Another one of our prunes again (abdomen covered in blue pruinosity) but with no black tip to the abdomen, this time.
O.coerulescens usually does not seem to sport a pruinose thorax but one can develop with age, perhaps more so in the more southerly extents of the range. With a pruinose thorax, distinguishing O. coerulescens from O. brunneum can get tricky. This id/comparison chart may help though there remain times when overlapping specifications get frustrating. Genitalia determine them but that requires a hand specimen and lens. 😉 See my more complete discussion here in Orthetrum conundrum.
Id Notes
- long yellow pterostigma
- pale antehumeral stripes
- mature ♂ – uniformly blue pruinose abdomen
- ♀ – golden yellow abdomen, thin black dorsal line and dark cross bars near segment bases
| male | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| immature male | ||
 |
 |
 |
| female | |
 |
 |
| in cop | ovipositing flight |
 |
 |
Leave a Reply