Crimson marsh glider

Trithemis aurora
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Trithemis
Species:	T. aurora
Binomial name
Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839)

Trithemis aurora, the crimson marsh glider, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.

It is a medium-sized dragonfly that is commonly found in weedy tanks and ponds, marshes, channels, and slow flowing streams and rivers in the lowlands and mid-hills. It breeds in streams, rivers, canals, ponds and tanks. It is found commonly and widely distributed in the Oriental region throughout the year. The male of the species is distinctly different from the female.

The male has a reddish-brown face, with eyes that are crimson above and brown on the sides. The thorax is red with a fine, purple pruinescence. The abdomen, the base of which is swollen, is crimson with a violet tinge. The wings are transparent with crimson venation and the base has a broad amber patch. The wing spots are a dark reddish-brown and the legs are black.

Male

Female

The female has an olivaceous or bright reddish-brown face with eyes that are purplish-brown above and grey below. The thorax is olivaceous with brown median and black lateral stripes. The abdomen is reddish-brown with median and lateral black markings. The black markings are confluent at the end of each segment and enclose a reddish-brown spot. The wings are transparent with brown tips. The venation is bright yellow to brown and basal amber markings are pale. The wing spots are a dark brown and the lags are dark grey with narrow yellow stripes.

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  Female near Thirparappu waterfalls, Tamil Nadu

• 

  Male near Thirparappu waterfalls, Tamil Nadu

References

• Subramanian, K. A. (2005). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India (PDF). 
• Subramanian, K. & Dow, R. A. (2010). "Trithemis aurora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 December 2011.