156: Heliaeschna uninervulata (Martin, 1909)

Number: 156 / Family: Aeschnidae / Genus: Heliaeschna

Species: Heliaeschna uninervulata / Lesser Forest Duskhawker*

Habitat: Tree-lined Lowland Ponds/Streams

Province(s) sighted: Khon Kaen, Sakhon Nakhon

In flight: May-December / Sightings (by me): Uncommon

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, I have based 'Lesser Forest' on the Thai name and raised 'Duskhawker' as a name for the genus Heliaeschna.

A quick trip to a few old haunts around Khon Kaen today yielded another new species ... and a cracking one at that. Along a fairly long canal-like pond, that was heavily tree-covered I noticed a dragonfly tucked deep into a dark alcove created by trees. I crept forward and thought at first that it was gynacantha subinterrupta, a commonly sighted species in Khon Kaen. However, as I approached gingerly, I noticed its caudal appendages were significantly different. I managed to get a few shots in before I stood on a twig and the noise was enough for it to fly deeper into the dark tree alcove ... amazingly, though, another male flew towards it and a brief battle ensued. The same male rested once more (the other fled) and I was able to get a few more photos in, though any slight movement ensured that the dragonfly moved too. I saw a few more specimens in the same area, but they were already in flight when I saw them (I scared them into flying). When I returned home, a little research on the Internet revealed that it was a male Heliaeschna uninervulata, which I have named the Lesser Forest Duskhawker. According to Noppadon Makbun, it's an uncommon species - and I'm pretty sure that it is a provincial record. Since writing this, I have seen both the male and the female and small number of times.

The Male
Similar to gynacantha subinterrupta, yet has siginficantly different caudal appendages. I think it really is a stunning species and one I hope to bump into again.

Here's how I first saw him (it was very dark, obviously flash was used).

The Female

I actually think that the female is much more beautiful than the male. This one I saw at Phu Wiang National Park in Khon Kaen.

The Male Appendages

Here is the perfect way to ID this species. It is almost leaf shaped and rather beautiful.