The Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu wrote in his poem about Qujiang, "Butterflies flit deep among the flowers, dragonflies skim gracefully across the water." Dragonflies are among the oldest animals on Earth, hailed as "the pride of the skies." With their slender bodies, vibrant colors, and elegant forms, coupled with their agile flight, they are beloved ornamental insects. Today, we introduce ten of the world's rarest dragonflies. Let's take a look!
1. Broad-striped Arrowhead Dragonfly (National Class II Protected Animal)
The Broad-striped Arrowfly (scientific name: *Ophiogomphus spinicornis*), also known as the Spiny-horned Snake-striped Dragonfly, is one of China's most precious dragonfly species. Adults are excellent fliers, possessing not only the endurance for long-distance flights but also displaying superb flying skills. They primarily feed on small insects and are adept hunters of mosquitoes and other insects.
The broad-striped dragonfly is mainly distributed in China, Mongolia, and Russia. In China, it is found in Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Beijing. This dragonfly is listed as a Class II protected animal in China and is also included in the IUCN Red List.
2. Sharp-spotted Arrowhead Dragonfly (National Class II Protected Animal)
Among China's rare dragonfly species, only two are listed as national protected animals: the Broad-striped Arrowfly and the Pointed-plate Arrowfly. The Pointed-plate Arrowfly (scientific name: *Heliogomphus retroflexus*) is a rare species with a predominantly black body and transparent wings speckled with brown spots, giving it a powerful and imposing appearance. However, unlike most dragonflies with their strong adaptability, the Pointed-plate Arrowfly is only distributed in Fujian Province, China, with a small number also found in Vietnam.
Due to the sharp decline in the number of *Eriocheir sinensis*, this species has been included in China's list of Class II protected animals in order to protect its survival and reproduction.
3. Low-spotted dragonfly (Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species)
The Low-spotted Dragonfly (scientific name: *Libellula angelina*) is a must-have in any of the top 10 most prized dragonfly species. Belonging to the order Odonata, family Libellidae, genus *Libellula*, it emerges as an adult from April to May each year, spending the rest of the year as a nymph in the water. The Low-spotted Dragonfly is mainly distributed in China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.
The low-spotted dragonfly is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a higher level than the giant panda and the same level as the Chinese sturgeon and baiji dolphin, both Class I protected animals in China. The IUCN also noted in its assessment of the low-spotted dragonfly's status that the species' global population is declining annually.
4. Swamp Dragonfly (Endangered Species)
The Hirumogrostrichium hirosei (scientific name: *Mortonagrion hirosei*) is one of the ten rarest dragonfly species. It primarily inhabits muddy, humus-rich wetlands, swamps, and riverine environments along the coast. This species was first discovered in a dried-up marsh in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in 1971, and was officially given the scientific name *Hinumaittonbo* (dried-up marsh dragonfly) in 1972. Besides Japan and Hong Kong, some believe it also inhabits mainland China.
The dry-land dragonfly is distributed from the Tohoku region to Kyushu in Japan; however, its habitat is decreasing due to river restoration and other factors. Therefore, the dry-land dragonfly is listed as an endangered species, and its survival is a matter of concern.
5. Great Blue Dragonfly (Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species)
The Great Blue Dragonfly (scientific name: *Libellula vibrans*) is also a precious dragonfly species, mainly distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, such as the United States and Mexico. It prefers to inhabit ponds, rivers, and other places with water sources. The Great Blue Dragonfly is of medium size and has a stunning blue appearance. Its nymphs mostly crawl in still water to find food.
The great blue dragonfly possesses a distinctive spoon-shaped lower lip covered with lateral and chin bristles, which are its primary tools for obtaining food. This species is also listed in the International Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is classified as Least Concern (LC) according to the 2009 version of the order Odonata (ver 3.1).
6. Scarlet Dragonfly (Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species)
The scarlet dragonfly (scientific name: *Crocothemis servilia*), one of the ten rarest dragonflies, is renowned for its vibrant colors. The male dragonfly has red compound eyes, and its thorax and abdomen are also a bright red, hence its name. They typically inhabit relatively damp areas, such as places with many dams or ditches. This species is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2012 version 3.1).
Water is the key medium for the reproduction of scarlet dragonflies, as their eggs need to be laid in water. The eggs hatch, grow, and eventually become mature scarlet dragonflies in the water. In addition, scarlet dragonflies also hunt on the water surface, as there are a large number of insects available for them to eat.
7. Chinese Sunflower (distributed in Queshan, Henan, China)
The slashing sun dragonfly (scientific name: *Nihonogomphus cultratus*) is also one of the rarest dragonfly species. The nymphs of this species inhabit sand, muddy water, or aquatic plants in water. Only a few nymphs live in tree cavities in woodland debris or puddles, or in water films attached to rocks. Slashing sun dragonflies are typically active during the day, flying close to the nymphs' habitats in rivers, ponds, and streams.
Female serpentine dragonflies prefer to stay away from water sources, such as near forests, because food is easier to find there. This species is only found in the Queshan region of Henan, China.
8. Mink Spring Dragonfly (distributed in Fujian/Hainan/Zhejiang/Guangdong/Taiwan, China)
The rare dragonfly species *Fukienogomphus prometheus* has males and females with an abdomen length of approximately 42 to 46 mm and a hindwing length of approximately 36 to 41 mm. They are generally active during the day, often flying near the habitats of their nymphs, such as rivers, ponds, and streams. The *Fukienogomphus prometheus*'s main diet includes mayfly nymphs, mosquito larvae, and other individuals of its species, even tadpoles and small fish. They are one of the important natural enemies of humans and also serve as good indicator insects for aquatic environments.
The distribution range of the deep-mountain nymph is mainly limited to Fujian (Wuyishan, Shaowu, Jianyang, Xianyou, Yong'an, Changting), Taiwan and Guangdong regions of China.
9. Black-winged Dragonfly (distributed in Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang and other places in China)
The Black-winged Dragonfly (scientific name: *Rhyothemis fuliginosa* Selys) is one of the most beautiful rare dragonfly species, possessing a unique wing appearance unlike most dragonflies. While most dragonflies have transparent wings, the Black-winged Dragonfly's forewings are only partially transparent at the tip, revealing the pterostigma, while the rest is a metallic blend of blue, green, and black, giving it a highly textured appearance. Their outstretched, metallic blue-black wings, when illuminated by sunlight, display a breathtaking iridescent effect.
Compared to other dragonflies, the Black-winged Dragonfly always flies with a leisurely pace. Because of its relatively wide forewings and hindwings and low wing-flapping frequency, its flight resembles that of a butterfly, with a graceful and captivating posture. Therefore, it is praised as a "butterfly-shaped dragonfly." The Black-winged Dragonfly is mainly distributed in Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Liaoning provinces. As an ancient species resembling a dinosaur, its population is quite limited.
10. Butterfly Cleftwing (distributed in China and Vietnam)
The Butterfly Cleft-lipped Dragonfly (scientific name: *Chlorogomphus papilio*) is a very famous and rare dragonfly species. They are the largest dragonflies found in China, possessing a beautiful and enormous body with a wingspan of 14-15 cm. The head of this species is oval-shaped from the front, and when viewed from the back, the two eyes meet to form a straight line.
The butterfly-shaped takin prefers to inhabit mountainous areas at altitudes of 500 to 1500 meters, especially favoring clear mountain streams within lush forests. Their distribution is limited to Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang provinces in China, as well as Vietnam.
The list of the world's ten rarest dragonflies is primarily based on their rarity and popularity, and also takes into account relevant internet rankings and lists. The data is current as of October 27, 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or offer criticism at the end.
