Diplacodes haematodes
| Scarlet percher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
.jpg) | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Diplacodes |
| Species: | D. haematodes |
| Binomial name | |
| Diplacodes haematodes (Burmeister, 1839)[2] | |
 | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Diplacodes haematodes, the scarlet percher, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.[4] It occurs throughout Australia (except Tasmania), Timor, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.[5] 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.[6]
Etymology
[edit]The genus name Diplacodes combines Diplax, a genus name derived from the Greek δίς (dis, "twice") and πλάξ (plax, "flat and broad"), with the Greek suffix –ώδης (-ōdēs, "resembling" or "having the nature of"). The name refers to the similarity of the genus to Diplax and Diplacina.[7]
The species name haematodes is derived from the Greek αἱματώδης (haimatōdēs, "blood-like" or "looking like blood"), referring to the blood-red colour of the body and wing veins.[2][7]
Gallery
[edit]
Male and female mating
Red
Mature female
Female
Female, face-on
Male wings have colour near their base
Male
Immature male before turning red
Female, highlighting brownish wingtips
Male, highlighting wing venation
Diagram of male wings
Photo of female wings
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References
[edit]- ↑ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Diplacodes haematodes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T83357088A83383210. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T83357088A83383210.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- 1 2 Burmeister, Hermann (1839). Handbuch der Entomologie (in Latin and German). Vol. 2. Berlin: T.C.F. Enslin. pp. 805–862 [849] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ↑ Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
- ↑ "Species Diplacodes haematodes (Burmeister, 1839)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ↑ Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 276. ISBN 0-643-09073-8.
- ↑ McCoy, Michael (2010). Reef and rainforest. Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Publishing. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-643-09695-0.
- 1 2 Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
