167: Stylogomphus malayanus Sasamoto, 2001

Number: 167 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Stylogomphus
Species: Stylogomphus malayanus / Common name(s):N/A
Habitat: Forested Rocky Stream
 Province(s) sighted: Pratchup Khirikhan
Sightings (by me): Rare
In flight (that I have seen): May
Species easily confused with: N/A

Working my way carefully up the beautiful Pa La-U waterfall, a tiny female Gompid landed right between my legs (I almost stood on it). I managed to get some decent photos of it from above and then it flew away. I had no idea what it was and it was easily the smallest Gomphid I had ever seen. Then, I saw a similar-sized male. Then another and another. There were at least 6-7 males present and I was able to get some decent photos of them. When I returned home, I posted my findings on "Dragonflies of Thailand" on Facebook and the feedback was unanimous (Noppadon Makbun, Pattarawich Dawwrueng, Kroolek Reinthong): Stylogomphus malayanus. I had actually seem a solitary male once before at Nam Nao NP, but that one was much larger in size, whereas these were tiny. You can see images of the Petchabun specimen here.

The Male

A tiny fellow that doesn't seem to fly far, but instead flies from rock to rock. Though superficially a typical-looking Gomphid, its appendages are unique (which is what gives it is name, I believe).

The appendages are like the stylus of an old record player (hence its name) ...

 The Female

The female is difficult to ID. However, it was also tiny making life easy for me (I only managed photos from this angle as it was perching directly between my feet and it was the only one I saw).