Micromerus andamanensis, sp., 1924

F. C. Fraser, 1924, Report on a collection of dragonflies (Odonata) from the Andaman Islands., Records of the Indian Museum 26, pp. 409-413 : 410

5. Micromerus andamanensis, sp. nov.

(Plate XXIV, fig. 5.)

A single male, Andamans, Sta. 6, I, " Rocky pool below waterfall, fluttering over surface of pool, ca. 500 ft., W slopes of Mt. Harriet " 30. XI. 23 .

Male. Abdomen 16 mm. Hindwing 20 mm.

Head. Eyes dove grey, rest of head black with yellow markings as follows:—2 finely linear spots at base of epistome, larger oval spots on outer side of each posterior ocellus, similar postocular spots and a fine linear spot on hinder border of occiput.

Prothorax black marked with yellow laterally.

Thorax black, marked with golden or greenish yellow as follows:— two small greenish yellow spots on alar sinus, the middorsal carina finely yellow, fine yellow humeral lines incomplete above but the upper ends represented by a yellow spot lying obliquely on each side of the alar sinus. Laterally two oblong irregular spots between the sutures, the anterior one golden yellow, the posterior greenish yellow, the upper anterior three-fourths of metepimeron golden yellow.

Legs black, hinder tibiae pulverulent white on flexor surface.

Wings hyaline, forewings tipped broadly with black, metallic blue by reflected light, 4 mm. in extent, hindwings enfumed at apices; pterostigma black; 5 to 6 antenodal nervures in all wings.

Abdomen golden yellow marked with black as follows:—segment 1 narrowly black at base, more broadly on the sides, segment 2 with a broad dorsal stripe expanded at base and apex of segment, and a broad black stripe low down on sides not reaching apical border of segment, 3 to 6 with broad middorsal stripes of black expanded at apical border where it forms a narrow apical ring, 7 similar but a sub-dorsal stripe runs forward on either side from the apical ring nearly as far as base of segment, 8 to 10 entirely black.

Anal appendages stilette shaped, tapering to a point, twice the length of segment 10, incurved gently but the apices not meeting. Inferior short and thick, less than half the length of superiors.

Differs from all other species by the beautiful metallic blue of apices of forewings in addition to the abdominal markings.