Straight-edged Red Parasol

Neurothemis terminata (Ris, 1911), called the Straight-edged Red Parasol Dragonfly, of order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera, family Libellulidae, is a widespread and often common species which can occur in man-made habitats, and assessed as Least Concern for these reasons.

It is native to Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak); Palau; Philippines. Neurothemis terminata terminata Ris, 1911, is the subspecies occurring in the Philippines.

It is a relatively large species. The hindwing red area is truncated abruptly near the tip of the wing so that its margin is straight and perpendicular to the wing margin. The female maybe marked similarly with light yellow suffocation, occasionally deep orange in old specimens, or the wings may be uncolored except for a small dark brown mark at the tip.

I could not decide if this is a teneral (freshly emerged) male or an immature female.

Teneral Male: The wings are chocolate color with yellow pterostigma. These wings matured into dark red with red pterostigma.

Female: Most of the female are normally clear wings. Dark wings are rare. The color is tea color and remain such that never turn into red color similar to male. Matured female has its four pterostigma turned reddish from yellow; and the whole abdomen has swollen (with eggs inside) compared to a skinny abdomen when immature.