Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)

The Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) is a dragonfly species of the family Libellulidae, which contains 56 species in Australia.

The identification key to the family Libellulidae consists of 67 couplets, 9 of which are pertinent to Pantala flavescens. Click on the numbers on the right to display the corresponding couplets. Or click on the ALLin1 button to see all the relevant couplets together in a single, scrollable window.

#	Family	Species	Couplet No.
	Libellulidae	Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)	Libellulidae: Key couplet 1 of 67 ● Distal antenodal of forewing incomplete, only the costal section present b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 35 of 67 ● Hindwing triangle free b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 39 of 67 ○ Not as above b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 40 of 67 ● Base of hindwing triangle at or slightly proximal to arculus b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 41 of 67 ● Tip of anal loop closed, the bounding veins meeting midvein one row of cells away from wing margin b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 45 of 67 ● Basal side of forewing subtriangle poorly defined ● If recognisable, containing more than three cells b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 56 of 67 ○ Wing membrane hyaline or yellow, with, at most, dark markings at extreme wing tip, beyond pterostigma a ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 57 of 67 ○ Abdomen brownish yellow to orange red, with black markings on some segments b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 58 of 67 ● Arculus situated between first two antenodal crossveins ○ Male abdomen brownish-yellow to orange-red, with black dorsal markings, broadest on segments 8-9 ⇒ species: Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) a ↑
1			Libellulidae: Key couplet 1 of 67 ● Distal antenodal of forewing complete, both costal and subcostal sections present a ↑ b ↓ ● Distal antenodal of forewing incomplete, only the costal section present
2			Libellulidae: Key couplet 35 of 67 ● Hindwing triangle crossed a ↑ b ↓ ● Hindwing triangle free
3			Libellulidae: Key couplet 39 of 67 ○ Small (hindwing c. 25 mm) ● Synthorax and abdomen black with well-defined pale yellowish-green markings ⇒ species: Forestwatcher (Huonia melvillensis) (part) a ↑ b ↓ ○ Not as above
4			Libellulidae: Key couplet 40 of 67 ● Base of hindwing triangle well beyond arculus ⇒ species: Spiny-Chested Percher (Raphismia bispina) a ↑ b ↓ ● Base of hindwing triangle at or slightly proximal to arculus
5			Libellulidae: Key couplet 41 of 67 ● Tip of anal loop usually open on one or both sides of midvein, the bounding veins of loop extending to wing margin, occasionally closed, the bounding veins meeting at wing margin a ↑ b ↓ ● Tip of anal loop closed, the bounding veins meeting midvein one row of cells away from wing margin
6			Libellulidae: Key couplet 45 of 67 ● Subtriangle of forewing with one to three cells, its basal side well-defined a ↑ b ↓ ● Basal side of forewing subtriangle poorly defined ● If recognisable, containing more than three cells
7			Libellulidae: Key couplet 56 of 67 ○ Wing membrane hyaline or yellow, with, at most, dark markings at extreme wing tip, beyond pterostigma a ↑ b ↓ ○ Wing membrane with reddish-brown, dark brown or black markings, at least at base of hindwing
8			Libellulidae: Key couplet 57 of 67 ○ Abdomen black, with dorsal pair of yellow spots ⇒ species: Water Prince (Hydrobasileus brevistylus) (part) a ↑ b ↓ ○ Abdomen brownish yellow to orange red, with black markings on some segments
9			Libellulidae: Key couplet 58 of 67 ● Arculus situated between first two antenodal crossveins ○ Male abdomen brownish-yellow to orange-red, with black dorsal markings, broadest on segments 8-9 ⇒ species: Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) a ↑ b ↓ ● Arculus situated between second and third antenodal crossveins ○ Male abdomen orange-red with black tip ⇒ species: Australian Slimwing (Lathrecista asiatica festa) (part)