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

Trithemis furva
      Navy Dropwing
   Malolotja Mantenga

View photos in Biodiversity Explorer

Distribution: Very common at low elevations (below 700 m a.s.l.) throughout much of South Africa. Occasionally at higher elevations, especially in Limpopo, with one record at 1700 m a.s.l. Localised on highveld. To Ethiopia and West Africa.
Body Length: 37.5-38.5 mm
Hind Wing Length: 27.5-29 mm
Habitat: Usually rocky, shallow rivers with clumps of tall grass among rocks. Rarely pools and stiller reaches of rivers.
Flight Period: All year, but much more common in summer.
Features: Medium-sized, all dark blue. On stones and twigs mostly in swift, lowland rivers throughout much of South Africa.
Comments: Occurrence in Eswatini confirmed by photo by Kate Braun, Len de Beer and Gerhard Diedericks, and SA damselflies and dragonflies checklist (Durban Natural Science Museum, 2000).

27 records, from 2/17/2012 to 4/3/2019

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