Eastern lilysquatter facts for kids
Paracercion melanotum, also known as the eastern lilysquatter, is a type of damselfly. Damselflies are small, flying insects that are related to dragonflies. This species belongs to the family Coenagrionidae.
You can find the Eastern lilysquatter in many parts of Asia. It lives in countries like China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Java, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Quick facts for kids Eastern lilysquatter |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Male | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Coenagrionidae |
| Genus: | Paracercion |
| Species: |
P. melanotum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Paracercion melanotum (Selys, 1876)
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Contents
What is the Eastern Lilysquatter?
The Eastern lilysquatter is a medium-sized damselfly. It has striking deep blue eyes. Its body, called the thorax, is black on top. It also has wide, bright blue stripes on its sides. These stripes are called antehumeral stripes. They are much wider than those found on a similar damselfly, Paracercion calamorum.
The sides of its thorax are blue. There is a thin black line on the upper part of each side. Unlike some other damselflies, this one does not have a powdery coating on its body. Its wings are clear and see-through. The small, colored spot on its wings, called the pterostigma, is yellow. It is outlined by thick black lines.
How to Identify It
The damselfly's abdomen (the long part of its body) is bright blue. It has wide black marks on its back up to segment 7. Segment 2 has a special black spot. It looks like the head of a thistle flower. This spot is connected to a thin black ring at the end of the segment. This unique mark helps tell it apart from Pseudagrion species. Segment 10 has a narrow black streak down its middle.
Female Eastern Lilysquatters
Female Eastern lilysquatters look a bit different from males. They are dull green in color. Their abdomen is shaped similarly to the male's. However, the sides of their abdomen are yellowish-red. Segments 8 and 9 of their abdomen are mostly black on top. Segment 10 is blue only at its very end.
Where Does It Live?
The Eastern lilysquatter likes to live in low-lying areas. It breeds in shallow lakes and ponds. You can also find it in paddy fields, which are flooded fields used for growing rice. This damselfly often rests on plants that float on the water's surface.
See also
- List of odonates of India
- List of odonata of Kerala
 | Percy Lavon Julian |
 | Katherine Johnson |
 | George Washington Carver |
 | Annie Easley |
