Paragomphus  –  Hooktails

090. Green Hooktail – Paragomphus genei – European Dragonfly photo

The Green Hooktail ( Paragomphus genei ) was another species I had long waited to photograph properly but with small numbers in southern Spain and Portugal previous sightings had been tantalisingly short. I was surprised just how small it appeared.

KEY I/D FEATURES :

Both sexes have brown and yellow almost camouflaged markings on the abdomen which makes them inconspicuous agaist their preferred sandy pool edges and dry river beds.

Males have wide flaps on Segments 8 and 9 and the upper appendages are long, straight and hookshaped. This is well shown in the first and third photographs. The thorax is an attractive green.

Females have broader abdomens which lack the flaps.