Jewel Flutterer (Rhyothemis resplendens)

The Jewel Flutterer (Rhyothemis resplendens) 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, 11 of which are pertinent to Rhyothemis resplendens. 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	Jewel Flutterer (Rhyothemis resplendens)	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 with reddish-brown, dark brown or black markings, at least at base of hindwing b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 59 of 67 ○ Both forewing and hindwing with dark brown to black markings ○ Male abdomen black ⇒ genus: Rhyothemis b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 63 of 67 ● Wing markings dark brown to black, with or without metallic reflections b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 66 of 67 ● Only basal part of wings dark b ↑ Libellulidae: Key couplet 67 of 67 ● Dark basal area of hindwing extending farther than that of forewing, in female usually enclosing two pale spots ○ Male hindwing less than 24 mm long ⇒ species: Jewel Flutterer (Rhyothemis resplendens) 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 59 of 67 ○ Wing membrane hyaline except for narrow to broad, dark reddish-brown patch at base of hindwing and variable, small reddish patch at base of forewing, often lacking ○ Male abdomen orange-red, red, or reddish-brown, the last few segments marked with black ⇒ genus: Tramea a ↑ b ↓ ○ Both forewing and hindwing with dark brown to black markings ○ Male abdomen black ⇒ genus: Rhyothemis
9			Libellulidae: Key couplet 63 of 67 ● Wings with some yellowish-brown colouration, overall or at base of hindwing, combined with dark brown or black markings a ↑ b ↓ ● Wing markings dark brown to black, with or without metallic reflections
10			Libellulidae: Key couplet 66 of 67 ● Distal part of wings extensively dark brownish-black ⇒ species: Sapphire Flutterer (Rhyothemis princeps) a ↑ b ↓ ● Only basal part of wings dark
11			Libellulidae: Key couplet 67 of 67 ● Dark basal area of hindwing extending farther than that of forewing, in female usually enclosing two pale spots ○ Male hindwing less than 24 mm long ⇒ species: Jewel Flutterer (Rhyothemis resplendens) a ↑ b ↓ ● Dark basal areas of almost similar length in forewing and hindwing, lacking pale spots ○ Male hindwing more than 24 mm long ⇒ species: Iridescent Flutterer (Rhyothemis braganza)