Cover photo by Sharon Stanton.
Find this species in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Libellulidae
Identification
Near Mosselbay, Western Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Small to Medium size
Length up to 41mm; Wingspan attains 67mm.
The Navy Dropwing is only likely to be confused with the very similar Trithemis dorsalis (Highland Dropwing). Males of the two are best identified in the hand by examining the shape of the secondary genitalia. In addition, the males can (mostly) be told apart by checking the last Ax vein in the front wings. In Trithemis furva the last Ax vein extends as far as the subcostal vein and does not reach the radial vein. Trithemis dorsalis shows Ax veins that cross the subcostal vein to meet up with the radial vein.
The two species can also be tentatively identified based on their preferred habitat choice. Although they co-occur at many sites, the Navy Dropwing is more numerous than the Highland Dropwing at lower altitudes.
Navy Dropwing males could also be confused with the Denim Dropwing (Trithemis donaldsoni), but that species is larger and paler blue in colouration.
The Female Navy dropwing is readily identified by the black ‘smudged’ markings on the sides of the thorax.
Click here for more details on identification of the Navy Dropwing.
Quaggaskloof Dam, Western Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Habitat
The Navy Dropwing is a species of rivers and streams. It favours stretches of shallow, flowing water with exposed rocks and fringing grass, reeds and sedge for perching on. The Navy Dropwing is less frequent along still or slow-moving sections. Occasionally also found along the verges of dams and lakes.
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Behaviour
The Navy Dropwing is a conspicuous species that perches in the open on rocks and emergent or fringing vegetation. Perches with its wings drooped forward like others in the genus. The Navy Dropwing is mostly found below 700m above sea level, but it is known to occur up to 1700m above sea level in some places.
On the wing from October to May but sometimes found all year in warmer areas.
Orange River near Prieska, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Status and Conservation
The Navy Dropwing is a common species throughout its range. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cedarberg, Western Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Distribution
The Navy Dropwing is found throughout much of Southern, Central, and East Africa. It is largely absent from West and North Africa.
Trithemis furva occurs widely in South Africa. It is only absent from the central Karoo and Kalahari, likely due to the lack of perennial rivers.
Palmiet Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Navy Dropwing in the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Navy Dropwing in the OdonataMAP database as of December 2024.
The next map below is an imputed map, produced by an interpolation algorithm, which attempts to generate a full distribution map from the partial information in the map above. This map will be improved by the submission of records to the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum.
Ultimately, we will produce a series of maps for all the odonata species in the region. The current algorithm is a new algorithm. The objective is mainly to produce “smoothed” maps that could go into a field guide for odonata. This basic version of the algorithm (as mapped above) does not make use of “explanatory variables” (e.g. altitude, terrain roughness, presence of freshwater — we will be producing maps that take these variables into account soon). Currently, it only makes use of the OdonataMAP records for the species being mapped, as well as all the other records of all other species. The basic maps are “optimistic” and will generally show ranges to be larger than what they probably are.
These maps use the data in the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum, and also the database assembled by the previous JRS funded project, which was led by Professor Michael Samways and Dr KD Dijkstra.
Gamka River, Western Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Further Resources
The use of photographs by Sharon Stanton is acknowledged. All other photographs by Ryan Tippett.
Navy Dropwing Trithemis furva Karsch, 1899
Other common names: Blouvalvlerkie (Afrikaans)
Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Navy Dropwing Trithemis furva. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/04/28/navy-dropwing-trithemis-furva/
References: Tarboton, M; Tarboton, W. (2019). A Guide to the Dragonflies & Damselflies of South Africa. Struik Nature.
Samways, MJ. (2008). Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Pensoft
Samways, MJ. (2016). Manual of Freshwater Assessment for South Africa: Dragonfly Biotic Index. Suricata 2. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
Martens, A; Suhling, F. (2007). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Namibia. Gamsberg Macmillan.
Quaggaskloof Dam, Western Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
