Last Updated on : Friday, 01 April, 2022 08:57:18 AM
The genera Ictinogomphus has two Bornean species, are considered closely related to Gomphidia.
Ictinogomphus decoratus breeds mainly in standing water.
Ictinogomphus decoratus is a large dragonfly with a wingspan that can reach up to 13-15cm. It has a swift flight. When large specimens fly over a pond hawking for prey, you could almost hear their wings rustling in flight. This species is found at the forest edge.
The male superior appendages in Ictinogomphus decoratus terminate in a sharp point, (in Gomphidia they are blunt).
The 8th abdominal segment has a broad rounded flap on either side in both sexes.
Ictinogomphus decoratus is medium size (hw 36-40 mm) and quite heavy build, and are strongly marked with pale green or yellow bands and spots.
Ictinogomphus decoratus is widespread and common on open lily ponds, lakes and dams. It perches conspicuously in direct sunlight on emergent vegetation.
The larvae are curiously flattened, rounded and limpet-like. They may sometimes cling to the undersides of lily pads and frequently the mature larva clambers onto a pad to emerge, leaving a heavy, dark, rounded exuvia.
Ictinogomphus acutus is quite similar in size and general appearance but is less common. It may be distinguished by the very acute anal angle on its hindwing, finer and more intricate green banding of the thorax, and the upper anal appendage, shorter than in Ictinogomphus decoratus, curved inward slightly with a small outer tooth before the tip.
It prefers blackwater drains on the edges of swamp forest or the marshy margins mangrove.
| abdomen | The segmented tail-like section of the body. |
| anal appendages | The appendages on the posterior end of the abdomen, also known as 'claspers'. There are superior (upper) and inferior (lower) appendages. In male Dragonflies they are used to clasp the female around the head (dragonflies) or the pronotum (damselflies) during mating and when in tandem. |
| antehumeral stripes | Stripes along the dorsal surface of the thorax. |
| antenna(e) | A pair of sensory organs on top of the head. |
| caudal gills or caudal lamellae | Leaf-like appendages of zygopteran larvae used for respiration. |
| cercus (s.), cerci (pl.) | The outer pair of anal appendages on anisopteran larvae. |
| costa | Major vein running along the leading edge of the wings. |
| epiproct | The middle anal appendage on anisopteran larvae. |
| femur | The first segment of the leg. |
| frons | The most prominent part of the face in anisopteran dragonflies. |
| labium | The lower lip of the dragonfly's mouthparts; in the larva this is held under the head but can rapidly shoot forwards to catch prey. |
| lateral spine | Spine on the side of anisopteran larvae. |
| median lobe | Central lobe on hind margin of pronotum |
| ovipositor | The egg laying structure located beneath abdominal segments 8-10 in females. |
| paraprocts | The inner pair of anal appendages on anisopteran larvae. |
| pronotum | A shield-like plate covering the top of the thorax. |
| pseudo-pterostigma | A pale patch, resembling a pterostigma on the wings of female Calopteryx. |
| pterostigma | A coloured, chitinous patch on the outer region of each wing. |
| tarsus | The three segments and a claw on the end of the leg. |
| thorax, thoracic | The segment of the body between the head and the abdomen. |
| tibia | The second section of the leg. |
| vulvar scale | A flap below abdominal segment 8 in females which can be prominent in some species. |
| wing node | A notch halfway along the leading edge of the wing. |
| wing sheath | A protective case for the wings. |