About Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891
Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891 is a species of dragonfly. For adult individuals, the male’s abdomen measures 21–24 mm and its hind wing measures 24–27 mm. The female’s abdomen measures 23 mm and its hind wing measures 26–30 mm. Males are medium-sized scarlet dragonflies, with a broad reddish amber patch at the base of their transparent wings. Females are similar in appearance to males, but have duller coloration. This species’ natural habitats are subtropical or tropical streams and rivers. It breeds in marshes, ponds, and lakes, and prefers to perch on exposed rocks, dry areas, and boulders in riverbeds. This dragonfly can be found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi. It is also present in southern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean Islands, and South Asia as far as India. Since 2003, this African tropical dragonfly has been colonizing Europe, aided by widespread rising temperatures. It now breeds successfully in Spain, Portugal, and France.
