Lemon-tipped Helicopter (Mecistogaster ornata)

OTHER NAMES: Ornate Helicopter 
Latin Etymology: Mecistogaster ("longest belly") ornata ("ornate")

Adult Lemon-tipped Helicopter (Mecistogaster ornata) at Carara National Park, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Mecistogaster ornata ornata
Length: 77-87cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Among the largest of all damselflies, the yellow tips to its wings make the impression it gives in flgiht as being somewhat chaotic, with in poor light just four yellow spots spinning around in the air being the distinctively visible part of the animal. They breed in water pooled in bromeliads and hunt by grabbing small spiders from their webs.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Odonata
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Mecistogaster
SUBSPECIES: M. o. acutipennis, M. o. ornata
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A fairly common resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Carara National Park

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto