Odonates

Odonates

Damselflies and dragonflies belong to the order Odonata and are known collectively as odonates. Adult odonates have many adaptations that make them great fliers and fierce predators of smaller insects, including other odonates, such as:

  • Large, well-developed compound eyes adept at tracking small movements;

  • Two pairs of transparent wings attached at the thorax that can move independently of each other, allowing them to move in many directions when flying; and

  • Legs which have adapted to form a basket to catch prey.

A Scarlet Grenadier (Lathrecista asiatica) dragonfly. Photo credit: Robin Ngiam, NParks Flora&FaunaWeb.

They are also, in turn, important food sources for predators such as birds, spiders and frogs.

Odonates start their life in water. Even when young, odonate larvae, called nymphs, are fierce predators of small prey like fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Damselfly nymphs are slender with 3 gills on their tails, whereas dragonfly nymphs are short and thick, with gills inside their abdomens. They moult (shed their exoskeleton) 8 to 15 times before leaving the water to become adults.

Nymphs of the Common Bluetail damselfly (Ischnura senegalensis) and Common Flangetail dragonfly (Ictinogomphus decoratus). Photo credit: Robin Ngiam, NParks Flora&FaunaWeb.

Habitat enhancement efforts include incorporating spaces such as Neram Streams, a naturalised drainage system leading to Jurong Lake, in our parks and gardens. As the streams are a suitable habitat for the nymphs, many species of odonates can be seen in Jurong Lake Gardens. Click below to find out more!

Damselflies

Damselflies are from the suborder Zygoptera. They are more slender than their dragonfly relatives and have similarly shaped forewings and hindwings. At rest, the wings are held closed and above the abdomen. They are weak fliers and their compound eyes are set distinctly apart.

Variable Wisp

Mature male. Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks) 

Scientific name:

Agriocnemis femina

Common name:

Variable Wisp

Family:

Coenagrionidae

What does it look like?

Variable wisps are one of the smallest damselflies in Singapore. Their wings are only about 1 cm long! It can be difficult to identify them as their colour changes with age.

Before maturity, males have a greenish thorax with an orange abdomen tip. This changes to a dark abdomen with a white thorax when mature. Females before maturity are bright red but will become dull olive when mature.

Habitat and Behaviour

They can be found along the water’s edge and just above the grass line in most of our parks, but a keen eye is required to spot them!

Common Bluetail

Male. Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Ischnura senegalensis

Common name:

Common Bluetail

Family:

Coenagrionidae

What does it look like?

Males can be easily identified by their green thorax and blue abdomen tip. Females come in a variety of colours, but the most common is a golden orange thorax. Sometimes, females can look similar to males too!

Habitat and Behaviour

They thrive in disturbed and open habitats and can be seen in almost all the ponds in our parks and gardens. They range widely from Africa and Asia to the island of New Guinea.

Ornate Coraltail

Photo credit: Robin Ngiam (NParks)

Scientific name:

Ceriagrion cerinorubellum

Common name:

Ornate Coraltail

Family:

Coenagrionidae

What does it look like?

The Ornate Coraltail is a common damselfly that is easily identified by its bluish green thorax and dark abdomen with an orange tip. Females look similar to males.

Habitat and Behaviour

Any vegetated pond is suitable for this adaptable species. They are distributed across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Blue Sprite

Male. Photo credit: Robin Ngiam, NParks Flora&FaunaWeb

Scientific name:

Pseudagrion microcephalum

Common name:

Blue Sprite

Family:

Coenagrionidae

What does it look like?

The males of this damselfly are sky blue with black bands on their thorax. Females are generally pale brown with thin streaks of blue on their thorax.

Habitat and Behaviour

This species is highly adaptable and common in our urban wetlands. They can be spotted perching on vegetation or twigs, or flying just above the water’s surface.

Dragonflies

Dragonflies are from the suborder Anisoptera. Compared to damselflies, they are stronger fliers and have bulkier bodies. Their forewings and hindwings are shaped differently and they tend to hold their wings out horizontally at rest, like an airplane. They also have much larger compound eyes that often touch each other and take up most of their head.

Red Dragonflies (males)

Common Scarlet

Photo credit: Tan Jing Wen

Scientific name:

Crocothemis servilia

Common name:

Common Scarlet

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

This is one of the larger species of red dragonflies and is very common in Jurong Lake Gardens. The males are red from head to tail, including their eyes. They are easily confused with the Common Redbolt but can be distinguished from the latter by the distinctive dark line along the top of its abdomen. The females are light brown with the same distinctive line.

Habitat and Behaviour

These sun-loving dragonflies can be commonly seen in our parks as well as other open habitats like freshwater marshes. They range from the Middle East throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, to New Guinea in the east.

Common Redbolt

Male. Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Rhodothemis rufa

Common name:

Common Redbolt

Family:

Libellulidae


What does it look like?

Male Common Redbolts are red throughout with a thick pale band on their thorax. Females are brown with a bright yellow band on their thorax that extends midway down the abdomen. It looks similar to the Common Scarlet but lacks the distinct dark band along the abdomen.

Habitat and Behaviour

This sun-loving species is found in open habitats like freshwater marshes and flooded grasslands. They are widespread in tropical Asia, ranging from western India and Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands.

Scarlet Basker

Male. Photo credit: Cai Yixiong, NParks Flora&FaunaWeb

Scientific name:

Urothemis signata

Common name:

Scarlet Basker

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

Male Scarlet Baskers have red eyes, thoraxes and abdomens with a brown patch at the base of their hindwings. Females are, in contrast, light yellowish brown with a pale amber patch at the base of their hindwings. They are identified by two diamond-shaped spots at the ends of their abdomens.

Habitat and Behaviour

It is found in ponds in open habitats throughout Singapore. This active dragonfly is often seen fighting other odonates that intrude into their territory. It is widespread, occurring from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to eastern Australia.

Scarlet Skimmer

Male. Photo credit: Robin Ngiam (NParks)

Scientific name:

Orthetrum testaceum

Common name:

Scarlet Skimmer

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

Males have an orange brown thorax and red abdomen with light brownish grey eyes. They also have an amber patch at the base of their hindwings. Females are yellowish brown and lack the patch on their hindwings.

Habitat and Behaviour

They inhabit open wetlands like drains, ponds and marshes.

Grenadier

Photo credit: Cai Yixiong, NParks Flora&FaunaWeb

Scientific name:

Agrionoptera insignis

Common name:

Grenadier

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

The Grenadier has a blotchy or mottled yellow thorax and a slender abdomen that is red except for the black tip. Males and females look similar. It can be challenging to distinguish the Grenadier from the Scarlet Grenadier, which is larger and has a different abdomen shape and thorax colouration.

Habitat and Behaviour

This species is associated with forested habitats and generally perches in shady areas. It has been recorded in the nature reserves, various nature parks and wooded areas of Jurong Lake Gardens. It has a wide range across tropical Asia and Australasia.

Scarlet Grenadier

Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Lathrecista asiatica

Common name:

Scarlet Grenadier

Family:

Libellulidae


What does it look like?

The Scarlet Grenadier has a narrow abdomen. Males have an entirely red abdomen except for the last segment which is black. Their thorax is dark brown with yellow stripes on the sides. Females have a brownish red abdomen.

Habitat and Behaviour

This species prefers forested areas and is usually seen perched around forest clearings surveying their surroundings for prey.

Spine-tufted Skimmer

Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Orthetrum chrysis

Common name:

Spine-tufted Skimmer

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

Males have a dark brown thorax and red abdomen. Females are reddish brown. They are often mistaken for the Scarlet Skimmer but have a dark thorax instead of being completely red or orange brown.

Habitat and Behaviour

They are common in our parks and widespread in tropical Asia.

Common Parasol

Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Neurothemis fluctuans

Common name:

Common Parasol

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

Males are striking and have a reddish brown thorax and abdomen with maroon wings that have transparent tips. Females are duller in colour with clear wings. Immature males look similar to females except for their wing markings.

Habitat and Behaviour

It is widespread across tropical Asia. It is the most common dragonfly in Singapore, even frequenting places that are far from a water source.

Crimson Dropwing

Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Trithemis aurora

Common name:

Crimson Dropwing

Family:

Libellulidae


What does it look like?

The eyes, thorax and abdomen of males are bright pink, while females are golden yellow with black markings on the sides of their abdomen.

Habitat and Behaviour

This species is very common and inhabits all sorts of urban wetlands. They can often be spotted perched on shrubs, basking in the sun.

Yellow/Orange Dragonflies (males)

Common Amberwing

Male. Photo credit: Robin Ngiam (NParks)

Scientific name:

Brachythemis contaminata

Common name:

Common Amberwing

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

True to its name, male Common Amberwings have beautiful amber tints on all their wings. Females look very different with a pale yellow thorax and yellowish orange wing spots instead.

Habitat and Behaviour

They are very common in ponds, lakes and marshes. Their scientific name contaminata refers to this species’ ability to survive even in polluted water. They can usually be found in large numbers.

Saddleback Glider

Photo credit: Robin Ngiam (NParks)

Scientific name:

Tramea transmarina

Common name:

Saddlebag Glider

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

The Saddlebag Glider has a dark brown patch at the base of its hindwings near the thorax, resembling a saddlebag and thus giving it its name. Their eyes are dark brown above and greyish white below.

Habitat and Behaviour

They are common in Singapore and occur in well-vegetated ponds and drains.

Wandering Glider

Photo credit: Robin Ngiam (NParks)

Scientific name:

Pantala flavescens

Common name:

Wandering Glider

Family:

Libellulidae


How to identify?

This dragonfly is mainly yellow in colour. It has a series of long, diamond-shaped spots along the midline of its abdomen. Their broad wings are clear except for a small but distinct dark mark at each of the tips. Males and females look similar.

Habitat and Behaviour

The Wandering Glider occurs in open habitats in Singapore and is often present in swarms, foraging around open areas in search of prey.

They are the most widespread species of dragonfly and have a global range extending from the Americas to Asia.

White-barred Duskhawk

Photo credit: Robin Ngiam (NParks)

Scientific name:

Tholymis tillarga

Common name:

White-barred Duskhawk

Family:

Libellulidae


How to identify?

The males are dull orange with a light brown bar and white patches on each hindwing. Females are pale brown with clear wings that lack patches. Before maturity, males resemble females.

Habitat and Behaviour

Mostly active in the late afternoon, they perch vertically below plants for shade during the rest of the day. They are found throughout Singapore in open habitats like ponds, lakes and slow-flowing streams. Their global distribution ranges throughout tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australia and Micronesia (islands in the western Pacific Ocean).

Blue Dragonflies (males)

Common Chaser

Male. Photo credit: Anthony Quek

Female. Photo credit: Anthony Quek

Scientific name:

Potamarcha congener

Common name:

Common Chaser 

Family:

Libellulidae


What does it look like?

The first four segments of the abdomen of the males are powdery blue while the rest of the abdomen is black with orange markings. Females have yellow and black stripes on the sides of their thorax, a black abdomen with dull orange markings and a notable flap near the tip.

Habitat and Behaviour

They occur all over Singapore, preferring open ponds and slow-flowing waters in disturbed habitats. They are also widely distributed in areas ranging from tropical Asia to Australia.

Blue Dasher

Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Brachydiplax chalybea

Common name:

Blue Dasher

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

This dragonfly is distinctive, with males sporting a bluish body coupled with a yellowish tint at the base of its wings. It has a broad dark tip at the end of its abdomen. Females have clear wings and a yellow abdomen with a black streak.

Habitat and Behaviour

They are very common and found in ponds in many of our parks, particularly those that are well-vegetated.

Blue Percher

Male. Photo credit: Robin Ngiam, NParks Flora&FaunaWeb

Scientific name:

Diplacodes trivialis

Common name:

Blue Percher

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

A small dragonfly, its males are light bluish with bright blue eyes and a black abdomen tip with white anal attachments, known as appendages. Females have a pale greenish yellow marking on their black bodies with eyes that are brown above and yellow below.

Habitat and Behaviour

It is commonly found in open marshes, drains and disturbed habitats. They are not always found near water sources, and often fly very close to the ground. It has a wide range encompassing tropical and subtropical Asia and Australasia.

Trumpet Tail

Male. Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Acisoma panorpoides

Common name:

Trumpet Tail

Family:

Libellulidae


odonate

27–29 mm

What does it look like?

A key feature of this dragonfly is its bulging abdomen that narrows towards the tip. Mature males are blue while females are light green.

Habitat and Behaviour

It is commonly found in most of our parks and is often seen around ponds with many plants.

Black Dragonflies (males)

Common Flangetail

Photo credit: NParks

Scientific name:

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Common name:

Common Flangetail

Family:

Gomphidae

What does it look like?

It has a heavily-built body with a distinctive yellow and black pattern and a long slender abdomen. Greenish yellow bands and spots cover its black body. Its eyes are well separated and greyish green in colour. Females and males look similar.

Habitat and Behaviour

The Common Flangetail prefers large, open expanses of water such as Jurong Lake and other large lakes and reservoirs.

Variegated Green Skimmer

Photo credit: Nicholas Kee (NParks)

Scientific name:

Orthetrum sabina

Common name:

Variegated Green Skimmer

Family:

Libellulidae

What does it look like?

They are easily recognised by their pale green colour and white markings on their abdomens. Females look similar to males.

Habitat and Behaviour

This is a very common dragonfly that is found in a wide variety of open wetlands, including drains and flooded fields.

Yellow-barred Flutterer

Photo credit: Ruth Tan (NParks)

Scientific name:

Rhyothemis phyllis

Common name:

Yellow-barred Flutterer

Family:

Libellulidae


What does it look like?

It has a dark thorax and abdomen with a metallic sheen while the base of the hindwing has unmistakable yellow and dark bars. Males and females look similar.

Habitat and Behaviour

This species is common throughout Singapore and is often seen far from water. Swarms of this species can sometimes be seen fluttering over grassy fields together with Wandering Gliders in search of aerial prey.

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