Photographs

Asiatic Bloodtail (Lathrecista asiatica) (male)

Flora & Fauna

Commonly known as Pruinosed Bloodtail, Asiatic Bloodtail and Long-winged Skimmer, Lathrecista asiatica is one of several species of dragonfly in which the body or wings are predominantly red. The colour schemes of the males and females are similar: The thorax is dark, marked with broad light-coloured stripes, and the abdomen is red, with a black tip. The shape of the abdomen—it is long and uniformly thin—is sufficiently conspicuous for it to be a character that distinguishes the species. The thorax of the male gets pruinosed (frosted in appearance) with age till it gets blue in colour and the underlying stripes are invisible. There is some variability in the colour of the female—the abdomen may be brownish. Lathrecista asiatica has been reported to be a shy insect.