Female Neurothemis terminata terminata (Ris, 1911) 紅蜻蜓

While female N. fluctuans and N. terminata can be easily mistaken because of their pattern and clear wing, the male of N. fluctuans and N. ramburii can also be inter mistaken for the same reason.

For many months I was confused between N. fluctuans and N. terminata. Both species share the same habitage and after a day of photo session of both female and uploaded to the computer, I could not differentiate which is which.

In real life when they fly together one could easily tell the smaller one is N. fluctuans, however in digital images of each there is no way of comparison of the size.

Females of N. terminata have 2 type of color : the clear wing type and the dark wing type. The dark wing type could be easily mistaken as a male.

Finally I solved the trouble with the following PATTERN table

Neurothemis fluctuans

Neurothemis terminata

Hind wing length :

Abdomen length :

Clear Wing

A closer look at the segment 6 of both Neurothemis. The different in pattern became obvious now

Hind wing length : Abdomen length :
Clear Wing Type	Dark Wing Type

Photo left is Neurothemis fluctuans and right is Neurothemis terminata