Diplacodes haematodes

Diplacodes haematodes, the scarlet percher, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs throughout Australia (except Tasmania), Timor, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. It is locally common in habitats with hot sunny exposed sites at or near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. It often prefers to settle on hot rocks rather than twigs or leaves, and is quite wary. This is a spectacular species of dragonfly, although small in size (wingspan 60mm, length 35mm). The male is brilliant red, the female yellow-ochre. Females have yellow infuscation suffusing the outer wings, while the males have similar colour at the bases of the wings.

Gallery

• Male and female mating
  Male and female mating
• Red
  Red
• Mature female
  Mature female
• Female, face-on
  Female, face-on
• Male wings have colour near their base
  Male wings have colour near their base
• Male
  Male
• Immature male before turning red
  Immature male before turning red
• Female, highlighting brownish wingtips
  Female, highlighting brownish wingtips
• Male, highlighting wing venation
  Male, highlighting wing venation
• Diagram of male wings
  Diagram of male wings
• Photo of female wings
  Photo of female wings