Russet percher
Adult males of this dragonfly turn deep reddish brown as they mature, while females keep changeable colours ranging from pale straw to rusty brown.
| Where | Forest streams, marshes and ponds |
|---|---|
| Size | 20 to 26 mm abdomen length |
| When | January to December |
This medium sized dragonfly is coloured reddish brown all over in males, with dark wings that turn abruptly clear near the tip. Females are paler and far more variable, ranging from straw yellow to rusty brown, with amber tinted wings.
It breeds in marshes, weedy ponds and slow forest streams, and large numbers often gather together at forest edges and canopy gaps. Adults usually perch low, resting on fallen logs and shrubs near the water.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Red, Brown
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; adults spend most of their time perched on logs, rocks or low plants near water.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The Pied paddy skimmer has strongly contrasting black and white wings in the male, quite unlike the Russet percher's uniformly reddish brown wings with only the tips left clear.
Questions
Is the Russet percher dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; adults spend most of their time perched on logs, rocks or low plants near water.
When can you see the Russet percher?
The Russet percher can be seen from January to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by stephenmatthews, CC0, iNaturalist Licence
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Neurothemis
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.