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

View lists of Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies by eighth degree grid square

Ischnura senegalensis
      Tropical Bluetail
   Mlawula

View photos in Biodiversity Explorer

Distribution: Very common throughout South Africa, up to 2000 m a.s.l. Throughout tropical Africa, Asia and Indian Ocean islands.
Body Length: 29-30 mm
Hind Wing Length: 14.5-15.5 mm
Habitat: Edges of pools, pans, dams, waterholes and marshy sectors of rivers. Can inhabit very stagnant habitats, and even slightly brackish conditions. Highly tolerant of disturbed conditions and may be present in very trampled waterholes.
Flight Period: September to May, with occasional overwintering individuals.
Features: Small, hairy, brightly coloured, blue, greenish blue and shiny black, with blue and black pterostigmas and bright cobalt blue abdominal tip. Very common in pools and marshes.
Comments: Occurrence in Eswatini confirmed by photos by Kate Braun and Gerhard Diedericks.

4 records, from 6/14/2013 to 9/27/2013

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