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Wildlife Spotting

Photo by JeffCrocombe
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Notes:

There are no field guides to PNG insects or dragonflies. It'd be great if someone can ID it to genus at least. Should be similar to some Australian or Asian species.

Species ID Suggestions

Painted Grasshawk

http://www.anhs.com.au/dragonfly1.htm

Reference Link
Mark Ridgway
2

Comments (13)
Scott Frazier
Identification should always look at range. Neurothemis terminata does not occur on the "New Guinea" dragonfly list http://www.papua-insects.nl/insect%20orders/Odonata/Odonata%20Checklist%20NG%20&%20Solomons.xls
Mark Ridgway
Ary I think the abdomen colour and pattern on yours is too different.
Mark Ridgway
It doesn't look like the extent of shading is too critical. Here's a N stigmatizans where it doesn't even reach the pterostigma.... http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/image/126383195
HemaShah
That touch of pink is so unique! It seems to be a combination of a saddlebag and blue dasher female, seen here.
Scott Frazier
See my spotting of Neurothemis stigmatizans and read the note http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6937788 For an on-line source that might be helpful for identifying many PNG insects, see http://www.papua-insects.nl
Mark Ridgway
No problems Jeff. I don't know if you use Facebook at all but there is a group for Aussie PN users you might want to connect with. I used a 'find-a-dragonfly' link from there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/394806210574885/ Hope you sort it the Neurothemis :-)
JeffCrocombe
I also note that on this photo the dark red shading on the wing comes to halfway up the pterostigma. The photos of N. stigmatizens & ramburii show the dark shading stopping before the pterostigma. I don't know if this is significant.
JeffCrocombe
Thanks for the ID suggestion Argy Bee. Apparently there is another almost identical species: Ramburi Red Parasol Neurothemis ramburii To distinguish them according to 1 site I apparently need to look to see if there is only a single crossvein in the hindwing cubital space. See http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7851371 for one dragonfly IDed as N. ramburii. Some of the others ID'ed as N. ramburii have bright red abdomens. See: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7791098 So I need to do more research. At least I have a genus now!
Mark Ridgway
It would be good to know what sort of area it was. Near water or dry? Sitting on plant sp.? Looks a bit like Neurothemis stigmatizans to me...

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Global Dragonflies & Damselflies
Photographed
PublishedOctober 1, 2012

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