25. Pseudocopera ciliata (Selys, 1863)

No: 25 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Pseudocopera

Name: Pseudocopera ciliata / Black-kneed Featherleg / แมลงปอเข็มยาวเข่าดำ

Habitat: Shaded ponds, marshes & slow-moving streams
Province(s): Widespread
In flight: Year-round / Sightings (by me): Very common

Easily confused with: N/A 

Pseudocopera ciliata is a very common but beautiful and graceful damselfly you can quite easily find throughout the country. It likes to hang around weedy ponds and lakes and can often be seen in shaded areas, though will come out into the open on cloudy days.

The male

The male is generally white and black in colour, but is sometimes more of a blue colour than white, depending on age. It is distinctive in appearance and can't be confused with any other species.

The female

The female varies in colour from brown to white or pale blue. Other than that, it is the same as the male.

A brown/beige female...

A blue/white female...

Teneral female ...

Here's looking at you...

A close-up of a white female.

A copula tandem...

C. ciliata is quite a shy creature but even more so when copulating. Here, with a brown female (top) and  GAY SEX below!!! Two males in tandem... no idea what's going on.

A copula wheel...

Here, with a white female.

Here's a number of photos of a blueish female ovipositing. That swivel screen on the new Canon 60D really does allow you to get down low!

You can see this species all year round lowland areas, in ponds and lakes, especially those with lots of weed cover.