Navy dropwing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Navy dropwing
A male Navy dropwing in Kakamega Forest, Kenya
A female Navy dropwing
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Trithemis
Species:	furva

The Navy dropwing (Trithemis furva) is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to the Libellulidae family, which is a large group of dragonflies often called "skimmers." This dragonfly is found in many countries across Africa, including Angola, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria. It also lives on the island of Madagascar.

Navy dropwings like to live in places with water. They can be found near rivers, in wet forests, or in grassy areas called savannas. They also like marshy areas where the water might dry up sometimes.

Spotting the Navy Dropwing

It can be tricky to tell the Navy dropwing apart from another similar dragonfly, the Trithemis dorsalis. This is especially true for the adult males.

One main way to tell them apart is by looking closely at their wings. Dragonflies have many tiny veins that form patterns in their wings. In most Navy dropwings, the outermost cross-vein near the front edge of the wing does not connect all the way across to a specific main vein. However, in the Trithemis dorsalis, this vein usually does connect.

Images for kids

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  A mature male showing the position of the outermost antenodal cross-vein (Ax).

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  A mature male Navy dropwing.

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  An immature male Navy dropwing.

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  Another immature male.

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  A mature female Navy dropwing.