Happy New Year 2011!!!

 

Happy New Year 2011 to you all! 

 

Thanks for visiting and share what I call "happiness" to me and my blog.

 

wish you have a glorious, healthy and successful year!

Trithemis festiva

Scientific name: Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842)

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านใต้ผู้ม่วง

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I'd been wondering where the female of Trithemis festiva are after spotting only the male in many field trips for 3 years. Unlike its congeners, T. aurora and T. pallidinervis, I often see both sexes around the stream and waterfall. I've seen it's ovipositing around the stream for three times. Is it hiding in the forest far from the stream like those of Brachydiplax, or does it have a small number? I don't know. Until recently, I luckily found a female perching on dry twig near the stream. It's easy to get close and photographed her.

male

Male is dark blue in coloration. Wings are clear. Base of abdomen is dark blue with yellow streaks. Female is black with yellow markings. Abdomen is black with yellow streaks.

female

You can see this species throughout the country in forest area all the year. Male is easily to spot but it's very hard to see the female.

Agrionoptera insignis insignis

Scientific name: Agrionoptera insignis insignis (Rambur, 1842)

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านเอวกิ่ว

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Today morning I went to the place where Phyllothemis eltoni is found in Chiang Mai. The place has two small forest streams decending from the mountain and there are lots of odonate species here. I found 2 new provincial records earlier. While walking along the stream, I noticed a red libellulid species perching on the twig not far from me. Coloration reminds me of Lathrecista asiatica asiatica, but I observed its behavior for several minutes, I found it's surely not L. asiatica. When I got close to it and saw its synthorax ... it's Agrionoptera insignis insignis ... the third new provincial record for Chiang Mai!

male

This species is smaller than L. asiatica. Male is metallic dark synthorax with unique yellow markings. The dorsum of abdomen is red except S8-10 is black. Female is similar to the male.

You can see this species in all parts of Thailand except Northeastern and Eastern parts from February to December.

Copera vittata

Scientific name: Copera vittata (Selys, 1863)

Family: Platycnemididae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มท้องยาวขาส้ม

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When you searching odonates at open forest stream or waterfall, one of odonates you can spot is Copera vittata. We almost always see the male and female is very hard to see. Because of subspecies of C. vittata in Thailand are unsettled, so I don't try to identify them in subspecific level.

male

Male is black with yellow markings and antehumeral stripe is green in synthorax. Legs are red and not dilate. Abdomen is black with white basal rings. Dorsum of S9-10 are white. Superior appendages are shorter and pointed. Inferior appendages are longer. Female is dull and pale in coloration. Legs are reddish yellow. S9 has white "T" marking. Superior appendages are white.

female

You can see this species in all parts of Thailand all the year.

Copera chantaburii

Scientific name: Copera chantaburii Asahina, 1984

Family: Coenagrionidae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มยาวจันทบุรี

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I remember the first time I see this species. I found it perched on the grass leave near small pond in my backyard. I send specimen of this unknown damselfly to Mr. Pisuth Ek-Amnuay to check in his collectiona and literature. Finally, he told me it's Copera chantaburii, a Thai endemic species.

male

Male is pinkish brown body with pale stripes as in photo. Prothorax has a pair of small horn. Legs are pale orange yellow. Abdomen is pale brown except almost part of S8-9 and S10 are white. Caudal appendages are white. Superior appendages are curved downward. Female is similar to the male. This species has a ghost form like C. marginipes and C. vittata.

 female

you can see this species in Northern, Central and Eastern parts of Thailand between September-March.

Anax immaculifrons

Scientific name: Anax immaculifrons Rambur, 1842

Family: Aeschnidae

Thai name: แมลงปอยักษ์เขียวท้องส้ม

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Last year, I went to Phu Kradueng national park in mid January. In the shallow and small stream, I found many unknown Anax larva. 12 larvae were collected and five died along the way to my home. One month later, all larvae emerged as adults, 4 males and 3 females. It's Anax immaculifrons!

male

Large-sized dragonfly. Male is green body with dark stripes. Base of wings are ochre. Abdomen is orange. Female is similar to the male but stouter and duller.

female

You can see this species in three province in North and Northeast in March-October.

Euphaea ochracea

Scientific name: Euphaea ochracea Selys, 1859

Family: Euphaeidae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มน้ำตกสีตาลแดง, แมลงปอเข็มหางโป่งปีกแดง, แมลงปอเข็มน้ำตกตาลแดง

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Euphaea ochracea is the most common euphaeid species found in waterfall. With red wings, I can't take my eyes of it. Last few weeks, I spotted underwater oviposition of this species for the first time. While I walked against the stream current (this shaded and fast-running forest stream is about 2 m wide), I stopped at the short cascade with a big half-submerged log on the left (about 18-20 cm in diameter) and it's a splash zone of the cascade. Suddenly, a female few into the water at 60-70 degree. It clung the log and went down deep until I couldn't see it. This stream is about 15-20 cm deep. This behavior took 2-3 minutes before it went up and flew away.   

male

Male is red body with balck stripes and it's all black in old male. Wings are orange and turns to red as it ages. Base of abdomen is red and black in the rest. Dorsum of S-10 has a process pointed upward. Caudal appendages are black. Female is yellow body with black stripes. It's very hard to differentiate the female of this species from female of other species. Base of wings are ochre. Abdomen is black with white lateral line and spots. 

female

You cann see this species in all parts of Thailand all the year. 

Drepanosticta jurzitzai

Scientific name: Drepanosticta jurzitzai Hämäläinen, 1999

Family: Platystictidae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มร่มไม้เจอร์ซิทซ่า

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Few years ago, I go to Chantaburi to see odonates after reading Dr. Oleg's field note. There are many many species I saw. Forty species are recorded here. The last day in this province, I found an interesting unknown platystictid I never see before. I sent the photos to Dr. Matti and he said it's Drepanosticta jurzitzai which is described in 1999.

male

Male is metallic black with white stripe and minute blue dot on thorax. Wings are hyaline with yellow stigma. Abdomen is metallic black with bright blue patch on S8-10 dorsally. Female is not described officially. Female is similar to the male but the abdomen is stouter. S9 is a small blue patch on dorsum and S10 are blue dorsally.

female

This species are known only two national parks in Chantaburi, eastern Thailand. You can see it in March-July.

Diplacodes trivialis

Scientific name: Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur, 1842)

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านคู่สีเขียวฟ้า, แมลงปอบ้านฟ้าเขียว

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adult male

When I was first interested in Odonata, I often took photos of odonates and compared it with other photos from Internet. Diplacodes trivialis is one of odonates I photograph. Comparing with internet photos confused me a lot because the photos didn't tell me what actual size they are. I identified D. trivialis as Orthetrum sabina (because, at that time, I'd never seen O. sabina before). Few weeks later, I saw real O. sabina and I knew what I identified was D. trivialis! that's my "eureka moment".

young male

Young male is yellowish green body. Hyaline wings. Abdomen is yellowish green except three last segments which are black. Caudal appendages are white. Mature male is blue body and abdomen. Female is similar to the young male in coloration.

female

You can see this species mostly in lowland or grassland all the year.

Rhyothemis variegata

Scientific name: Rhyothemis variegata (Linnaeus, 1763)

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านไร่ปีกทองเปื้อน

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I've seen at least 200 species of Odonata recorded in Thailand. Rhyothemis variegata is the odonate species I often spot in the lowland and my backyard. Thai R. variegata is belong to subspecies 'R. v. variegata'. It's often seen flying with its cousin, R. phyllis. Strangely enough, I see only females every time. Today, I look up all my photos I took and found photos looked like male of R. v. variegata.

female

Male is metallic black body and abdomen.  Wing tips are darken. Forewings are yellow veins with black patches. Base of hindwings are covered with black with yellow patch. Small black spot scattered entirely. Female is similar to the male but stouter. Base to nodus of forwings are black with yellow. Hindwings is black with yellow patches except wing tips.

male(?)

You can see this species in lowland all the year except in the southern part. I should noted that I found male twice only.

Rhyothemis phyllis

Scientific name: Rhyothemis phyllis (Sulzer, 1776)

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านไร่ปีกทอง

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Rhyothemis phyllis is a common species found around my home. It's easily spotted on the air when it's fluttering in a swarm. Sometimes it perches on the leaves or twigs. For me, the male is easier to encounter than the female.

male

Male is metallic green body and abdomen. Wing base has yellow-and-black markings. Nodus and wingtips are dark patches. Female is similar to the male but stouter. 

female

This species is found all parts of Thailand and all the year.

Prodasineura doisuthepensis

Scientific name: Prodasineura doisuthepensis Hoess, 2007

Family: Protoneuridae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มดอยสุเทพ

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male

Last year (2009) in March, while I was looking for odonates along the stream in Doi Suthep, I found a blue prodasineurid perching on the leaf of aquatic plant. Broad blue synthorax is very eyes-catching. After searching for answer ... finally, it's Prodasineura doisuthepensis! it's described in 2007 and here's a type locality. Now I'm aware that it maybe found in Vietnam. Further expeditions in Vietnam will reveal its distribution in that country.

female is ovipositing with graping male

Male is black with broad blue stripes on front of sythorax. Abdomen is black with small middorsal marking on S-9. S10 is blue dorsally. Caudal appendages are also blue. Female is black with bluish white stripes.

Althought it found only in Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, I found this species in Petchabun.

Brachydiplax chalybea

Scientific name: Brachydiplax chalybea Brauer, 1868

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านสีตะกั่วทุ่งนา

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adult male

When you go to paddy fields or lowland ponds, I believe you see Brachydiplax chalybea, a blue dragonfly with brown side of synthorax. Young male confuses me at first time I see it.  It is the one of three members in genus Brachydiplax recorded in Thailand.

young male

Young male has brown body with some blue patches on front and dorsum of synthorax. Abdomen is blue with black color in S7-10. Ventral part of base of abdomen is brown. Adult male has bluish white pruinescence on front and dorsum of synthorax. Bluish white pruinescence is also found in dorsum of abdomen. Female has brown body and abdomen. There are two black dorsal lines on S4-6.

female

You can see this species all the year in lowland throughou the country.

Libellago lineata

Scientific name: Libellago lineata (Burmeister, 1839)

Family: Chlorocyphidae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มน้ำตกแคระทาง, แมลงปอเข็มธาราลายเส้น

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Libellago lineata is a small 'bignose' damselfly commonly found in canal, stream, or pond. The male always guard its territory by showing its violet iridescens on tips of forewings and fighting and chasing the intruder. It's very exciting and impressive scene. I found that immature males and females live in vegetatives not much far from water resource. Adult male often perch on dry branches or twigs above the water surface.

male from young to adult stage

Young male is yellow body with black markings. Abdomen is yellow with black midorsal line as shown in photos. Wings is hyaline. Violet iridescent spots on tip of forewings are gradually evident as it ages. Females are like the male but stouter.

female

You can see this species throughout the country. Flight season is all the year in the South and April-December elsewhere.

Aciagrion pallidum

Scientific name: Aciagrion pallidum Selys, 1891

Family: Coenagrionidae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มเรียวสามสี

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What I use to tell it's the begining of the winter season is Aciagrion pallidum. Personally, I always found this species in early winter until the end of the season. There are 6 species of Aciagrion recorded in Thailand and recently, I found another one species which is very similar to A. pallidum in upland area. I still don't know its identity. This genus is really in need to revision.

male

Male is blue body with red stripes. S8-10 and caudal appendages have two colors: red and white as you see in photos. Female is similar to the male but paler. S8-10 and caudal appendages are also paler.

female

This species is widespread species and common in dry season. You can see this damselfly between October-April.

Zygonyx iris

Scientific name: Zygonyx iris Selys, 1869

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านตามาเลย์, แมลงปอบ้านจุดตา

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When you go to waterfalls, The commonest dragonflies hovering above the stream is Zygonyx iris. Dr. Asahina places this species in subspecies Z. i. malayana. Because of its metallic green coloration, some think it's a corduliid species.

male

Young male has a metallic green body with pale stripes. As it ages, the synthorax turns to entirely metallic green. Abdomen is metallic black with yellow midsordal lines along the length of the abdomen. Female is similar to the male but stouter. This species is larger than those of the rare congener, Z. ida.  

female

You can see this species all parts of Thailand all the year.

Coeliccia poungyi

Scientific name: Coeliccia poungyi Fraser, 1924

Family: Platycnemididae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มผู้สันหลังฟ้า, แมลงปอเข็มท้องยาวพุงใหญ่

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adult male

I still remember what I see in Erawan waterfall 3 years ago. It was my first field trip which make me surprised and hungry for next trip. Among other odonates, Coeliccia poungyi kicked my eyes with its blue synthorax markings and orange tail. In next tripes, I fortunately found immature and adult males in there. Immature male is very similar to adult C. chromothorax in yellow coloration but there are some differences as described below.

young male

Immature male is yellow body and dorsal broad stripes of synthorax is also yellow (similar to C. chromothorax). S8-10 is pale orange (while S9-10 of C. chromothorax is pale yellow). Color of the body of mature male changes from yellow to bright blue. S8-10 is orange. Female is similar to the male. S9-10 and cuadal appendages are orange yellow. Prothoracic markings are unique.

female

You can see this species in uplands and mountains in all parts of Thailand except Central and Southern ones all the year.

Orthetrum glaucum

Scientific name: Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer, 1865)

Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านเสือหน้าดำ, แมลงปอบ้านเสืออกขาวคู่

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Orthetrum glaucum is a common libellulid species mostly found around the stream or waterfall. Two years ago I were surprised to see teneral male in open area between rows of mango trees and paddy fields. 

adult and old male

There is another similar one, O. luzonicum, which confuses many beginners. O. glaucum differs from O. luzonicum: eyes are dark green (O. luzonicum has bright green eyes), larger size, dark clypeus (O. luzonicum has a white clypeus), markings on front of synthorax are different, wingbase is darken and base of abdomen is less concaved.

young and old female

Teneral male is dark body with blue pruinosed abdomen. Dark green eyes and clypeus. Markings on synthorax paler and there pale stripes on synthorax. Wing base is darken. Fully grown male is pruinosed all of the body and abdomen. Teneral female is yellow body and darken as it ages. Old female is pruinosed. Female of this genus is very hard to identify by exteral features. Examing valvala vulae will reveal its identity.

copula

You can see this species in forest and lowland area all the year.