Dusky lilly-squatter facts for kids
The dusky lilly-squatter (Paracercion calamorum) is a type of damselfly. Damselflies are like tiny, colorful helicopters that fly around. This one belongs to the Coenagrionidae family. You can find these damselflies in many places. Their home stretches from southern Russia all the way to Japan. They also live in countries like India and Indonesia.
Quick facts for kids Dusky lilly-squatter |
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| Genus: |
Paracercion
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| Species: |
calamorum
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The dusky lilly-squatter is a medium-sized damselfly. It has yellowish-green eyes that look like they have brown caps. Its main body part, called the thorax, is black on top. It might have very thin blue stripes, or none at all. These stripes are called antehumeral stripes. The sides of its thorax are greenish-blue. They have a thin black line near the top.
Changes in Older Males
When male damselflies get older, their colors can change. The black and blue marks on older males become covered. They get a bluish-white powdery coating. This coating is called pruinescence.
Wings and Abdomen
Its wings are clear and see-through. The small, colored spot near the tip of the wing is called the pterostigma. On this damselfly, it's yellow. It has strong black lines around it, which are called nervures.
The damselfly's long tail part is called the abdomen. It is bright blue. It has wide black marks on its back up to segment 7. Segment 2 has a clear, wide black spot. This spot connects to a thin ring at the end of the segment. This special mark helps tell it apart from other damselfly types. Segment 10 has a thin black line down the middle of its back.
Female Damselflies
Female dusky lilly-squatters are not as brightly colored as the males. Their abdomen looks similar to the male's. However, the sides of their body are greenish-yellow. Segments 8 and 9 of their abdomen are mostly black on top. Segment 10 is bluish-green. Just like the males, older females can also get the powdery pruinescence coating.
Where Does It Live?
This damselfly likes to live near water. It breeds in ponds that are still and have lots of plants. You can often see them resting flat on floating grasses. They also like to sit on lotus leaves.
How They Lay Eggs
Female dusky lilly-squatters lay their eggs carefully. They insert their eggs deep inside the edges of lotus leaves. They also use other floating plants to lay their eggs.
See also
- List of odonates of India
- List of odonata of Kerala
Images for kids
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Male (sub-adult), showing all marks
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Female (sub-adult), showing all marks
