Diplacodes haematodes

Scarlet percher
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Diplacodes
Species:	D. haematodes
Binomial name
Diplacodes haematodes (Burmeister, 1839)

Diplacodes haematodes, the scarlet percher, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs throughout Australia (except Tasmania), Timor, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. 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.

Gallery

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  Male and female mating
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  Red
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  Mature female
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  Female, face-on
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  Male wings have colour near their base
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  Male
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  Immature male before turning red
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  Female, highlighting brownish wingtips
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  Male, highlighting wing venation
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  Diagram of male wings
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  Photo of female wings