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Comparison of Similar Species

(Photo sorting: left to right, top to bottom)

Pale-spotted Emperor

1. A black triangular spot at where the frons sticks to the compound eyes

2. Synthorax green with no apparent stripes at two sides

4. Spots on abdomen dot-like

 

Blue-spotted Emperor

1. “工”-shaped black spot on the frons

2. Synthorax green, two sides with apparent black stripes

4. Spots on abdomen dot-like

 

Lesser Emperor

1. Two black stripes on the frons

2. Synthorax green, without apparent stripes on two sides

4. Spots on abdomen strip-like

Pale-spotted Emperor/Blue-spotted Emperor/Lesser Emperor
Blue-spotted Dusk-hawker/ Ryukyu Dusk-hawker/ Dingy Dusk Hawker

Blue-spotted Dusk-hawker

2. Dorsum of synthorax near the base of forewings with a pentagonal spot

 

Ryukyu Dusk-hawker

2. Dorsum of synthorax near the base of forewings with a obtriangular spot

 

Dingy Dusk Hawker

2. Dorsum of synthorax near the base of forewings with a rhombus-shaped spot

Tiger Hawker/ Beak-tailed Hawker

Tiger Hawker

1. Frons yellowish green

2. Compound eyes green

 

Beak-tailed Hawker

1. Frons white

2. Compound eyes blue in male

Common Flangetail/ Golden Flangetail

Common Flangetail

1. Legs all black

2. A pair of black leaf-like projections on the 8th abdominal segment, which are smaller in female

 

Golden Flangetail

1. Femur yellow

2. A pair of black leaf-like projections with yellow spot on the 8th abdominal segment

Hainan Hooktail/ Guangdong Hooktai/ Chinese Hooktail

Hainan Hooktail

1. Synthorax ridge without yellow stripe

2. Two yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax respectively

3. Yellow spot on the 7th abdominal segment

4. Superior anal appendage and inferior anal appendage form a complete ring in male

 

Guangdong Hooktai

1. Synthorax ridge without yellow stripe

2. Two yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax respectively; Apparently disconnected thin yellow between thick yellow spots

3. Large white spot on the 7th abdominal segment

4. Superior anal appendage and inferior anal appendage form a “C” in male

 

Chinese Hooktail

1. Yellow stripe on synthorax ridge

2. Two yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax respectively, and some individuals with small yellow spot between yellow stripes

3. Large yellow spot on 7th abdominal segment

4. Superior anal appendage and inferior anal appendage form a “C” in male

Regal Pond Cruiser/ Angle-winged Cruiser/ South China Cruiser/ Club-tailed Cruiser

Regal Pond Cruiser

1. Broad antehumeral stripes on synthorax

2. Apparent small yellow transverse stripes on the dorsum of the 8th abdominal segment in some individuals

 

Angle-winged Cruiser

1. Synthorax without antehumeral stripe

2. The 8th abdominal segment all black

 

South China Cruiser

1. Antehumeral stripes on synthorax, but thinner than those of Regal Pond Cruiser

2. Dorsum of the 8th abdominal segment without yellow spot

 

Club-tailed Cruiser

1. Antehumeral stripes on synthorax, but thinner than those of Regal Pond Cruiser

2. Two yellow spots on the dorsum and abdomen of the 8th abdominal segment respectively

South China Shadow-emerald/ Dancing Shadow-emerald

South China Shadow-emerald

1. Legs all black

 

Dancing Shadow-emerald

1. Tibia yellow or yellowish brown

Spangled Shadow-emerald/ Common Shadow-emerald

Spangled Shadow-emerald

1. Several yellow spots on two sides of synthorax

 

Common Shadow-emerald

1. Two yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax respectively

Crimson Darter (Male)/ Ruby Darter (Male)

Crimson Darter (Male)

3. Legs red

 

Ruby Darter (Male)

3. Legs black

Blue-tipped Percher (Female)/ Blue Percher (Female)

Blue-tipped Percher (Female)

2. M-shaped spot on dorsum front of synthorax

 

Blue Percher (Female)

2. Synthorax with black vertical stripes, but not connecting to form m-shape on dorsum front

Black Marsh Skimmer (Male)/ Indigo Dropwing (Male)

Black Marsh Skimmer (Male)

2. Two black vertical stripes on the dorsum of abdomen

 

Indigo Dropwing (Male)

2. Dorsum of abdomen without apparent black vertical stripes

Red-faced Skimmer (Male)/ Common Red Skimmer (Male)

Red-faced Skimmer (Male)

1. Frons red

 

Common Red Skimmer (Male)

1. Frons dark brown

Common Blue Skimmer (Male)/ Marsh Skimmer (Male)/ Mangrove Skimmer (Male)/ Lesser Blue Skimmer (Male)

Common Blue Skimmer (Male)

1. Frons dark brown

4. Amber spot in wingbase of hindwing

 

Marsh Skimmer (Male)

1. Frons blue white

4. Wingbase of hindwing without apparent spot

 

Mangrove Skimmer (Male)

1. Alternating black and white stripes on frons

4. Wingbases of hindwings without apparent colored spots

 

Lesser Blue Skimmer (Male)

1. Frons black

4. Black spot on wingbase of hindwing

Common Blue Skimmer (Female)/ Marsh Skimmer (Female)/ Mangrove Skimmer (Female)/ Lesser Blue Skimmer (Female)

Common Blue Skimmer (Female)

2. Two yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax; a disconnected yellow spot at the end of the 1st stripe

 

Marsh Skimmer (Female)

2. Synthorax with a brown antehumeral stripe

 

Mangrove Skimmer (Female)

2. More than two thin yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax

 

Lesser Blue Skimmer (Female)

2. Two yellow stripes at two sides of synthorax; a disconnected yellow spot may appear at the end of the 1st stripe

Wandering Glider (Female)/ Evening Skimmer (Female)

Wandering Glider (Female)

2. Wings without apparent colored spots

3. Tear-shape black spots on the 8th to 10th abdominal segment

 

Evening Skimmer (Female)

2. Brown spots at hindwings near wingbases

3. Dorsum of abdomen without black spots

Blue Chaser (Male)/ Indigo Dropwing (Male)

Blue Chaser (Male)

2. Vertical yellow spots on abdomen centre and two sides

 

Indigo Dropwing (Male)

2. Dorsum of abdomen without apparent black vertical stripes

Crimson Dropwing (Female)/ Indigo Dropwing (female)

Crimson Dropwing (Female)

2. Pale stripes on synthorax ridge and humerus

3. Yellowish brown spot on wingbase

5. Yellow spots on the 8th to 9th abdominal segment

 

Indigo Dropwing (female)

2. Deep-colored broad stripes on synthorax and humerus

3. Small area of yellowish brown spot at wingbase

5. The 8th to 9th abdominal segment all black

Chinese Cascader (Male)/ Emerald Cascader (Male)

Emerald Cascader (Male)

3. Lateral margin of the 9th abdominal segment smooth

​

Chinese Cascader (Male)

3. Lateral margin of the 9th abdominal segment keeled

Emerald Cascader (Male)/ Chinese Cascader (Male)

Emerald Cascader (Female)           

3. Wingbase without apparent colored spots

​

Chinese Cascader (Female)

3. Amber spots at wingbase and wingtip in young individuals

Orange-tailed Midget (Male)/ Wandering Midget (Male)

Orange-tailed Midget (Male)

3. Inferior anal appendage longer than superior

 

Wandering Midget (Male)

3. Superior anal appendage longer than inferior

Orange-tailed Midget (Female)/ Wandering Midget (Female)

Orange-tailed Midget (Female)

1. Square-shaped leaf-like projection at hind margin of prothorax

 

Wandering Midget (Female)

1. Prothorax hind margin without square-shaped leaf-like projection

Blue Sprite (Male)/ Eastern Lilysquatter (Male)

Blue Sprite (Male)

1. Postocular spot connected with the transverse stripe on the vertex

3. Black spots at the dorsum of 2nd abdominal segment small

5. Square-shaped black spots at the dorsum of 10th abdominal segments

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Eastern Lilysquatter (Male)

1. Postocular spot not connected with the transverse stripe on the vertex

3. Dorsum of the 2nd abdominal segment all black

5. Hourglass-shaped black spot at the dorsum of 10th abdominal segment

Black Threadtail (Female)/ Orange-backed Threadtail (Female)

Black Threadtail (Female)

3. End of yellow spots at two sides of the 2nd abdominal segment hook-like

 

Orange-backed Threadtail (Female)

3. End of yellow spots at two sides of the 2nd abdominal segment not hook-like

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