Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Palaeoptera
Order: Odonata Fabricius, 1793
Suborder: Anisoptera Selys, 1854
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Erythrodiplax Brauer, 1868
Species: Erythrodiplax fusca (Rambur, 1842)
Common name: Red-faced Dragonfly
Description: Female size 2.3 to 3.2 cm and the male 2.5 to 3.4 cm. The male has dark brown head, red face. Thorax black dorsally, blue laterally greyish. Forewing with a small dark brown spot at the base of the wing, hind wings also have a dark brown spot of greater length. Most of the gray-blue abdomen, last three segments black. Fences whitish. The female has brown eyes, forehead and clypeus brown. Thorax brown. Spotted wings similar to those of male but yellowish brown. Abdomen brown.
The males of this species show territoriality. Perch near the water (15 to 20 cm), if it is sunny are very active and often can be pursued if clouds rest.
Copulation lasts about a minute and occurs on vegetation. Females oviposit alone, but the male flies by her watching. The eggs are laid touching the water with the tip of the abdomen repeatedly.
It lives in ponds and swamps in open areas such as pastures and other disturbed areas. It is a common species.
