Orthetrum chrysis (Spine-tufted Skimmer)

Orthetrum chrysis is widely distributed from India to south China and southwards to Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands.

This is one of several potentially confusing red males flying around the Singapore area. This red is characterized by a brown thorax and red face with grey eyes. The “Spine-tufted” bit derives from the fact there is a tuft of setae below S2 in the male.

We spotted two separate individuals in Singapore, one in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and one on the Sime Track in the Central Catchment NR. Four years later in 2017, we spotted one in Hong Kong Park when we paused en route to the Antipodes.

male