Brachydiplax chalybea, male

Brachydiplax is a genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family, subfamily Brachydiplacinae (Dwarves). Members of the subfamily are very small to medium sized.

The species of Brachydiplax occur from India through China, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea to Australia.

These are often common dragonflies. Males of most species are usually pale to mid powder blue. Females have shades of brown, sometimes with neat patterns of spots on the abdomen (e.g. B. chalybea flavovittata).

Like most Libellulids they tend to perch on sticks, reeds or stones near water, flying out to catch insects then returning to their perch.

Species

The genus contains the following species:^[1]

• Brachydiplax chalybea Brauer, 1868
• Brachydiplax denticauda (Brauer, 1867)
• Brachydiplax duivenbodei (Brauer, 1866)
• Brachydiplax farinosa Krüger, 1902
• Brachydiplax sobrina (Rambur, 1842)
• Brachydiplax sollaarti Lieftinck, 1953
• Brachydiplax yunnanensis Fraser, 1924

References