Brachydiplax
Encyclopedia
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 (eg, 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.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of dragonflies
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
in the Libellulidae
Libellulidae
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded , there still remains a...
family, subfamily Brachydiplacinae (Dwarves). Members of the subfamily are very small to medium sized.
The species of Brachydiplax occur from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
through China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
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 (eg, 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:- Brachydiplax chalybea
- Brachydiplax denticaudaBrachydiplax denticaudaBrachydiplax denticauda is found in Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, and is common over much of its range. The species is usually found near still or sluggish waters....
- Brachydiplax duivenbodei
- Brachydiplax farinosa
- Brachydiplax sobrina
- Brachydiplax sollaarti
- Brachydiplax yunnanensis