Dragonflies of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot for dragonflies and damselflies, with 132 recorded species, of which 59 species and 8 subspecies are endemic to the island. This high level of endemism is linked to the island’s wide range of freshwater habitats—from lowland wetlands to montane streams.

Dragonflies play a vital ecological role as indicators of healthy freshwater ecosystems and as natural predators of mosquitoes and other insects. This section features photographs of Sri Lanka’s diverse dragonfly fauna, offering a closer look at one of the island’s most fascinating and often overlooked insect groups.