Number: 14
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Ceriagrion
Species: Ceriagrion indochinense
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นอินโดจีน
Habitat: Exposed areas, near ponds (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Nam Nao environs (Petchabun); Phu Rua environs (Loei); farmer's pond (Prachaub Khiri Khan)
Sightings (by me): Common in Khon Kaen and Nam Nao
In flight (that I have seen): February-January
Species easily confused with: Ceriagrion calamineum; Ceriagrion fallax;
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นอินโดจีน
Habitat: Exposed areas, near ponds (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Nam Nao environs (Petchabun); Phu Rua environs (Loei); farmer's pond (Prachaub Khiri Khan)
Sightings (by me): Common in Khon Kaen and Nam Nao
In flight (that I have seen): February-January
Species easily confused with: Ceriagrion calamineum; Ceriagrion fallax;
There are 12 Ceriagrion species known in Thailand and Ceriagrion indochinense is one of 7 I have been lucky enough to see so far. Khon Kaen is a good place to spot this genus as it is very hot and dry. C. indochinense is fairly common and likes to live near a variety of waterways, such as open lakes to tiny muddy ditches. I have also seen a very large colony that lives in the shrubbery right next to the River Chi in Khon Kaen, a large but slow moving river.
The male
The male is far more common than the female and is easily recognisable by its green thorax and eyes and its bright yellow abdomen. The end segments of the abdomen are often slightly brown in colour.
Close up
It's dog eat dog...
... or damselfly eat damselfly in this case. This male is busily eating a female C. Auranticum... something I have seen this species do a lot.
The female
The female is dull compared to that of the male. It can be confused with female C. auranticum but is bigger in size, lighter in colour and they live close to the males.
There were numerous females at Nam Nao National Park recently which varied slightly in colour. This one I think is fully mature...
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And the wheel position...
Close-up of how the male utilises his claspers ...
I have seen C. indochinense on a regular basis around the northeast of Thailand and they tend to live in large numbers when spotted. I have seen this species from February-November but I'm not sure exactly when it is in flight, probably year round.
great shots ... I'm so jealous to the pictures of both sexes. I once saw this species in Nam Nao national. There were only the male around there.
ReplyDeleteHi Noppadon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for looking at my blog. Yes, C indochinense used to be fairly common in certain areas of KK, but over the past few years, all of my local sites seem to be being built on. Hopefully, the species is till doing well in other areas. I aim to search for them again, this winter. Take care and keep up the good work. Dennis
this blog's content is very useful for me since i need to identify some of odonata sp.for my insect collection assignment.I hope you can find more unique pictures of this creature:)
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, The Ceriagrion's are really beautiful, I am so jealous that you have a dozen species to see compared to only 2 on Borneo, the very common C. cerinorubelum and the endemic C. bellona! And maybe 1 or 2 still undescribed species.
ReplyDelete