Dragonflies Photographed in South Africa

January 2005

Thanks to Dr. John P. Simaika, Department of Conservation and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa,
for identifying many of these species from these photographs.

Suborder: Zygoptera

Family: Calopterygidae

Phaon iridipennis - Glistening Demoiselle (female)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Family: Synlestidae

Chlorolestes tessellatus - Forest Malachite (male)
Photographed at Hogsback Mountain

Family: Chlorocyphidae

Platycypha caligata - Dancing Jewel (male)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

(Female)

Family: Coenagrionidae

Pseudagrion massaicum - Vermilion Sprite (male)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Suborder: Anisoptera

Family: Aeshnidae

Aeshna subpupillata - Stream Hawker (male)
Photographed at the Tolkein Forest, Hogsback Mountain

Family: Corduliidae

Phyllomacromia picta - Darting Cruiser (male)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Family: Libellulidae

Brachythemis leucostica - Banded Groundling
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Nesciothemis farinosa - Black-tailed Skimmer (male)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Sympetrum fonscolombii - Red-veined Darter (male)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Trithemis dorsalis - Dorsal Dropwing
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve, near Grahamstown

Trithemis kirbyi ardens - Rock Dropwing
Photographed at the Kruger National Park airport

Trithemis arteriosa - Red-veined Dropwing
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve

Zygonyx natalensis - Blue Cascader (male)
Photographed at the Great Fish River Preserve

(Female)