Yeebury's Elf (කුඩා නිල් ඇස් ඇති බත්කූරා)

  

Yerbury’s Elf is one of the smallest dragonflies in Sri Lanka, with a body length of about an inch. It is commonly associated with small pools in close-canopy rainforests of the wet zone.

Habitat: Males are often found in these forested pools, while the species also inhabits water wells, ponds covered in ferns, and well-vegetated home gardens with suitable stagnant water sources.

Breeding Behavior: This species exhibits a unique reproductive strategy. Unlike other Sri Lankan dragonflies, the female attaches eggs to a leaf, stem, or vegetation above a pool, where they remain exposed until hatching.

Development: Once the eggs hatch, the larvae drop into the pool below to continue their development, making this dragonfly’s breeding behavior distinct among its counterparts.