Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 July, 2023 09:28:39 AM

INDEX  >  Dragonflies of Borneo  >  Family Libellulidae >  Genus  Neurothemis

Family Libellulidae
Genus : Neurothemis

Neurothemis are very common and found everywhere especially on the vegetation near by the ponds and stream . Males are red in colour, the tip of the wings are transparent.

Neurothemis male most of the time spend perching on the vegetation . They also show very distinct sexual dimorphism.

A comparison of the 3 most confused Red dragonflies in Sabah

Neurothemis terminata	Neurothemis ramburii	Neurothemis fluctuans
Male : Bright Red Female : 1- Clear Wings and 2- Dark Wings	Male : Bright Red Female : 1- Clear Wings and 2- Dark Wings	Male : Dark Red Female : Clear Wings
Neurothemis terminata Matured 43mm	Neurothemis ramburii MALE	Neurothemis fluctuans Matured Male 31mm ♂
Neurothemis terminata FEMALE has two different type: Type 1 - Clear Wings Type 2 - Dark Wings	Neurothemis ramburii FEMALE has two different type: Type 1 - Clear Wings Type 2 - Dark Wings	Female Only 1 type Clear Wings The color of this dragonfly is light greenish yellow. The abdomen has three rows of black marks. The black marks at the top center of abdomen is connected from the base to the end of abdomen making it resemble a line. The size of this dragonfly is about 30mm +- long.
Neurothemis terminata	Neurothemis ramburii	Neurothemis fluctuans
N. terminata: 2 types: a) with colouration in the wings, similar to the male; b) with clear wings and dark wing tips.	N. ramburii: 2 types: a) with colouration in the wings, similar to the male; b) with clear wings and dark wing tips.	N. fluctuans: only 1 type: clear wings; without any colouration to the wings.
	Matured Male ♂ 41mm 2016-09-19 GEMOK Juvenile Male ♂ 38mm 2016-09-17 SG IMAM
Female ♀ 35mm 2016-02-29 BUKIT GEMOK	Female ♀ 34mm 2016-09-20 BUKIT GEMOK
	Matured Female ♀35mm 2007-06-30 MEROTAI Juvenile Female ♀ 37mm 2016-02-25 VOCATIONAL

RELATED  TOPICS

Insects of Borneo

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.

Red Dragonfly of Sabah

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.

Damselflies of Borneo