Vestalis gracilis

Vestalis gracilis, or the Clear-winged Forest Glory, is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. It is found throughout the Oriental region.^[1]

Description

• Male: A large, green iridescent dragonfly having brown legs and transparent wings with a bluish tinge. The wing-spot is absent. The eyes are dark brown above and greenish yellow below. The thorax and abdomen are iridescent emerald green above. Below, The thorax is yellow while the abdomen is black.^[1]
• Female: The female has duller greenish-brown colouration.^[1]
• Morphometry:^[1]
  • Male: Abdomen - 45 to 46 mm, Hindwing - 34 to 38 mm.
  • Female: Abdomen - 43 to 50 mm, Hindwing - 36 to 39 mm.

Habits

Found along water-courses in hilly regions. The damselflies are often encountered in large numbers in shady forest clearings. they are sometimes associated with Black-tipped Forest Glories (Vestalis apicalis).^[1]

References