Libellulidae? - Somatochlora

Moved

Now I really hope I can rear this out to adulthood, and see which one it is.

… tom murray, 25 January, 2009 - 4:22pm

From the keys, this looks like something better...

Corduliidae> Somatochlora Note the middorsal spine on ab segment 9 (the segment next to the butt end); this is apparently absent in Libellulid nymphs (if middorsal spines are present). It's Somatochlora as the lateral spines of ab segment 9 are short..compared this with Epitheca here

… Tim Loh, 25 January, 2009 - 3:48pm

These are difficult

without close view of the whole extended labium...however the squat appearance does suggest Libellulidae- you need to key this one out to exclude potential lookalikes (and there are several families that I'm aware of)...

… Tim Loh, 24 January, 2009 - 10:52am

One sure way to find out

I'm trying to rear it out to see exactly which one it is. With a little luck, I won't kill it:-)

… tom murray, 24 January, 2009 - 11:34am

If you do

kill it, toss it in alcohol. It does look like a Libellulid - maybe Sympe*trum, but the proportional lengths of the various tubercles at atthe apex of the abdomen need to be clearly seen - helpful for family level in this area, critical to place to genus.

… Donald S. Chandler, 24 January, 2009 - 9:34pm

More shots added

There's a ventral and a dorsal shot added of the tubercles. Maybe that'll help.

… tom murray, 25 January, 2009 - 10:40am

One more angle

I'll see if I can get a good close up of the tubercles on it's butt.
If it's a Sympetrum and I succesfully rear it, I may still need you to look at the specimen to get the species correct.

… tom murray, 24 January, 2009 - 10:28pm

Good luck!

I'm thinking of doing that with the diving beetles too, if i have the time and resources to maintain an aquarium...

… Tim Loh, 24 January, 2009 - 12:19pm