Diplacodes haematodes

Scarlet percher
A male Diplacodes haematodes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Diplacodes
Species:	D. haematodes
Binomial name
Diplacodes haematodes (Burmeister, 1839)

Diplacodes haematodes, the scarlet percher, is a species of dragonfly that occurs throughout Australia (except Tasmania), Timor, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.^[1] It is locally common in habitats with hot sunny exposed sites at or near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. It often prefers to settle on hot rocks rather than twigs or leaves, and is quite wary. This is a spectacular species of dragonfly, although small in size (wingspan 60mm, length 35mm). The male is brilliant red, the female yellow-ochre. Females have yellow infuscation suffusing the outer wings, while the males have similar colour at the bases of the wings.^[2]

Gallery

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  Mature Female

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  Male D. haematodes

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  Female highlighting brownish wingtips

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  Male highlighting the wing venation

References

1. Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 276. ISBN 0643090738.
2. McCoy, Michael (2010). Reef and rainforest. Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Publishing. p. 148. ISBN 0-643-09695-7.