Yellow-barred Flutterer (Rhyothemis phyllis)

Throughout the Gardens

Meet the Yellow-barred Flutterer

Meet the Yellow-barred Flutterer (Rhyothemis phyllis), one of those dragonflies you may have walked right past at Gardens by the Bay without realizing how cool it is!

First described in 1776, this small-to-medium dragonfly is common and widespread in Singapore and can also be found across parts of Southeast Asia. So, if you’ve spotted a dark-bodied dragonfly with striking yellow-and-brown wing markings fluttering around the Gardens, you may have already met one!

How to Spot It!

The Yellow-barred Flutterer has a dark, almost black body, sometimes with a subtle metallic sheen. But its wings are where things get interesting. The hindwings feature eye-catching bands of yellow, dark brown and metallic blue, creating a distinctive pattern that makes it easier to recognise.

And watch how it flies! Instead of constantly darting and hovering like some other dragonflies, it has a relaxed, fluttering glide that can look almost butterfly-like. It’s a little more graceful and leisurely.

Where Does It Live?

The Yellow-barred Flutterer enjoys sunny, open habitats and can be found around ponds, marshes, grassy areas and the edges of secondary forests. Interestingly, it isn’t always found right beside water and can sometimes travel surprisingly far from it.

Gardens by the Bay provides plenty of greenery and water-rich habitats that make the Gardens a great place to keep an eye out for dragonflies.

And this little flyer isn’t just here to look beautiful. Adult dragonflies are predators, catching small insects while flying. The Yellow-barred Flutterer feeds on tiny flying insects such as mosquitoes and midges, making it a tiny but useful part of the ecosystem.

You may spot one perched on vegetation or an emergent stick, taking a break before taking off again.

So, the next time you’re admiring the flowers, lakes and Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, don’t forget to look a little closer at the greenery and skies around you.

You might just discover one of Singapore’s fascinating little winged residents hiding in plain sight!