Nila flashwing (Vestalis luctuosa)

Nila flashwing (Vestalis luctuosa) is an animal species in Calopterygidae, a flying insect with metallic blue and black wings with bright reflections when exposed to light, shiny blue and black bodies, living around water flowing in forests, farmlands and rural areas.

V. luctuosa has a length of 40-45 mm and a wingspan of 75-80 mm, a dark blue reflecting color and black on the back around the base of the wing. A large pair eyes that dominates the head, shiny black and clearly visible on the right and left.

The wings are elongated with rounded tips, long veins and metallic black with a blue-purple glow. The thorax of the female dragonfly is metallic green, the abdomen is brown and the four wings are colorless.

Nila flashwing flies slowly and prefers to prey on insects attached to plants. This species acts as a natural enemy that can reduce the population of food crop pests and an indicator of environmental cleanliness, especially in water areas.

The more they are found, the better the quality of the waters in the surrounding area where dragonfly larvae are vulnerable to polluted water. They live near clean water sources and are vulnerable to human activities such as conversion of forest areas, housing development, opening of rice fields, plantations and industrial areas.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Calopterygidae
Genus: Vestalis
Species: Vestalis luctuosa

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