Orthetrum testaceum
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
Orthetrum testaceum, common names Crimson Dropwing or Orange Skimmer is an Asian freshwater dragonfly species belonging to the family Libellulidae. This common species is widespread throughout India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. These dragonflies may occur in various areas with standing waters, as in ponds, drains, marshes, around rivers, streams, lakes, and gardens.
Orthetrum testaceum can reach a body length of about 43–48 mm (1.7–1.9 in), with a hindwing of 34–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in) (in males). In these large dragonflies the thorax of adult males is orange-brown, with a vermilion red abdomen. The eyes are light brownish. The wings are smoky transparent, with an amber patch at the base. In adult females and in recently emerged males the body is olive-green to brown in colour with black markings and a clear base of the hindwings.
These dragonflies are rather similar to Orthetrum chrysis, but O. testaceum is more reddish, while O. chrysis has a reddish brown thorax. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bako National Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 2 | Danum Valley Conservation Area | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 3 | Gunung Leuser National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 4 | Sepilok | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 5 | Kinabalu Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 6 | Kerinci Seblat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 7 | Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 8 | Taman Negara National Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 9 | Khao Sok National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 10 | Kaeng Krachan National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jakarta | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 2 | Yogyakarta | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 3 | Kuching | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 4 | Kuala Lumpur | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 5 | Johor Bahru | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 6 | Bandung | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 7 | Singapore | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report an Orange Skimmer sighting in Danum Valley Conservation Area on a given day, based on 44 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 102 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Orange Skimmer in Danum Valley Conservation Area on a given day, against under 5% in November and December, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Orange Skimmer sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 10 parks where we can rate Orange Skimmer sightings, Danum Valley Conservation Area ranks 2nd at about 40%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Bako National Park (Malaysia, about 40%). All parks ranked.
Same genus: Orthetrum
The closest relatives of the Orange Skimmer that you can see in Danum Valley Conservation Area (genus Orthetrum) are Blue Marsh Hawk (about 30%) and Orthetrum schneideri (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Orange Skimmer is recorded against all the insects logged in Danum Valley Conservation Area (44 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
