195: Prodasineura humeralis Selys, 1860

Number: 195 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura humeralis* / Orange-striped Threadtail  

Habitat: Forested Sandy-bottomed Streams  

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat, Songkhla, Yala

In flight: April-August / Sightings (by me): Locally common    

Species easily confused with: Prodasineura autumnalis, prodasineura verticalis


*In Thailand, this is currently known as Prodasineura sp. as it is possible that it is, in fact, P. autumnalis However, for the time being, I will keep it as P. humeralis, which is found commonly throughout Malaysia and would make sense that it is the same species.

One species that I expected to see at Hala-Bala did not disappoint, although it took a little bit of searching to find it. Instead of being at the wildlife sanctuary, it was fairly abundant at a couple of the more open and sandy-bottomed streams nearer the base of Bala. Prodasineura humeralis, commonly known as the Orange-striped Threadtail, is very similar in every aspect to P. autumnulis and P. verticalis and the genus needs revision. Like most species in the genus, it likes to hang low down near the stream's edges and is difficult to photograph. These were the best I could get in blazing sunshine, as my neck was slowly turning into the appearance of a gingerbread biscuit. Since then, I have returned to the deep south and this species was abundant at many forested streams throughout the region.

The male
The male is identifiable due to its dominant orange stripe on a black thorax, which gives it its common name. Can be found quite easily along shallow, slow-moving and sandy-bottomed streams.

Like other species in the genus, P. humeralis loves perching just above water level, making photography difficult.

The 'Young' Male

I was fortunate enough to spot a young male, which looks almost like every other species in the genus at this stage. Fortunately, it was the only species present making ID easy.