Urothemis signata explained

Urothemis signata, the greater crimson glider, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread in many Asian countries. A number of subspecies are recognized for this species.^[1]

Subspecies

There are four subspecies are recognized.

• Urothemis signata aliena Selys, 1878 - Australia and New Guinea
• Urothemis signata insignata (Selys, 1872) - Sundaland
• Urothemis signata signata (Rambur 1842) - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China and Indochina^[2]
• Urothemis signata yiei Asahina, 1972 - Taiwan

Description and habitat

It is a medium-sized dragonfly with red eyes. thorax and abdomen. Its wings are transparent with a amber colored spot surrounded by a dark-brown patch in the base of hind-wings. Its abdomen is blood-red, with some black marking on the dorsum of segments 8 and 9. Female is similar to the male; but yellowish in color. The black spots on the dorsum is repeated on segments 3 to 7. Juvenile and sub-adult males also have these marks.

This species breeds in ponds and slow flowing rivers, typically in lowland areas. The males often found perch on exposed twigs. This species has managed to colonise urban water bodies and park ponds.^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Image gallery

See also

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

References

• signata.html World Dragonflies
• Animal diversity web
• Query Results
• Sri Lanka Biodiversity

Notes and References

1. Odonata: Catalogue of the Odonata of the World. Tol J. van, 2008-08-01
2. 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. 397–398.
3. Book: Subramanian, K. A.. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India. 2005.
4. Book: C FC Lt. Fraser. Frederic Charles Fraser. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. III. Taylor and Francis. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London. 1936. 442–444.
5. 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. 445.
6. Web site: Urothemis signata Rambur, 1842. India Biodiversity Portal. 2017-02-18.
7. Web site: Urothemis signata Rambur, 1842. Odonata of India, v. 1.00. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. 2017-02-18.