Green marsh hawk (Orthetrum sabina)

Green marsh hawk (Orthetrum sabina) is an insect species belonging to the family Libellulidae. It is a medium-sized dragonfly characterized by green compound eyes that meet at the top of the head along the midline. Its body ranges in color from yellow to green, featuring black markings on both the thorax and the abdomen.

In males, the first three segments of the abdomen are thick, segments 4–6 are slender, and segments 7–10 are dorsoventrally widened. The forewings possess a complete set of distal antenodal veins, spanning both the costal and subcostal veins. The anal loop is well-developed, small, and tightly closed at its distal end. The wingtips are clear, while the base of the hindwings bears distinct markings or coloration.





The abdomen displays a combination of yellowish-green and black, while the thorax is green with black markings. The combined length of the thorax and abdomen is 46 mm. Specifically, the abdomen measures 37.5 mm, the forewings are 37 mm long, and the hindwings are 34 mm long. The forewings have a width of 8.5 mm, and the hindwings have a width of 10.5 mm. The base coloration of this dragonfly is brownish-black.

Females also possess green compound eyes. Their thorax and abdomen are predominantly green, accented by black stripes. The wings measure 33–36 mm in length. The combined length of the thorax and abdomen is 46 mm, with the abdomen measuring 37.5 mm. The forewings are 37 mm long, and the hindwings are 34 mm long; the forewings are 8.5 mm wide, and the hindwings are 10.5 mm wide.

O. sabina undergoes incomplete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid in water, subsequently developing into nymphs (larvae). Upon reaching maturity, the dragonfly develops wings and emerges from the water to live as a free-flying adult.

This species is frequently observed perching motionless for long periods on shrubs or dry twigs. They are capable of capturing nearly all of their prey with a 95 percent success rate, often catching butterflies and various types of dragonflies while they are in flight.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Euarthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum Newman (1833)
Species: Orthetrum sabina Drury (1773)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Lepthemis divisa Selys (1878)
Libellua leptura Burmeister (1839)
Libellula ampullacea Schneider (1845)
Libellula gibba Fabricius (1798)
Libellula leptura Burmeister (1839)
Libellula sabina Drury (1773)
Orthetrum ampullacea Schneider (1845)
Orthetrum divisum Selys (1878)
Orthetrum gibba Fabricius (1798)
Orthetrum nigrescens Bartenev (1929)
Orthetrum viduatum Lieftinck (1942)

VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: باز الاهوار الأخضر
Chinese (simplified): 狭腹灰蜻
Chinese (traditional): 杜松蜻蜓 - 狹腹灰蜻
Dutch: Slanke oeverlibel
English: Green marsh hawk, Green skimmer, Slender skimmer, Variegated green skimmer
French: Orthétrum en alêne
German: Schlanker Blaupfeil
Hebrew: ריחופית חרוזה
Hong Kong: 狹腹灰蜻
Indonesian: Capung badak, Capung hijau, Capung-sambar hijau
Italian Libellula di palude verde
Japanese: ハラボソトンボ
Java: Ndok erok
Korean: 사비나밀잠자리
Macao: 狹腹灰蜻
Malayalam: പച്ചവ്യാളി
Malaysia: Pepatung
Russian: Стрекоза азиатская - Южноазиатский прямобрюх
Taiwan: 杜松蜻蜓
Tamil: பச்சைச் சதுப்பன்
Thai: แมลงปอบ้านเสือลายเขียว

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