Encyclopedia of Biodiversity: Six-Spotted Jewel Dragonfly - This 'Shorty' is Absolutely Charming

Today, we're going to introduce you toCrested Jewel Dragonfly

Palpopleura sexmaculata

Insecta, Arthropoda, Order Dragonfly. The Crested Jewel Dragonfly body length is 24-27 mm, abdomen length is 14-16 mm, and the hindwing is 17-19 mm. Male eyes are bluish-gray, the face is yellow, and the forehead has a deep blue metallic spot; the thorax is yellow with black markings, the forewing is transparent, and the hindwing is large area amber, with large black markings; the abdomen is broad and covered with blue frosty powder. Female is yellowish-brown, with black stripes on the abdomen.

It inhabits shallow wetlands, seeps, ditches and rice fields at an altitude of 2500m or less, and is visible throughout the year. It is widely distributed in southern China; it is also found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Zhang Haomiao, a Doctor of Entomology, currently works at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducting research on the classification, ecology and phylogeny of the Order Dragonfly. In the past 20 years of fieldwork, his footprints have covered over 100 natural reserves in Asia, Europe and Africa. During his doctoral studies, he was invited to visit the Dutch National Museum, the source of dragonfly studies, and he is the first Chinese dragonfly researcher to conduct research on dragonflies on the African continent.

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