Dropwings - General (Trithemis)

Family Libellulidae Leach, 1815
Worldwide Distribution
  • More than 40 species mainly in Africa. 2 Species endemic to Madagascar 5 Species endemic to Asia
South Africa
  • Eleven species are present in the southern African Region
General information:
  • The name Dropwing as used for this genus is due to the way it perches with wings held downwards 100 907 Trithemis annulata Violet Dropwing Female Moreletta Sept 2016r 2and forwards when at rest.. Note: This way of perching  may be seen in other species of Dragonflies that is not in the Dropwing genus
  • Small (30 mm) to medium sized (53 mm) (hindwing 21-35 mm) sized  Click HERE Size 1 for size diagram
  • Found at all kinds of freshwater habitats
  • Male colour typically bright.100 840 Trithemis arteriosa Red vained Dropwing Komatipoort Sept 2016r 1 Female typically cryptic colours and well-marked 100 843 Trithemis arteriosa Red veined Dropwing Female Marloth Park Sept 2016r 1
  • Dropwing species can be grouped loosely based on colour, habitat, and genitalia
  • Colours within the genus
    • Predominantly red (russet or brownish) with maturity, appearing violet if pruinose, with striking orange or yellow wing patches often with wing markings or coloured veins
    • Largely dark, often (partly) blue or black pruinose with maturity, light blue or a mid-blue usually with reduced wings markings.
    • Colours change markedly with maturation. Red, violet or pruinose parts may be yellowish, brown or black in young or preserved specimens
Males and Females
  • Males100 840 Trithemis arteriosa Red vained Dropwing Komatipoort Sept 2016r 1 and females 100 843 Trithemis arteriosa Red veined Dropwing Female Marloth Park Sept 2016r 1differ in colour .For this guide we will show only mature males (where possible)
  • To view females of a species follow the links of the males

Grouping of species:

By Colour

A click on species/common name will link to the main species description article and image gallery.

Red, Violet and Brown

100 840 Trithemis arteriosa Red vained Dropwing Komatipoort Sept 2016r 1 Red-vained Dropwing
Trithemis arteriosa
Male
100 901 Trithemis annulata Violet Dropwing Komatipoort Sept 2016r 1Violet Dropwing  Trithemis annulata
Male
100 919 Trithemis kirbyi Orange winged Dropwing Male Mystic Monkeys Jan 2017r 2Orange-winged DropwingTrithemis kirbyi 
Male
101 679 Trithemis pluvialis Russet Dropwing Young Male Thohoyandou LP RSA Jan 2013Russet Dropwing
Trithemis pluvialis
Male
105 516 rithemis werneri Elegant Dropwing Letaba r 3Elegant DropwingTrithemis werneri
Male
 
 
 
Blue
100 932 Trithemis furva Navy Dropwing Male Kloofzight GP RSA Oct 2016r 2Navy Dropwing
Trithemis furva
Male
100 2040 Trithemis dorsalis Highland Dropwing Male Kloofzight GP RSA Nov 2015r 4Highland DropwingTrithemis dorsalisMale
100 1405 Trithemis hecate Silhouette Dropwing Male Ezemvelo GP RSA Sept 2017r 4Silhouette DropwingTrithemis hecate 
Male
 

Mid Blue 

100 504 Trithemis donaldsoni Denim Dropwing Male Farm Alicedale Dec 2015r 1Trithemis donaldsoni
Denim Dropwing
Male
100 635 Trithemis aconita Halfshade dropwing Male Nwanedi LP RSA Dec 2015r 3Halfshade Dropwing
Trithemis aconita
Male
 
 

Light Blue 

100 1048 Trithemis stictica Jaunty Dropwing Male Ezemvelo Nov 2016r 2Jaunty Dropwing
Trithemis stictica
Male