-region of Sundaland." A Guide to the Dragonflies of Borneo by Albert G. Orr

GO FURTHER

Dragonflies of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

Dragonflies are among the most beautiful of insects. Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are home to more than 230 species (twice the number found in Europe). They include some of the most exquisite forms found anywhere in the World.

FLORA

Fig trees of Sabah

Borneo has 150 species of wild fig trees. Most of them are found in forests of Sabah.

FISHERIES

Tiger Prawn Farms in Tawau

Prawn farming is a main commercial activities in Tawau. Spawners from Tawau are graded the best in Malaysia. For decades, Tawau has been exporting high-grade tiger prawns to several countries such as Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Egypt and Australia.

A Guide to Common Spiders in BORNEO ISLAND