​The Wuyuan River National Wetland Park is located in Xiuying District, Haikou City, in China’s Hainan Province,  and is highly bio-diverse, with 11 rare species under second-class national protection.

On March 9, visitors to Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park were enthralled by a special dragonfly species. The wings of this dragonfly, which is known as the Common Picture Wing or Variegated Flutterer (Rhyothemis variegata arria), are patterned in amber and dark brown, explained a representative of the Duotan Wetland Research Institute.

This is a medium-sized dark-bodied dragonfly with colorful wings tinted pale yellow. There are a few black spots on the apices and nodes of the fore-wings. There is a large patch on the base of the hind wings, marked with black and golden yellow. They can be found near marshes, ponds, and paddy fields. They are not strong flyers and can easily be mistaken for butterflies.

A representative of the Haikou Duotan Wetland Research Institute explained that 160 species of dragonflies have been observed in Hainan, with 54 species spotted in Haikou.  Thirty-two of them were seen along the Wuyuan River, accounting for 59% of the total number of dragonfly species in Haikou City. As the protection and restoration work of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park gradually takes effect, there are sure to be more and more dragonfly species spotted there in the future.

The Common Picture Wing Dragonfly spotted in the Wuyuan River Wetland Park. WANG CHENGXIAN