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Beautiful Damselflies

Chlorolestes apricans,
Amatola Malachite Male
Endemic to south Africa
Visible in a small area in the Eastern Cape
Endangered

Platycypha fitzsimmonse,
Bouder Jewel, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Prefers Rocky streams at higher altitudes

Proischnura polychromatica,
Mauve Bluet
Endemic to South Africa
Extremely rare and critically endangered

Pseudagrion newtoni,
Harlequin Sprite, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Rare and localised.

Beautiful Dragonflies

1 4020 Aethriamanta rezia Pygmy Basker P Mch 2024r 3

Aethriamanta rezia, Pygmy Basker
Not often seen. Only visible in the warm costal areas of eastern Southern Africa
Prefers Well vegetated pond

Crenigomphus hartmann, Clubbed Talontail,
Seen perching on rocks in fast flowing rivers
Females often seen some distance away from the water.

Nesciothemis farinosa, Eastern Blacktail
Hunts up and down Ponds and fast flowing streams. Often cohabit and confused with skimmers

Beautiful Dragonflies

Tetrathemis polleni,
Black-splashed Elf
Found on shady streams and pools

103 502 Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape thorntail 6

Ceratogomphus triceraticus,
Cape Thorntail, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Inhabit flowing rock strewn streams

Diplacodes pumila
Dwarf Percher
Female
Endemic to South Africa

Trithemis hecate,
Silhouette Dropwing,
Male
Not often seen in South africa

Pantala flavescens Image Gallery

Pantala, Pantala flavescens, Pantala

Pantala flavescens Image Gallery Images by esteemed dragonfly photographers to aid in the identification dragonfly species Pantala, Pantala flavescens, Pantala.

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More images:

100 1641 Trithemis annulata Violet Dropwing Female Kosi bay KZN RSA Mch 2017r 5

100 1653 Pantala flavescens Pantala Male Close up RNR GP RSA Dec 2017r 2

1 4413 Pantala flavescens M C Wilge Jan 2025r 1

100 3886 Pantala flavescens Pantala Male Close up Rcb Kzn KZN RSA Mch 2020r 1

100 1645 Pantala flavescens Pantala Female Hertzogberg MP RSA Nov 2017r 3

Distribution:

Distribution MapJune 2020

Distribution Map
South Africa

Physical Map South Africa

Physical Map
South Africa

Political Map South Africa

Political Map
South Africa

Sympetrum fonscolombii Nomad Distribution Map Africa Dec 2021

Distribution Map
South Africa

Physical Map Africa

Physical Map
Africa

Political Map Africa

Political Map
Africa

South Africa:

Pantala, Pantala flavescens is a wanderer and a migrant and occurs throughout southern Africa.
Found on all continents except Antarctica

Africa:

Pantala, Pantala flavescens is a wanderer and a migrant and occurs throughout southern Africa.
Found on all continents except Antarctica

Further reading:

Websites:
A Visual Guide to the Damselflies and Dragonflies of South Africa
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Least Concern

Recent discovery

Microgomphus nyassicus,
Eastern Scissortail
Male
Photographed by dragonfly photographer Antoinette Snyman or the first time in southern Africa May 2019

Interesting fact

Zygonyx torridus
Ringed Cascader
Male
Hunts over rapid flowing streams close to cascad

Recently Described

Syncordulia venator,
Mahogany Presba.
Rare. Endemic to the Western Cape Region of South Africa

Beautiful

Phyllogomphus selysi.
Bold Leaftail. Male
Male Seldom seen in South Africa.
Note: Peculiar shaped clasper

Recently Revised

Orthetrum hintzi,
Dark-shouldered Skimmer
Prefers Clear water ponds with grassy verges

Recently Revised

Ceratogomphus pictus,
Common Thorntail,
Found near streams and pools

Recently Revised

Pantala flavescens, Pantala
Hunts over open water and pools

Recently Revised

Africallagma glaucum, Swamp Bluet.
Found at the edge of clear water pools