April

Spring is the time when branches are painted verdant with fresh sprouts, and air is perfumed with fragrant flowers. Having passed the long gloomy winter, insects of every kind gradually become active, and the countryside is lively once again.

At streams, marshes and ponds in the countryside, and even at pools in large urban parks, it is common to see a kind of little red dragonfly. Though small in size, its intense red always makes it an eye-catcher. This impressive dragonfly is called Crimson Dropwing.

The Crimson Dropwing is a relatively small-sized member in the family Libellulidae, and appears at watersides from early spring to late autumn. The male is brightly coloured, with a scarlet red body, bright red wing veins and reddish brown patches on the base of wings. The female is modestly decorated in light yellow, black and brown. Striving for beauty is the natural instinct of ladies, but dragonflies have a different taste. In many dragonfly species the males are brightly coloured, more beautiful and eye-catching then the females. But how do you understand the 'beauty' of dragonflies without yourself being a dragonfly? The modesty of female dragonflies is perhaps what we called 'inner beauty'.

In hot sunny days the Crimson Dropwing would point its abdomen towards the sun, cleverly cooling itself by reducing the light and heat received by its body. In a hot summer day, while staying next to the waterside and enjoying the music of gurgling water, look at the standing dragonfly and wish you feel the coolness it enjoys.