Last Updated on Sunday, 11 June, 2023 09:24:13 PM
INDEX > Dragonflies of Borneo > Family Libellulidae > Agrionoptera insignis (Rambur, 1842)
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Agrionoptera
Agrionoptera insignis (Rambur, 1842)
common name : red swampdragon
Found in Asia: China, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia,
Thailand
Agrionoptera insignis
八仙蜻蜓
♂♀
Male 2007-09-23 SUN 14:58 FOOTBALL FIELD
Female 2007-06-17 SUN 09:32 FOOTBALL FIELD
A male Agrionoptera insignis
An Agrionoptera insignis has attractive head capsule with metallic blue frons
(front of the head), a white labrum (upper part of the mouth) and yellow librium
(lower part of the mouth).
Agrionoptera insignis, is similar in appearance with Nesoxenia lineata and only a little larger than Nesoxenia lineata. It is a widespread species with several races from India to northern Australia. It is principally found in the lowlands, inhabiting the landward margins of mangrove, sluggish streams and drains in disturbed forest and urban areas. Like the preceding species it perches on twigs in shady places, although usually for shorter periods.
Nesoxenia lineata is a rather small species widespread in the Oriental
region. It occurs in pristine alluvial forest where males sit on twigs guarding
pools, remaining motionless for long periods. It is local and rather uncommon.
Agrionoptera insignis and Nesoxenia lineata these two species can be easily
separated with practice: N. lineata males have a somewhat flattened abdomen and
well defined yellow stripes on the thorax; A. insignis males have a thinner
abdomen, more intensely red especially at the base, and the yellow marks on the
thorax are irregular in outline.
Pair of strong transparent wings of a male and female Agrionoptera insignis.
Colorless with only a small patch of brown at the wing base.
 Female Agrionoptera insignis's ovipositor has a unique claw like 'U' shape Vulvar lamina (subgenital plate). |
 Eggs are laid in small batches by dropping into water one batch a time in quick succession. Sticky substance of the eggs keeps the eggs hold each other together. Like other insects female dragonflies always lay large amounts of eggs to ensure that at least some will survive into adult dragonflies. |
 A red Female Agrionoptera insignis from Bukit Gemok, Sabah For the last one year I came across several female A. insignis in 3 different colors: 1) Red abdomen ( such as this one) 2) Light brown abdomen 3) Dark brown abdomen (such as next photo) This female whole body length is 43mm, front wing span is 74mm |
 A dark brown female Agrionoptera insignis This female whole body length is only 39 mm and front wing span is 68mm The size is smaller then usual and color darker. This probable is a sub species as mentioned in Dr. Orr guide book. |
 Eyes of a female Agrionoptera insignis |
 This is an aging (old) male Agrionoptera insignis because the color of thorax has turn to all gray with no more yellow marks . When young the thorax has bright yellow marks. Both male and female like to perches on twigs in shady places. |
 The Vertex (a plate bearing three simple eyes, ocelli) is a unique horn shape instead of the common round shape. |
 A matured young Agrionoptera insignis. The yellow marks on the thorax are irregular in outline. As this dragonfly aged the yellow marks on the thorax will darken and merged into one dark color of the thorax. |
 The Epiproct (inferior appendage) is as long as the pair of Cerci (superior appendages) |
 Agrionoptera insignis can turn their heads 45 degree upward while cleaning their head with front legs. Despite chewing and swallowing juicy insects, Agrionoptera insignis always keep their lips (labrum and Librium) clean as white as snow. |
 Here, this dragonfly is grooming his head with front legs |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female 43mm |
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 Agrionoptera insignis Female 43mm |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female 39mm |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female 43mm |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female
40mm |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female |
 Agrionoptera insignis Female |
RELATED TOPICS
INTRODUCTION TO THE DAMSELFLIES OF SABAH, BORNEO ISLAND
Insects are diverse and dominant inhabitants of the tropical rainforests in Borneo Island. New species are discovered too often. Entomologists are still struggling to cope with the documentation of tropical insect diversity.
Most of the common dragonflies in Sabah are red coloured, especially from the family Libellulidae. Some red pecies are even confused as same species, for example the three species of Genus Neurothemis.
The compound eyes of dragonflies
Dragonflies and damselflies have large compound eyes that can see in all directions. When the compound eye is magnified several hundred times, each individual facet (ommatidium) is shown to be hexagonal in shape.
Ovipositor (Vulvar Lamina)
of Female Dragonflies and Damselflies
Female dragonflies have either one of the two method of depositing eggs from
the abdomen:
1- using Ovipositor Structure
2- using Vulvar Lamina
Male do not have an ovipositor. Instead male dragonfly and damselfly have appendages.
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GO FURTHER FLORA Borneo has 150 species of wild fig trees. Most of them are found in forests of Sabah. FISHERIES 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. |
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Damselflies of Borneo |
