Common Name: Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk
Scientific Name: Orthetrum pruinosum
Family: Libellulidae
Size: 46–50 mm
Location: Kurintar, Chitwan, Nepal

The Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk is a striking dragonfly commonly found across wetlands, marshes, ponds, and slow-moving streams in Nepal. It is a medium-to-large, slender dragonfly belonging to the skimmer family, often seen perched on grasses or exposed twigs near water bodies, where it hunts smaller insects in flight.

Mature males are easily recognized by their vivid crimson-red abdomen, which gives the species its common name. The thorax is covered in a bluish-grey, powdery “pruinose” coating, and the eyes appear reddish-brown. Females are more subdued in appearance, typically yellowish-brown with black markings along the abdomen and thorax, providing excellent camouflage among vegetation.

The body is long and streamlined, with transparent wings held horizontally when at rest. Its agile flight and strong territorial behavior make it a frequent sight in suitable habitats, especially during warm, sunny hours.

In Nepal, Orthetrum pruinosum is mostly recorded from lowland Terai regions up to mid-hill areas, occurring at elevations of approximately 100 to 1,800 meters above sea level.

Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.

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