Monday, September 12, 2011

146. Ceriagrion calamineum (Lieftinck, 1951)

Number: 146
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Ceriagrion
Species: Ceriagrion calamineum
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นคาลามีน
Habitat: Open uplands pond, surrounded by tree cover at one edge
Province(s) sighted: Khai Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima province
Sightings (by me): Fairly common only at this location
In flight (that I have seen): August (though must be longer)

I know colour isn't a good way to identify odonata. I also know that identifying Ceriagrion can really difficult with some species. However, on a recent trip to Khao Yai I spotted a damselfly that just seemed different to all the others. The colours were similar (but slightly more orange) to that of C. indochinense. However, it's size eliminated C. indochinense straight away (the latter is larger, in my experience anyway). Anyway, it turns out that it is a new species (well, most probably), known as Ceriagrion calamineum.

The male
There were many specimens at a natural uplands pond, moving around in the weed stems.




A close up of the male's bright yellow face.


In the hand... 
This gives an idea of its size.


Here, I placed him against my lighter for a better idea of size (I will get round to measuring that exact size one day).


I didn't get to see any females, but the males were commonplace.


So that is now the 9th species from the genus including: C. auranticumC. azureumC. calamineum, C. cerinorubellumC. chaoiC. fallaxC. indochinenseC. olivaceum and C. praetermissumThere's also one unidentified Ceriagrion species (possibly C. malaisei), though I'll probably never know for sure until I return to the same place one day. 

If anyone knows where I could find the remaining species,  C. nigroflavum, C. pallidum and C. malaisei, I would love to spot all the species from the genus... especially as it is one of my favourite genus! 

Once again, many thanks to Noppadon Makbun and Oleg Kosterin for the ID (both are pretty sure it's the correct ID)

7 comments:

  1. No my friend, Onychargia atrocyana white pruinosed form isn`t a species. So, still 149 ;)

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  2. Hahaha I know, but I feel it deserves a place all of its own (I'm really clutching at straws)!
    My real aim is to get many, many more species... once I've hit around 152-3 then I know I've cracked 150!

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  3. I am almost sure this is C. calamineum: the mesostigmal plate is partly seen and agrees, the colour should be chrome yellow (or orange yellow), habitat in Cambodia also high open places. But I would not say it had unusual size in Cambodia: in fact, the species is extremely close to C. olivaceum in anything but the male colour

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  4. But are you sure this very site in Khao Yai was situated in Nakhon Ratchasima Province rather than in Nakhon Nayok Province (from where C. calamineum is known)?

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  5. Hi Dr. Oleg! Many thanks for the reply. Noppadon also agrees with you. Yes, the colours match your photos too (on asia-dragonfly.net). As for size, it was more of a comparison to C. indochinense which is larger than this species (the ones I have encountered anyway). Thanks

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  6. Hi again Dr. Oleg. As far as the location is concerned, I must look carefully at the map. I will then get back to you when I am 100% sure.

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  7. Continue like this with... pretty sure species, and you will achieve quickly and easily your goal.

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