43. Prodasineura doisuthepensis (Hoess, 2007)

Number: 43

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura doisuthepensis

Common name(s): Doi Suthep's Threadtail

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มดอยสุเทพ

Habitat: Forested upland streams (yet love to perch in exposed gaps)
Province(s) sighted: Stream running through Nam Nao NP (Petchabun);  Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Huay Gairo Waterfall, Ob Khan NP (Chiang Mai).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common
In flight (that I have seen): March-May (though probably longer)

The fourth species of the genus Prodasineura I have now added to my blog is Prodasineura doisuthepensis. I initially thought this was P. collaris, until my mistake was pointed out to me by Noppadon Makbun (who else!?!). When I visited Chiang Mai in March 2010, this species was abundant high up in the national parks, especially (you guessed it) Doi Suthep. I recently saw many specimens residing at the stream which runs through Nam Nao NP ... I was really happy to see this species here.

The male

The male is easily distinguished by its bold blue marks to the thorax and abdomen. They like to sit in the sunshine over streams.

I like to hover for hours ... 

Close up and personal ... a male from Nam Nao NP

The female

The female is much more boring in comparison and is similar to other females of the Prodasineura genus. It does have slightly blue hues to the thorax and eyes.

Ovipositing ...

Though not the best photos in the world (it was dark, really low down and at an almost impossible angle - how I wish I'd had my Canon 60D then!), but they show how this species oviposits. 

These shots were from Nam Nao NP ...

And these in Chiang Mai ...

If you want to see this species you are sure to see it if you visit the rivers and waterfalls around Doi Suthep. That said, Noppadon informed me that the following flight season, they were fairly scarce.