Phantom Flutterer, Rhyothemis semihyalina, Fladdergesie

100 1145 Farm Alicedale Tshipise LP RSA Dec 2015r 1Male

100 1154 Ezemvelo GP RSA Jan 2017r 4Male

100 1155 Flutterer Ezemvelo GP RSA Jan 2017r 5Female

Short description:

Phantom Flutterer, Rhyothemis semihyalina, Fladdergesie is small sized, slender with black metallic green / black thorax and body. Large, metallic brown / black basal splash on hindwing.

Family Libellulidae Leach, 1815

More images:

Farm Alicedale Tshipise LP RSA Dec 2015Image
Gallery

100 2738 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 2Male

100 3459 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Close up Hertzogberg MP RSA Feb 2020r 1Male

100 2748 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 3Female

100 2994 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Female Close up RdW LP RSA Nov 2018r 2Young Female

 

Click on all images to enlarge or view more

Key identification features:

Males: 100 1145 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Farm Alicedale Tshipise LP RSA Dec 2015r 1

  • Face is brown in front, and dark metallic colour above, with the labrum blackish brown, anteclypeus and postclypeus dark brown. Frons is bright metallic dimpled bluish purple, lower margin dull yellow. Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017  100 2744 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 11 
  • Eyes are dark brown 100 2744 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 11
  • Thorax slightly metallic greenish black, interspersed with some faint yellow brown patches.White hair on dorsal and lower sides.  Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017
  • Wings are short and wide, especially the hind wings and slightly smoky. The hindwing has uniformly dark brown/green metallic antenodal area and a clear postnodal half. The frontwing at most with dark smear near base. The metallic splash in the hindwing is diagnostic. Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Farm Alicedale Tshipise LP RSA Dec 2015  Pterostigmas dark reddish brown and short, 2 mm.
  • Abdomen slender, short and black and may pruinose from the lower side upwards 100 2747 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 17. Segment 1-3 brown below Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Male Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017 S 10 Brown above

Females: Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017

  • Slightly stouter.Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017 
  • Thorax not as deep metallic green /purple as the older male.100 2749 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flatterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 5 Dorsal thorax with deep blues/metallic green squares either side of the dorsal carina not extending to the hind margin.100 2752 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017r 12
  • Hind margin of basal wing patch more square than male.Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017 100 3002 Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Female Close up RdW LP RSA Nov 2018r 1717
  • Abdomen segment 1 dark brown becoming progressive dark blue/brown to dark deep blue grey at S 10. Pronounced from s 6 to s 10. Pruinose on lower and upper brown parts with age  Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017   Rhyothemis semihalina Phantom Flutterer Rust de Winter LP RSA Dec 2017
Habitat:
  • Frequents standing and often temporary waters in open landscapes. Usually with emergent and often aquatic vegetation, and a soft (like muddy) bottom.
  • From 0 to 1800 m above sea level, but mostly below 1500.
Behaviour:
  • Distinct butterfly like fluttering flight, Rest at the tip of a conspicuous perch, with legs thrust forward and wings raised. Often in territorial fights. Sometimes found flying in tree tops.
Similarities with other species:
  • Unmistakable with the very large splashes on the hind wings. Butterfly like flight is diagnostic.
  • Habitat:
Distribution: 

Flutterer Distribution Map May 2020Distribution Map
South Africa

Political Map South Africa Political Map
South Africa

Topographical Map South Africa Topographical Map
South Africa

Rhyothemis semihyalina Phantom Flutterer Africa Distribution Map Sept 2021

Political Map Africa

Topographical Map Africa

South Africa:

  • Widespread and common in the eastern coastal regions from the far eastern parts of the WCP and the warm northern parts of South Africa.
  • Records are now showing that it is also North eastern NCP,  FS and Western NWP

Africa:

  • Algeria; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Chad; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinee-Bissau; Kenya; Liberia; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Republic of South Africa; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Socotra (Yemen); Somalia; South Sudan; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe;
Further reading:

Websites: