228: Nesoxenia lineata (Selys, 1868)

      Number: 228 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Nesoxenia

Species: Nesoxenia lineata  / Striped Grenadier

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat

Habitat: Lowlands Shaded Swampy Area

In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Agrionoptera insignis, Lathrecista asiatica

This was one of the absolute highlights of the trip to the south in August, 2025 with Noppadon Makbun, as well as my brother Paul and his missus, Suu. Oddly, it was a species we has discussed before the trip and wondered if we had a chance of seeing it. And on about the 3rd day, we did just that! At a heavily shaded swampy area that was partly dried out at one end but deep at the other, we saw a few common species and some rarer ones but we had seen already. Then came the shout... Dennis! lineata! It was the best thing ever, though making it over was very tough wading knee-deep through deep mud and water. But eventually, there it was... really low down on a twig in the gloom but it was unmistakable! Nesoxenia lineata, also known as the Striped Grenadier. I felt like I was going to explode with excitement. We found it! After a million photos, we moved on. One male. Amazing. But on the last day before we left Narathiwat, we decided to head there once more, but this time earlier in the morning. After a quick look along the river, we reached the entrance to the swamp (found by Paul first - thanks, r kid!). And amazingly, there were so many more species flying around... including about 20 males of N. lineata, though this time harder to get near. It was amazing! And it works out to be only the second recording of this species in Thailand, so not bad, eh? Better still, on the way back we briefly saw a female... sadly, after one shot, it was gone, but enough for a record shot until next time!

The Male
It is such a handsome little fellow with his greenish thorax with blue pruinescence  and red and black abdomen. 

The Female

The female looks very much like female Lathrecista asiatica but there are a few differences (broader black likes on the abdomen and different thoracic markings). This looks like an old female and sadly we only saw it for a few seconds and was facing directly into the light.