Zyxomma obtusum (Albarda,1881) 灰影蜻蜓

Genus : Zyxomma

Female Zyxomma obtusum has clean light brown body unlike the matured male covered with strong white powder.

Zyxomma obtusum dragonfly is a well-known species though not usually seen in the fields because they come out only in the evening.

Zyxomma obtusum (as well as Tholymis tillarga) is well known for reproductive behavior as dusk approaches.
 

Almost the whole head of a Zyxomma dragonfly is covered by the pair of compound eyes.

The shape of the compound eye suggest it is a night flyer. And as a matter of fact. I came into my sitting room in the eveing instead of me finding it in the fields.
 

Female Zyxomma obtusum has crystal green compound eyes as different with the blue color of the male.

Female Zyxomma obtusum’s unique egg dispenser - the vulvar lamina plate/subgenital plate (A) and egg plate (B).


A) The vulvar lamina (or Valvula vulvae/subgenital plate) of segment 8 extends from segment 8 to as far as the middle of segment 9 and has a conspicuous “V” incision.

B) The Egg Plate at segment 9 is wide with a row of hair at the tip. A good protective cover of the eggs
 

8th July 2007 Sunday afternoon.  Is a bright sunny day. I came across this  Z. obtusum species for the first time.

A matured male Zyxomma obtusum developed white pruinescence like white powder over the body and wings.

Zyxomma obtusum is hung back with very short thorax. Upper part of eyes are grayish and the joining line is broad like those of Anex.

This white dragonfly is a common species in Sabah but because  it commences activity after sunset, very seldom photographed.

They are found in lakes, ponds and polluted drains.

This one found in a polluted drain stucked with PVC plastic begs and bottles in an oil palm plantation.

This is the first time I came saw a Zyxomma obtusum which I almost overlooked if not noticed the wings are white with dark tips.

Because this dragonfly never pause for a while to enable a clearer look but non stop flit back and forth along a plantation drain, I first mistaken it as an Orthetrum glaucum until later I notice the unusual color of wings are white with dark tips.