Red-Veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)
• English name: Red-Veined Dropwing
• German name: Rotader-Sonnenzeiger
• French name: N/A
• Dutch name: Rode zonnewijzer
• Swedish name: N/A
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: N/A
• Danish name: N/A
• Italian name: N/A
• Czech name: N/A
• Slovenian name: N/A
• Bulgarian name: N/A
Red-Veined Dropwing
(Trithemis arteriosa)
Not present
Present before 1990
Present after 1990
Present before and after 1990
Present after 2015
Map data based on J.-P. Boudot & V. J. Kalkman (eds.),
Atlas of the European Dragonflies and Damselflies
| General | ➤ a small species which in Europe occurs only on the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Crete and, more recently, the island of Samos | |
| Classification | • suborder: Anisoptera (dragonflies); family: Libellulidae | |
| Conservation status | • IUCN Red List Europe: Not Evaluated | |
| Scientific name | • Trithemis arteriosa (Burmeister, 1839) | |
| Name genus | • Trithemis: from Grk. τρίς, τρί- = three times, tri- ⇒ for the tri-lobed hind margin of the prothorax +; Θέμις or θέμις = (Greek Titaness of) divine order, law as established by custom | |
| Name species | • arteriosa: from Lat. arteriosus, -a, -um = richly veined; [arteria = artery, vein] ⇒ for the extensively red wing venation | |
| Distribution | • click or tap the Map button above | |
| Habitat | • small streams but also shallow lakes and swimming pools (!) | |
| Dimensions | • typical body length: 32-38 mm; hindwing: 23-30 mm | |
| Notes | • libellulids are 'sitters': males spend a lot of time perched at the water's edge, waiting for females | |
| • Trithemis species tend to perch with their wings folded forward | ||
| • immature males are coloured like females | ||
| Both sexes | Wings | • the forewing and hindwing bear an orange patch at the base |
| Male | Head | • the frons is red |
| Thorax | • the thorax is completely (purplish) red | |
| Abdomen | ➤ the slim abdomen is red with black markings laterally and, on S8-S10, also dorsally | |
| Wings | ➤ the veins are red | |
| Female | Thorax | • the thorax is whitish with thick black lines on the side |
| Abdomen | ➤ the abdomen is brown-yellow with large black spots on S1-S7, while S8-S9 are black with pairs of small yellow spots; the side of the abdomen bears extensive black markings | |
| Photographs | • all of our photos below were made on the Canary Islands and Cyprus |
