Epiprocta Lohmann, 1996

Dragonflies

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Epiprocta

Dragonflies are carnivorous insects with a lifestyle that is closely tied to freshwater aquatic habitats. Eggs are laid in or near water, and immature dragonflies have adaptations such as gills that allow them to spend the first few months to several years as aquatic nymphs, preying on other small aquatic organisms. As adults, dragonflies are agile fliers that prey on other insects. (Corbet, P. 1999. Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.)
Both dragonfly larvae and adult dragonflies are voracious predators. The larvae are important predators in freshwater ecosystems and are prey for other species. Adult dragonflies help control populations of other insects, including mosquitoes and true flies. They are also food for many aquatic and terrestrial organisms. (McGavin, G. 2001. Essential Entomology: An Order-by-Order Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.)

Many thanks to Noppadon Makbun for his help in identifying many of the Odanata on this page.

Family: Aeshnidae - Hawkers

Genera: Gynacantha

Gynacantha subinterrupta ♂

Gynacantha subinterrupta ♀

Family: Gomphidae - Clubtails

Genera: Gomphidictinus, Ictinogomphus, Microgomphus, Paragomphus, Sinictinogomphus

Gomphidictinus perakensis ♂

Gomphidictinus perakensis ♀

Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops ♂

Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops ♀

Microgomphus thailandica ♂

Microgomphus thailandica ♀

Paragomphus capricornis ♂

Paragomphus capricornis ♀

Sinictinogomphus clavatus ♂

Sinictinogomphus clavatus ♀

Family: Libellulidae - Skimmers

Genera: Acisoma, Aethriamanta, Brachydiplax, Brachythemis, Camacinia, Crocothemis, Diplacodes, Indothemis, Lathrecista, Macrodiplax, Neurothemis, Orthetrum, Pantala, Potomarcha, Pseudothemis, Rhodothemis, Rhyothemis, Tholymis, Trithemis, Urothemis