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

Orthetrum julia falsum
      Julia Skimmer
   Mantenga

View photos in Biodiversity Explorer

Distribution: Throughout much of South Africa. Eastern Cape Province northwards.
Body Length: 45-49 mm
Hind Wing Length: 31-36 mm
Habitat: Dappled shade in thick bush or forest. Often in shady gardens and along hedgerows.
Flight Period: Throughout year, although scarce in winter.
Features: Fairly large, robust, with a brownish to bluish weakly mottled and striped thorax, and light blue abdomen. Streams and pools in wooded areas in most of South Africa, but in more open habitats in Western Cape Province.
Comments: Occurrence in Eswatini confirmed by photo by Kate Braun, Pam Sai, Wilna Steenkamp and Ernst Klimsa, and by SA damselflies and dragonflies checklist (Durban Natural Science Museum, 2000).

42 records, from 3/1/2007 to 4/17/2019

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