The Stream Glory (Neurobasis chinensis) is a species of damselfy that can be found in the Western Ghats of India and is also commonly distributed across much of Asia. The damselflies and dragonflies both come under the order Odonata-which are a group of carnivorous insects bearing teeth on their mandibles. Unlike dragonflies are heavily built, the damselflies have a slender body and they have non-confluent eyes that are set apart from each other unlike their cousins the dragonflies. Apart from these, damselflies most often rest with their wings held upright and folded, whereas dragonflies will rest with their wings open and flat.
The males of a Stream Glory have iridescent green hindwings that are flashed in display to females during the mating season. The colour is produced by interference from the thin surfaces of the wing membrane and by refractive scales. The females however dull colored and are usually a shade of brown with less brightly colored wings. The margins of the hindwings are black in color and can be clearly seen when the damselfly settles down to rest on a rock in streams, or along the vegetation on the margins.
A Stream Glory male as it rests on a rock in the stream at the Jungle Home campsite.
While out on a trail in the Jungle Home campsite with the kids, we stopped at a stream that captivated everyone with its beauty. While everyone got into the stream and got their feet wet playing, this lovely fellow came flitting through the air and sat down on a rock beside us.
The kids could not contain their excitement on seeing such a beautiful insect and were in awe of its colors and patterns. After giving all of us a good look at it, the very obliging damselfly flew back into its forest home to live another day.
Another stream glory at the stream behind the Deep Jungle home campsite
Author: Joiston Perira – A Naturalist with passion for conserving wildlife and natural habitat, he recently revived the annual bird survey / census at various water bodies / lakes of Bangalore.
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