Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 June, 2023 07:32:14 PM

INDEX  >  Dragonflies of Borneo  >  Family Libellulidae  >  Genus Cratilla

Family Libellulidae
Genus Cratilla

In Borneo, the Genus Cratilla is represented by two common species with robust build and deep metallic-green ground color on the thorax:
1- Cratilla Lineata
2- Cratilla Metallica

1- Cratilla Lineata

Face of a male Cratilla Lineata

Cratilla lineata lacks the dark tips to the wings. It is found in the same situations as Cratilla metallica but is more common in all types of swamp forests and closed forest.

Cratilla lineata Male Abdomen darker and narrower. Lineata occur in a wider range of standing water forest habitats.  Several sub species occur throughout eastern tropical Asia

2- Cratilla Metallica

A male Cratilla Metallica

Cratilla metallica occurs in forest, mainly primary dipterocarp, from lowlands up to 900 m, and breeds in small shallow pools which it frequently shares with Indaeschna grubaueri, Males sometimes perch for long periods above such pools awaiting females. Both sexes are immediately recognized by their relatively large size (hw, 34-39 mm), heavy build and dark tips to the wings. The larvae of Cratilla metallica are rather elongate for a libellulid. They are very aggressive and take quite large prey including tadpoles. They will sometimes survive in large buttress pans, generally following disturbance of the deep humus layer, in which case they exclude Lyriothemis cleis and other species.

Cratilla metallica is bigger and stronger in build. And is brighter color then Cratilla lineata

Male hw 36-38 mm. Recognized by dark wing-tips, slate blue on ab S3-4, and metallic green thorax. Female hw 38 mm; ab + apps 29.5 mm; wings similar to S; lacks ab blue; three yellow lines laterally on synthorax; ab relatively much longer than Agrionoptera sexlineata $. Closed forests, 0-900 m. Breeds in shallow forest pools and sometimes large phytotelmata. Widespread in tropical Asia.
 

1	2
Cratilla Lineata Common in all swamp forests and closed forest. Breeds instill forest drain.	Cratilla Metallica Primary dipterocarp forest, and breeds in small shallow pools including flooded tree holes.
No dark tips to the wings	Dark tips to the wings
An aging male Cratilla Lineata
An adult male Cratilla Lineata
A Juvenile male Cratilla Lineata This species of Cratilla Lineata found in Borneo has only three yellow stripes on both thorax. Those found in Asia have  four yellow stripes.

CHART OF DRAGONFLIES OF BORNEO

RELATED  TOPICS

INTRODUCTION TO THE DAMSELFLIES OF SABAH, BORNEO ISLAND

Insects of Borneo

Insects are  diverse and dominant inhabitants of the tropical rainforests in Borneo Island. New species are discovered too often. Entomologists are still struggling to cope with the documentation of tropical insect diversity.

Red Dragonfly of Sabah

Most of the common dragonflies in Sabah are red coloured, especially from the family Libellulidae.  Some red pecies are even confused as same species, for example the three species of Genus Neurothemis.

The compound eyes of dragonflies

Dragonflies and damselflies have large compound eyes that can see in all directions. When the compound eye is magnified several hundred times, each individual facet (ommatidium) is shown to be hexagonal in shape.

Ovipositor (Vulvar Lamina)
of Female Dragonflies and Damselflies

Female dragonflies have either one of the two method of depositing eggs from the abdomen:
1- using Ovipositor Structure
2- using Vulvar Lamina

Male do not have an ovipositor. Instead male dragonfly and damselfly have appendages.

Damselflies of Borneo