Neurothemis tullia (Drury, 1773)

Lakhiar, Amjad & Panhwar, Waheed Ali, 2015, On the identity of Neurothemis tullia (Drury, 1773) (Odonata: Libellulidae)., Arquivos Entomolóxicos 14, pp. 169-171 : 170

Neurothemis tullia (Drury, 1773) (Figs. 1 & 2)

Material examined: Pakistan: Badin, 12 ♂♂ and 10 ♀♀, 19.VII.2014 ; 4 ♂♂ and 6 ♀♀, 7.VI.2015 (A.

Lakhiar & W.A. Panhwar leg.).

Measurements: ♂: Abdomen: 17-20 mm, Hind wing: 20-23 mm. ♀: Abdomen: 17-19 mm, Hind wing: 21-

23 mm.

Descriptions:

♂: Face: black. Eyes: blackish brown above, violaceous below. Thorax: black with mid dorsal cream stripe. Legs: black. Wings: basal half is opaque blue black bordered by a milky white patch towards the tip. The wing tips are transparent. Wing spot: dull brown. Abdomen: black with a broad mid dorsal creamy white stripe on the upper side.

♀: Differs significantly from the male in body markings and coloration. The face is olivaceous yellow. Eyes: pale brown above, fading to pale olivaceous towards the sides and below. Thorax: greenish yellow with a bright yellow mid dorsal stripe. This stripe is broadly bordered with blackish brown throughout. Legs: the outer surface is yellow and the inner surface is black. Wings: base bright amber yellow. Front edge of the wing is blackish brown, broadening into a very large blackish brown spot. This spot extends to the rear edge of the wing. In the hind wings this spot is irregular or sickle shaped. Tips of all wings are broadly blackish brown. Wing spot: dull brown. Abdomen: bright yellow with a broad black band above. Underside is black.

Comparison: Male AnD femAle Are completely Different in termS of AppeArAnce. The ADUlt mAle’S wings have a broad black band followed by a white band. Its body colour varies with age being light brown initially. The females have dark brown tips with brown spots in the middle of their golden wings. Their abdomens are light brown and yellow with black lines running along its length.

Habits and habitat: A conspicuous species of ponds, marshes and paddy fields. Its flight is slow and weak. Usually perches on twigs, aquatic weeds, and other plants. This species is very common along irrigation canals in paddy fields. Breeding: breeds in marshes and ponds. Andrew & Tembhare (1997)

stated that this species occurs throughout the year.

Distribution: Oriental region.