Trithemis kirbyi

• English name: Orange-Winged Dropwing
• German name: Feuerroter Sonnenzeiger
• French name: Trithémis de Kirby
• Dutch name: Oranje zonnewijzer
• Swedish name: N/A
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: N/A
• Danish name: N/A
• Italian name: Obelisco purpureo
• Czech name: N/A
• Slovenian name: N/A
• Bulgarian name: N/A

Trithemis kirbyi

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 mainly in Spain
Classification		• suborder: Anisoptera (dragonflies); family: Libellulidae
Conservation status		• IUCN Red List Europe: Not Evaluated
Scientific name		• Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891
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		• kirbyi: after William Forsell Kirby (1844-1912), English entomologist
Distribution		• click or tap the Map button above
Habitat		• small, sunny streams
Dimensions		• typical body length: 30-34 mm; hindwing: 23-29 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
		➤ much smaller than the similarly all-red Crocothemis erythraea
Both sexes	Wings	➤ the forewing and hindwing bear a very large orange patch at the base
Male	Thorax	• the thorax is completely red
	Abdomen	• the abdomen is red with, at most, a few small black spots on S8 and S9
		• the abdomen is broad and flattened in shape
	Wings	• the veins are red
Female	Thorax	• the thorax is whitish yellow with thin black lines on the side
	Abdomen	• the abdomen is brown-yellow with thin black stripes laterally and, on S8-S9, also dorsally
Photographs		• our photos below were made in Andalusia, Valencia and Tunisia