Gynacantha dravida explained

Gynacantha dravida,^{[1] [2]} also known as Indian duskhawker^[3] or brown darner, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in India and Sri Lanka.^[4]

Description and habitat

It is a large dragonfly characterized by its homogeneous colouring of dull browns and greens, by its long and thin anal appendages, and by its crepuscular habits. Its principal food appears to be mosquitoes and microlepidoptera. During the day, it rests in dark thickets. Fully matured specimens have bright colours; blues and greens, developing very late in life. Young specimens have brown color with some dark shades. Females are exactly similar to the males in colors and markings.^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

It is very closely related to Gynacantha subinterrupta and it is difficult to distinguish them. But the relative lengths of the superior and inferior anal appendages are different. The inferior being more than one-third the length of superiors in G. dravida and less than one-third in G. subinterrupta.^[5]

See also

• List of odonates of India
• List of odonates of Sri Lanka
• List of odonata of Kerala

External links

• • • Animal diversity web

Notes and References

1. Book: C.G.. Kiran. Raju. David V.. Dragonflies & Damselflies of Kerala. 2013. Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences. 978-81-920269-1-6. 83.
2. Web site: World Odonata List. Slater Museum of Natural History. 2017-05-30.
3. Web site: Indian Duskhawker (Gynacantha dravida). 22 January 2011 . 2017-05-30.
4. Book: K.A. . Subramanian . K.G. . Emiliyamma . R. . Babu . C. . Radhakrishnan . S.S. . Talmale . Atlas of Odonata (Insecta) of the Western Ghats, India . 2018 . Zoological Survey of India . 9788181714954. 197–198.
5. Book: C FC Lt. Fraser. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. III. Taylor and Francis. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London. 1936. 97-100.
6. Book: Subramanian, K. A.. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India - A Field Guide. 2005.
7. Web site: Gynacantha dravida Lieftinck, 1960 . India Biodiversity Portal. 2017-05-30.
8. Lieftinck, M.A. (1960) On the identity of some little known southeast Asiatic Odonata in European museums described by E. de Selys Longchamps, with descriptions of new species. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana. 38: 252-253.