Dragonflies and Damselflies

Last Updated on 23 April 2025

The Odonata order—home to dragonflies and damselflies—are ancient creatures that have been around since the dinosaurs hundreds of millions of years ago.

These zippy little aviators are easy to overlook while you’re stomping down the trails, but pause for a moment, and you’ll spot them showing off their flashy, high-speed acrobatics like tiny aerial stunt pilots.

Our dream? To track down all 130 species of dragonflies and damselflies that call our petite island home. Here are a few of these dazzling winged wonders we’ve had the pleasure of stalking—uh, respectfully observing—so far.

Blue Dasher (Brachydiplax chalybea)

Sighted: Botanic Gardens, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Common Scarlet – female (Crocothemis servilia)

Sighted: Bidadari Park, Botanic Gardens, Lakeside Garden

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Common Scarlet – male (Crocothemis servilia)

Sighted: Bidadari Park, Lakeside Garden

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Common Chaser (Potamarcha congener)

Sighted: Bidadari Park

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Common Parasol (Neurothemis fluctuans)

Sighted: Botanic Gardens, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Sultan (Camacinia gigantea)

Sighted: Pulau Ubin

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Common Amberwing (Brachythemis contaminata)

Sighted: Bishan Park

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Common Flangetail (Ictinogomphus decoratus)

Sighted: Bishan Park, Gardens By The BaySungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Variegated Green Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)

Sighted: Gardens By The Bay, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Coastal Glider (Macrodiplax cora)

Sighted: Jelutong Tower

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Crimson Dropwing – male (Trithemis aurora)

Sighted: Bishan Park, Windsor Nature Park

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Crimson Dropwing – female (Trithemis aurora)

Sighted: Windsor Nature Park

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Blue Percher (Diplacodes trivialis)

Sighted: Bishan Park

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Indigo Dropwing (Trithemis festiva)

Sighted: Jurong Eco-Garden

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Dancing Dropwing (Trithemis pallidinervis)

Sighted: Upper Peirce Reservoir Park

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Scarlet Basker (Urothemis signata)

Sighted: Botanic Gardens, Dairy Farm Nature Park

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Scarlet Grenadier (Lathrecista asiatica)

Sighted: Windsor Nature Park

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Common Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum glaucum)

Sighted: Windsor Nature Park

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Yellow-barred Flutterer (Rhyothemis phyllis)

Sighted: Botanic Gardens, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Bronze Flutterer (Rhyothemis obsolescens)

Sighted: Jelutong Tower

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Spine-tufted Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysis)

Sighted: Jurong Eco-Garden, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Rifle Range Link, Windsor Nature Park

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Common Redbolt (Rhodothemis rufa)

Sighted: MacRitchie Reservoir Park

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Common Flashwing (Vestalis amethystina)

Sighted: Dairy Farm Nature Park, MacRitchie Reservoir Park

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Ornate Coraltail (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum)

Sighted: Botanic Gardens

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Common Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)

Sighted: Bishan Park

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Violet Sprite (Archibasis viola)

Sighted: Rifle Range Link

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Blue Sprite (Pseudagrion Microcephalum)

Sighted: MacRitchie Reservoir Park

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Crescent Threadtail (Prodasineura notostigma)

Sighted: Windsor Nature Park

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