Anax indicus

Anax indicus^[2] is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.^[1][3][4]

Anax indicus
male
female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Aeshnidae
Genus:	Anax
Species:	A. indicus
Binomial name
Anax indicus Lieftinck, 1942

Description and habitat

It is a big dragonfly with blue eyes, pale green thorax and dark brown abdomen with bright yellowish-red markings on the sides. Its wings are transparent; but there are brown patches on the inner half of the hind-wings. Segment 1 and sides of segment 2 of the abdomen are pale green. The dorsum of segment 2 is blue with a narrow and broken transverse carina in the midst of the segment in addition to the broad terminal carinae. The dorsal side of segment 3 is blue with a black longitudinal mid-dorsal black line and sides are silvery white. The remaining segments are dark brown with yellowish-red dots on the sides. Segments 4 to 6 are with a pair of bright yellowish-red spots. On 7-8 these spots combine to form a continuous yellow band. Segments 9 to 10 are with a pair of large yellowish-red spots. Anal appendages are dark brown; the superiors have a triangular projection at the middle of their inner margin.^[5][6][7]

• 
  Male in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
• 
  Female
• 
  Anal appendages (male)
• 
  Anal appendages (female)
• 
  Segment 2 of male
• 
  Segment 2 of female

This dragonfly looks similar to Anax guttatus; but can be identifiable by contiguous yellow spots on the posterior abdomen segments (7-8). They are not connected in Anax guttatus.^[5][6][8][9]

Females is similar to the male. But the blue on the dorsum of segment 2 will be broken up into four by a narrow brown mid-dorsal carina and a transverse line lying midway to form a cross like mark. Anal appendages are very broad and shaped like lance head.^[5][6]

This species breeds in ponds, marshes and lakes.^[1]

See also

• List of odonates of India
• List of odonates of Sri Lanka