UPDATED CHECKLIST: An Adobe pdf version of the checklist as at December 2018 is available here (click to view/download - approx 10 MB).

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Chlorolestes fasciatus
      Mountain Malachite
   

View photos in Biodiversity Explorer

Distribution: Common between 1200-1800 m a.s.l. (but almost to sea level at Umtamvuna, and up to 2400 m a.s.l. in Southern Drakensberg). Western Cape Province (rare), Eastern Cape Province, FSP, KwaZulu Natal, Lesotho, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Body Length: 51-54 mm
Hind Wing Length: 29-30 mm
Habitat: Streams and small rivers with pools and abundance of tall grass, reeds and small bushes over the water. In the north, occasionally in forested areas.
Flight Period: December to May
Features: Fairly large to large, metallic green with pale yellow markings and usually with strongly black and white banded wings. Young individuals are bright metallic green, which darkens with age to shiny copper in very old individuals. Common in all montane areas of South Africa, except Wof Western Cape Province.
Comments: Occurrence in Eswatini confirmed by photos by Kate Braun and SA damselflies and dragonflies checklist (Durban Natural Science Museum, 2000).

1 record, from 4/22/2006

Information extracted from "Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa" by Michael J Samways, which also includes detailed descriptions of each species.