Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)

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Pic 2607
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in KL (Malaysia) on 2007-04-21

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Pic 2437
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-16

Picture 4 : At 5:54PM I learn some things new about Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839).

A second female appeared at no where and by the time I hear a ‘Clippppp’ sound, the male is already joining with this second female. But this time instead of finding a plant on fround to hold on to, this pair prefere to copulate in the air………..just few inches above the first ovipositing female. He maintain a close distance to the first female while carrying out 2nd duty on the second female.

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Pic 2450
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-16

Picture 1 : At 5:48PM finally after hours of waiting at his territory, this male Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839) captured a partner.

This female Orthetrum testaceum testaceum came from no where and appeared so fast that my eyes are too slow to catch how they joint.

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Pic 2446
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-16

Picture 2 : This pair of Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839) copulated for 5 minutes, long enough for me to photograph a few close up images.

Now, for the first time, I can see exactly where the male dragonfly holds the female --- the upper neck behind the eyes.

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Pic 2440
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-16

Picture 3 : At 5:53PM, after about 5 minutes of joining, the two break apart. The female immediately proceed to the water without taking a short rest like other species.

While the female ovipositing, this male maintain about 6 inches above the female. Normally a male maintain 1 or 2 meters near by. This unusual near distance is immediately understood when seeing few other equally aggressive males are just few meters away. Every few seconds, a nearby male would dart into the ovipositing female and this male would fight him off.

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Pic 2432
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-16

Picture 5 : The second joining for this male Orthetrum testaceum is only 1 minute in the air while the first joining (Picture 1) on land is 5 minutes. Perhaps he could not concentrate too long for having the first female to take care.

Now two female are ovipositing and he has two females to protect from several males looking fiercely for a chance.

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Pic 2401
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-16

Picture 6 : At 5:55PM The first female completed her oviposting and fly off and disappeared into near by bush leaving this second female continue ovipositing.

This male Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839) continue to maintain an unusual close distance of 6 inches above this second female to guard her from a few other males near.


A moment later this second female completed ovipositing and flew off into the bush leaving the male alone to guard his territory. And also leaving me to ponder for the rest of the night on these insects ---- why this young male has the chances of 2 while the other equally young and strong have the chance of 0 ?

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Pic 2366
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Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Tawau (Malaysia) on 2007-02-03

A male Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)

"Look here.......smile.....1...2..3." Click.

Most dragonflies have smiling faces.

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Pic 2345
Full size 83 kb 

Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Kinabatangan District, Sabah (Malaysia) on 2007-01-24

Male perched above pond in oil palm plantation.

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Pic 2284
Full size 126 kb 

Orthetrum testaceum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)
Photo taken in Sabah (Malaysia) on 2007-01-19

Ovipositor detail of a female Orthetrum testaceum.

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