Friday, March 4, 2011

82. Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola (Selys, 1877)

Number: 82
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Argiocnemis
Species: Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola
Common name(s): Tiny Midget, Variable Sprite
Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มเล็กหางตุ้ม
Habitat: Uplands forested ponds
Province(s) sighted: Nam Nao NP (Petchabun);  Doi Inthanon (Chiang Mai); Khao Soi Dao (Chantaburi); Kanchanaburi environs (Kanchanaburi).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common
In flight (that I have seen): March-December

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola is another small damselfly that changes colour at different stages of its life. It is fairly common and I have seen it at a number of places throughout Thailand. 

The male
The mature male has blue stripes on the thorax and the abdomen has distinct markings. S8-9 and half of S7 are blue. Caudal appendages are black.




Male, in the hand


The sub-adult male
The younger males vary in colour from yellow to green stripes on the thorax with a red abdomen. The markings on S7-9 are white at this stage.



The female
The mature female is predominately blue/black, similar to that of the male.



Very old female




Another female
This female has slightly different markings to the one above.



Photo added (taken 26/03/2011 @ Kanchanaburi, added 25/04/2011)

The sub-adult female
As with the younger males, the young female will vary in colour from yellow to green stripes on the thorax with a red abdomen. The markings on the 7th segment is white at this stage.



A teneral female (at Nam Nao National Park)...



I have seen this species at Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai, Chantaburi, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun and Kanchanaburi. I believe it to be a widespread species and is around throughout the year.

2 comments:

  1. This species in fact belongs to another genus but those tasteless people called it Argiocnemis - find the difference (and, please, correct)!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Isn't it Agriocnemis rather than Argio...?

    ReplyDelete