Dragonflies of Malaysia 012

This is the last posting for the series of "Dragonflies of Malaysia". The sheetlet of this stamp issue contains 25 stamps portraying many species of drangonflies and damselflies found in Malaysia. I have depicted each of them along with beautiful photographs taken by myself. I hope you have enjoyed the presentation of this series.

Vestalis gracilis
Vestalis gracilis is one of the large size damselfly species. The metalic green colour on its body is particulary stricking. This species resembles Vestalis amoena in many ways. The main characteristic to distinguish V. gracilis from V. amoena is on the green colour pattern on thorax. Vestalis gracilis has discrete light green patches on the thorax whereas V. amoena has almost continuous green patches. Vestalis gracilis is a forest species which is normally found at flowing clear forest stream.

Paragomphus capricornis
The dragonfly species in the stamp (see below) is actually Paragomphus capricornis. However, it is misidentified as Burmagomphus divaricatus. Burmagomphus divaricatus is rather a green dragonfly and it does not have a pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail. On the other hand, Paragomphus capricornis is yellowish in colour and the pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail is particular prominent. Paragomphus capricornis likes clear forest stream with cobbled or gravel bottom.