Another Dragonfly

[Jacqueline Burrell]

This was also seen in Ain Sukhna south of Suez on the Red Sea.

[RoyW]

This looks like a Black Pennant Selysiothemis nigra, its a very recently emerged individual though - so its a difficult one!

[Jacqueline Burrell]

This looks like a Black Pennant Selysiothemis nigra, its a very recently emerged individual though - so its a difficult one!

Hi Roy

I can find no record of Black Pennants being recorded in Egypt but that does not necessarily mean they are not found here. The last survey I have been able to find on the net of Egyptian odonata was conducted in 1990 but only a small proportion of the country was covered [Suez was not in that survey].

It is very frustrating having very little data available particularly as odonata is my second favourite photographic subject after birds. We don't even have a natural history museum in Egypt!

You are obviously an expert, so I really hope you can help identify some more images.

Thanks for your help.

Jacqueline :cry:

Jacqueline

[RoyW]

Hi Jacqueline,

S. nigra is found in central Asia and the Middle East as well as locally around the Meditterranean Sea in Europe and North Africa. There are records from Sinai (so it wouldn't be surprising to find the species near Suez) but I have no other information regarding dragonflies in Egypt.

Regards,

Roy.

PS. I wouldn't consider myself an expert - just very interested in dragonflies!

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Hi Jacqueline,

S. nigra is found in central Asia and the Middle East as well as locally around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe and North Africa. There are records from Sinai (so it wouldn't be surprising to find the species near Suez) but I have no other information regarding dragonflies in Egypt.

Regards,

Roy.

PS. I wouldn't consider myself an expert - just very interested in dragonflies!

Hi Roy

As you say, there is no reason S. nigra wouldn't found near Suez for at the mouth of the canal its a fairly narrow strip of water.

I really appreciate your help as its a new and growing interest for me or obsession as my husband would call it. Also, because of the climate, we have them around for about nine months. The last one I saw in our garden in 2007 was on 27 December and the temperature is still hovering around 30 degrees so it will be interesting to see how they will be around this year.

Regards

Jacqueline::beer:

[Jacqueline Burrell]

This looks like a Black Pennant Selysiothemis nigra, its a very recently emerged individual though - so its a difficult one!


Roy, it has been confirmed by Jean-Pierre Boudot that it is a female Selysiothemis nigra. I also have an image of a male so the species will be included in the Atlas that is to be updated later this year.

Congratulations on a very difficult ID.:laugh::laugh:

[RoyW]

Thanks for letting me know - it's nice to have it confirmed by a real expert!

Also, good luck in getting some more interesting finds to increase the knowledge of dragonfly species in Egypt!:smile:

Roy.