Long-legged marsh glider Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Long-legged marsh glider

Male in Rajasthan, India
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Trithemis
Species:	T. pallidinervis
Binomial name
*Trithemis pallidinervis* (Kirby, 1889)
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The long-legged marsh glider or dancing dropwing (Trithemis pallidinervis) is a type of dragonfly found in Asia. It gets its name from its unusually long legs, which are easy to spot when it's resting.

What Does It Look Like?
- Male Dragonflies
- Female Dragonflies
Where Do They Live and What Do They Do?
Images for kids
See Also

What Does It Look Like?

The long-legged marsh glider is a medium-sized dragonfly. It usually has a yellowish-brown body and, as its name suggests, very long legs.

Male Dragonflies

Male long-legged marsh gliders have a yellow or light brown face. Above their face, you might see a shiny purple color. Their eyes are reddish-brown on top, brown on the sides, and bluish-grey underneath.

Their main body part, called the thorax, is olive-brown on top. It has a dark brown triangle shape. The sides of the thorax are bright yellowish-brown with three black stripes.

Their legs are black, long, and look a bit like a spider's legs. The upper part of their front legs is bright yellow.

The wings are clear, but the veins inside them are reddish. The front wings have a hint of amber color near their base. Sometimes, their wings can look golden when the light hits them just right! They also have a black spot on each wing with creamy white ends.

The male's tail, called the abdomen, is bright yellow. It has black stripes down the middle and on the sides. These stripes join together at the end of each section, making a yellow wedge shape. As males get older, their color can change from yellow to a chocolate brown.

Female Dragonflies

Female long-legged marsh gliders look a lot like the males. However, their abdomen (tail) is usually wider. You can tell a male from a female by looking closely at the male's face, which has a purple area, and a small bump on its second body segment.

Where Do They Live and What Do They Do?

You can often find these dragonflies near wet places. They like marshes, ponds with lots of plants, and lakes. This is where they lay their eggs and where their young grow up.

The long-legged marsh glider often rests on tall water plants or the bare tips of bushes. When it perches, its long legs are very easy to see. It's one of the easiest dragonflies to spot because it often sits still with its wings pointing upwards, balancing on swaying reeds.