Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilidorsum (Brauer,1868) 弓背細蟌

Insect ID Source : http://sjl.csie.chu.edu.tw

Insect ID Source : http://www013.upp.so-net.ne.jp

Found in Japan, Philippines, Taiwan
Genus : Pseudagrion Super-Family: COENAGRIONOIDEA Family: COENAGRIONIDAE

  生活於低海拔山區,常出現於溪流、溝渠等清靜水域,棲息量尚多。
體長 42-47mm
腹部長  33∼ 36mm
後翅長  22∼ 24mm

Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilidorsum (Brauer, 1868)
弓背細蟌 Red Sprite
雄蟲 雌蟲
雄蟲複眼紅色,合胸紅色,合胸側視無黑斑,

上攫握器(上肛附器)極長明顯

翅透明無色,翅痣紅褐色。

腹部第 1∼ 4節紅色,第 5∼ 8節背 側黑褐色,腹側黃褐色,第 9、 10節紅色,。

雌蟲複眼黃綠色或黃褐色,合胸側視具褐色條紋,腹背面黑色,腹部側視黃褐色,腹部第9-10節具灰白色斑。雌蟲 複眼上半部綠褐色,下半部黃綠色。胸部黃綠色,側視具有二條橘黃色斑。翅透明無色,翅痣 淡黃褐色。腹部背面黑褐色,側視有黃褐色斑紋。

Pair 1 Pair 2 Pair 3 10 June 2007
     

Just Emerge Just Emerged on 10 June 2007
   

弓背細蟌 Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilisorsum (Brauer,1868)

adult emergence the larvae of Pseudagrion pilidorsum

emerge
to leave water and undergo metamorphosis into an adult; emergence is thus both from water and from exuviae
exuviae
(sing. pl.) cast skin from any larval molt (including transformation into adult)
maiden flight
first flight of teneral away from water
teneral
adult after it has just emerged, soft and not definitively colored

 

larval exuviae (skin)
Damselflies and Dragonflies are aquatic (water) insects most of their lives  living in fresh water as larvae before emerging as terrestrial adults.
Damselfly and Dragonflies are know to  emerge at night to avoid being preyed. Some species emerge early morning.  Very little is recorded on damselflies emerging in the afternoon.  This Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilidorsum you see in this page was photographed emerging in the middle of an afternoon, which is unusual and rear.
The colors of the insect in this stage are much paler than they will be once it is mature.  There were about 50 Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilidorsum (Brauer,1868) 弓背細蟌 at that section of the stream where this female emerge.

 


3:03 PM 3:22 PM 3:34 PM

Hello World!

When I first spotted this damselfly her abdomen was still inside the black exuviae cast skin.

By the time I set my self in a good position and get my camera ready she was already fully emerged from the exuvia. (above photo)

Within 19 minutes she transformed into a white slim pretty Red Sprite Damselfly (above photo). Charging her body with new energy, it  moved up to catch more sunlight. She is getting  ready to made her maiden flight into this new world in 12 minutes time...

Gone !!!!!!!!

Leaving en empty grass stem in my digital images, she lap into the air and disappeared into the grasses.

Welcome to the World !!

The following digital photos shows the above recently emerged female Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilidorsum (Brauer,1868) 弓背細蟌 from its larval exuviae (skin).  The larva had climbed up about 6 inches on a grass stalk at the edge of mountain stream in Sabah, Malaysia when I spotted it on 5th November 2006 3:00 PM of warm afternoon under a gray sky.
30 minutes after the adult insect then emerged she took her maiden flight and disappeared from the camera screen into the grasses.

  1. Pseudagrion australasiae Selys, 1876
     
  2. Pseudagrion microcephalum (Rambur, 1842)
     
  3. Pseudagrion pilidorsum pilidorsum (Brauer,1868)
     
  4. Pseudagrion pruinosum fraseri Schmidt, 1934
     
  5. Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps Selys, 1876
     
  6. Pseudagrion williamsoni Fraser, 1922
     

INDEX : Dragonfly     June 14, 2007 01:24:00 PM