Pseudagrion rubriceps explained

Pseudagrion rubriceps, saffron-faced blue dart, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in many tropical Asian countries.^[1]

Description and habitat

It is a medium sized damselfly with bright orange eyes, greenish below. The male is easily distinguished from all other Pseudagrion species by the brilliant reddish-orange face, from which it derives its common name. Its thorax is olive green above and azure blue on the sides. There is a narrow mid-dorsal carina and humeral stripes in black. Abdomen is blue on the sides, broadly marked with black on dorsum, up to segment 8. Segments 9 and 10 are azure blue without any marks. Anal appendages are black.

Eyes, face and thorax of the female is yellowish green, marked as in the male. Color of the abdomen is similar to the male; but paler. Segments 8 and 9 are also black with fine apical blue rings. Segment 10 is pale blue.

Widely distributed throughout the plains and submontane areas. It breeds in weedy streams and ponds.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Subspecies

Two subspecies recognized.^[7]

• • Pseudagrion rubriceps ceylonicum - Endemic to Sri Lanka Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps - Other Asian countries.^[8]

See also

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

References

• Animal Diversity Web
• NCBI

Notes and References

1. 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. 179–180.
2. Book: C FC Lt. Fraser. Frederic Charles Fraser. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. I. Taylor and Francis. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London. 1933. 296–299.
3. Book: C FC Lt. Fraser. Frederic Charles Fraser. A Survey of the Odonate (Dragonfly) Fauna of Western India and Descriptions of Thirty New Species. 1924. 497.
4. Book: Subramanian, K. A.. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India - A Field Guide. 2005.
5. Web site: Pseudagrion rubriceps Selys, 1876. India Biodiversity Portal. 2017-03-07.
6. Web site: Pseudagrion rubriceps Selys, 1876. Odonata of India, v. 1.00. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. 2017-03-07.
7. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-02-20 . 2015-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220171255/http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2009/2009nis209-214.pdf . dead .
8. Web site: Pseudagrion rubriceps Selys, 1876 .