RUSSET PERCHER (Neurothemis fulvia)

RUSSET PERCHER (Neurothemis fulvia)

A gorgeous dragonfly, and one of the easier ones to recognise, with its red/ brown colouration, and dark wings with clear, colourless circular areas at the tips.

SEE THEM In cultivated areas and in marshes, sometimes even in dried out areas, perched on stems. Very prevalent in Lions Nature Education Centre, Sai Kung. QUICK FACTS 33–37 mm Abundant

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Inspiration for helicopters: a bamboo dragonfly is an age-old Chinese toy–dating back to 500 BC—made up of a horizontal bar with a small hole in the middle and a straight bamboo stick inserted into the hole. Rolling the stick with both hands, the bamboo dragonfly will rotate and fly into the sky, with the horizontal piece serving like a propeller. It found its way to England in the 18th Century, and fascinated and inspired the “father of aviation” Sir George Cayley, whose first project copied the design in 1796, working out the first designs for propellers. This, in turn, led to inspiration for Western designers working on the first helicopters.