Dark-glittering Threadtail (Elattoneura centralis)

Locally common damselfly inhabiting forest streams and rivers from low country to mid-hills. 

Yellow Featherleg (Copera marginipes)

 Very common insect found in reeds and marshy vegetation of forest streams and ponds from lowlands to mid-hills. 

Painted waxtail (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum)

Locally common damselfly of the low country wet zone. Found in weedy areas around paddy fields, streams and ponds.

Black-tipped Flashwing (Vestalis apicalis nigrescens)

An endemic damselfly found near forest streams and rivers from lower hills to montane areas. It is common and often found together with Oriental Green-Wing and Shining Gossamerwing.

Green’s Gem (Libellago greeni)

Green’s Gem is a locally common endemic damselfly of low and mid hill forest streams and rivers.  

Jungle Threadtail (Elattoneura caesia)

An endemic and rare damselfly of mid elevations of the country, found along streams in primary rain forests .

Scalloped Spreadwing (Lestes praemorsus decipiens)

As their name implies Spreadwings can be easily distinguished from other damselflies by their habit of holding their wings wide open at rest. Scalloped spreadwing can be identified by its scalloped pattern on the thorax and very long, up curved anal appendage (insert). It is rather rare damselfly of edges of ponds, lakes and marshes in lowlands up to lower hills in both dry and wet zone.

Orange-faced Sprite (Pseudagrion rubriceps ceylonicum)

Very common endemic damselfly distributed in both wet and dry zone up to lower hills. It inhabits weedy edges of tanks, paddy fields, streams, canals, lagoons and rivers. Female similar to male but with less blue markings at the anal appendage.

Adam’s Gem (Libellago adami)

An endemic damselfly inhabiting canals, streams and rivers of lowland wet zone to lower hills.  It is rather common comparative to other three Libellago species.

Common Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)

Common small damselfly with  about 20-24 abdomen and 13-16mm hind wing. It inhabits from sea level to 7000ft both in dry and wet zones

Dawn Bluetail (Ischnura aurora aurora )

Small damselfly of about 16-20mm of abdomen and 10-12mm of hind wing, distributed locally throughout the country from the coast to the higher hills. 

White-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes elatus)

Terrence de Fonseka wrote in 2000(The Dragonflies of Sri Lanka – WHT publications) “Apart from recorded locations nothings is known about this species in Sri Lanka”. Aluthnuwara, Kandy Mankulam Pundaluoya, Puttalam, Ramboda Trincomalee and Marichchkkaddi are mentioned as recorded locations.  However it is a locally common damselfly of low lands both in dry and wet zones and lower hills (Dragonflies of Sri Lanka – Gehan’s photo guide and personal observations)

Red-striped Threadtail (Elattoneura tenax)

An endemic damselfly of submontane primary rainforests and near by less disturbed areas. It is usually encountered close to fast running streams. 

Shining Gossamerwing(Euphaea splendens)

This beautiful endemic damselfly with brilliant metallic blue or green hindwings of males (visible only when it flies )  is a common insect of montane and sub-montane streams surrounded by some vegetation. Rarely seen females can be found in near by jungle. Male has a habit of using its forewings as propellers while keeping the hindwinds fully spread out as wings of a plane. 

Oriental Green-Wing (Neurobasis chinensis chinensis)

Oriental Green-Wing is a comparatively large damselfly with very long slender legs. Male insect - shown in picture - can be easily identified by having beautiful metallic green body, shining metallic green hind wings and hyaline forewings while female has brown tinted wings. It is a common damselfly of montane and submontane streams usually with surrounding forests. It is observed that this species is frequently found together with Black-tipped Flashwing (Vestalis apicalis ) and Shining Gossamerwing(Euphaea splendens)

Malabar Sprite (Pseudagrion malabaricum)

Locally common damselfly from lowlands up to mid hills. Much common in the wet zone sea level. It can be distinguished from similar other species (P. microcephalum) by larger size (Abdomen about 32-33 mm and hind wing 20 - 22mm While it is 27-29 mm and 17-20mm respectively of P. microcephalum) and this one having goblet shaped mark on second segment with only a stem while other species has line running into the goblet shaped cup.

Yellow Waxtail (Ceriagrion coromandelianum)

Very common damselfly recorded from all areas of the country. It is easily distinguished from other damselflies by having bright yellow abdomen of males. It breeds in weedy water and males can be seen in such habitats such as weedy tanks, ponds, canals, paddy fields…etc. Females live in shrub jungles some distance away from water bodies.