212. Mortonagrion falcatum Lieftinck, 1934

Number: 211

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Mortonagrion

Species: Mortonagrion falactum

Common name(s): Hooked Midget

Habitat: Open paddy fields

Province(s) sighted: Chantaburi environs

Sightings (by me): Abundant at two locations

In flight: July (though I believe all year)

Species easily confused with: Mortonagrion aborense

Mortonagrion aborense is a fairly common species that can be found around the country and is often found in swampy areas, grassy ponds and lakes on the edge of forest and also deep under the protection of foliage. So... the same should be said for Mortonagrion falactum, right? Well, it couldn't be further from the truth! We were led by a Dragonflies of Thailand Facebook group member (sorry, I don't know the name but thank you sooo much) to all I can describe as being a regular farmer's paddy field in the middle of nowhere. It was a place you would most certainly drive straight past and not give it a second's thought. Not only that, one we got our eye in (the Facebook team) and we realised just how small it was, it was easy to spot them everywhere. It was also abundant in another farmer's field not too far away, which suggests any field that is similar in the location could well have many of them. So, once found and in fairly decent light (though was heavily cloudy with a storm brewing in the distance) getting photos shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, you couldn't be further from the truth. Being so small and there was a constant breeze making photography really tough. It was also quite skittish and we all had to wade through the rice fields to follow them. I managed to get a few decent photos in the end (as did everyone). However, I think we all felt a little dizzy in the end. 

The Male

Tiny, but beautiful. A species I didn't think I would ever get to see. The most distinctive feature is its blue patch on the abdomen. The appendages are also distinctive which probably give it its name.

The Female

The female is a lot duller in comparison, though there orange-brown thorax was pretty easy to pick out in the long rice fields. On closer inspection (though tough to see), it has slim blue stripes along the abdomen. There is also a feint patch on the abdomen like the male (though no way near as strong). 

 The Teneral Female

I was also lucky enough to spot a teneral female (Noppadon saw teneral male but I missed it).

206. Prodasineura collaris (Selys, 1860)

Number: 206

Family: Platycnemididae 

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura collaris

Common name(s): Collared Threadtail

Synonym(s): Alloneura collaris Selys, 1860, Alloneura dohrni Krüger, 1898

Habitat: Seepage/overflow from the road that became a tiny stream

Province(s) sighted: Hala below-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): 1 male, 1 female 

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Prodasineura doisuthepensis

Though beautiful little damsels, Prodasineura species are difficult to get good photos of as they tend to hang around the edges of streams and very low down. It was no different when I saw a male Prodasineura collaris. As light was fading fast, I managed to spot a male on my first day deep down perched over a tiny trickle. However, with the light almost gone so too did my chances of getting anything worthy of a good photo.

Two days later, I returned to the same spot and there was a female Prodasineura species on a stick just above a collection of leaves over seepage almost in the exact same place as the male. It was clearly a female P. collaris and she was fairly happy to let me snap away. Content with my shot of the female, I decided to go after the male once more. I pushed my way through bushes and dropped down about 5-6 feet to where there was a little bit more seepage/trickle and there he was. This time I managed to get a few fairly decent photos, especially as he was in such an awkward place. 

The male.
It is easy to ID this species and I am pretty sure it gets its name from the distinct blue band across its collar (see close-up)!

The female.
The female is like most other females in the genus but it has a blueish tinge to it and fortunately for ID purposes, it was the only species in the area.

199. Devadatta argyoides (Selys, 1859)

Number: 199  

Family: Devadattidae

Genus: Devadatta  

Species: Devadatta argyoides

Common name(s): Malayan Grisette  

Synonyms: Tetraneura argyoides Selys, 1859   

Habitat: A leafy (but boggy) road overflow area nr. HB HQ  

Province(s) sighted: Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): 1 male 2 females 

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: --

As with many species, Devadatta argyoides was one of those that seems locally common along the west of Thailand southwards and has just simply evaded my camera. However, even when I did come across it, I almost missed it as it was at a tiny overflow area at the bottom of the road at HQ. There was a tiny, but inaccessible trickle running through and it would appear that a few species were hanging on in there until the rains arrived. I also saw a solitary male and a female Prodasineura collaris, a male Cratilla metallica and a solitary male Tyriobapta torrida hanging around the concrete posts close by! There were also several males of an Idionyx sp. flitting about at a million miles an hour as dusk approached (but were way to fast to catch or ID). Anyway, at around 6.30am, I noticed a female perched on a twig just above the rotting leaves. I almost ignored it, but my brain took over and I tried to photograph it... damn!!! The lens had fogged up! I had to wait almost 30 minutes for it to clear. By then, the damsel had gone! Amazingly, I found another slightly further away and it was fairly easy to get shots though the lighting was terrible. I returned to the same place the following afternoon and was fortunate enough to spot the male, who was also quite happy to let me snap away! So, not bad for a pile of leaves!

The male
The male is very dull in appearance but does have a few flecks of blue on its abdomen.

I was also fortunate enough to capture the male with my fingers and could use (slightly) better lighting...

The female

The female is very similar to the male but has a more robust abdomen. It is also fairly easy to approach, though by mid-morning they had disappeared.

195. Coeliccia albicauda (Förster in Laidlaw & Förster, 1907)

Number: 195  

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Coeliccia

Species: Coeliccia albicauda

Common name(s): Yellow-tailed Forested Damsel

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Forested stream  

Province(s) sighted:Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat)

Sightings (by me): Uncommon (7-8 males) 

In flight (that I have seen): April   

Species easily confused with: Coeliccia didyma, Coeliccia nigrescens, Coeliccia sp. (undescribed species),  Coeliccia kimurai 

One species I should have come across whenever I visited the western part of Thailand is Coeliccia albicauda. However, until my last trip it had always eluded me for some reason. At Hala-Bala, however, I noticed a small C. loogali-sized damsel clinging on to a leaf on the ground along a dark and dingy trail. I managed to get a few shots away and then realised that it was in the bag! However, it proved to be an absolute nightmare to get anything that resembled a decent shot... and there was no way that I was settling for a record shot after waiting so long to see it. So, many, many, many attempts later I managed to get what I would deem pretty decent shots (to say that I was on my arse in a muddy puddle in poor lighting trying to take a photo of a dark needle over a muddy ditch). Still, they turned out OK in the end. I managed to spot a few more males during the trip but each and every one seemed to prefer darkened areas almost on the deck. I managed to get a glimpse of a female but it shot off before I could get any shots off.

The male

A typical pose while trying to get the right shot away (you can see the puddle it liked)...

*Photo of me courtesy of Sum Nara Nara (our awesome guide for the trip)

193. Lestes dorothea Fraser, 1924

Number: 193  

Family: Lestidae

Genus: Lestes

Species: Lestes dorothea

Common name(s): -  

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Temporary ponds/small permanent forested ponds   

Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (Chaiyaphum); Nam Nao National Park (Petchabun)

Sightings (by me): Locally abundant 

In flight (that I have seen): June - September  

Species easily confused with: Lestes praemorsus decipiens; Lestes elatus; Platylestes platystylus

Finally, after searching for it for a long time, I have found it. I think. Lestes dorothea has eluded pretty much everyone (many of the guys on Dragonflies of Thailand on Facebook) including myself but the help of identification through the female has helped for once. 

The major problem is that the males of L. praemorsus and L. dorothea are almost identical in appearance.  I knew that both species had been recorded at Phu Khieo previously and I did notice that the pruinescence at the end of the abdomen on some specimens was significantly reduced when compared to others. Conclusive proof? Of course not. Worse still, the appendages are almost identical (from what I could tell anyway). This was also noted by Tom Kompier on his blog with information that has helped a lot on this. The telltale difference (I am led to believe) is the difference in the female. The female of L. dorothea has the bold markings on the thorax (like a swoosh) followed by another prominent dot. This is the same as the male but is almost always hidden. Again, this was pointed out by Tom on his blog and Noppadon Makbun also explained this to me, though still would like to compare the appendages. Looking back at both males and females, the latter is now easy to separate (see comparison below). However, the male is still a little difficult to separate, but I will have to entrust the expertise of others for now (unless I can find a very young male for easy comparison).

The male:

Though I could be mistaken, from memory it is a slightly larger species than L. praemorsus. However, the key to identifying the male is the reduced pruinescence at the end of the abdomen (see comparison below). 

 L. dorothea, male

 L. praemorsus, male (for comparison)

L. dorothea, copula in the hot afternoon at Nam Nao

 L. dorothea, the same female (not the prominent markings on the thorax)

L. praemorsus, female (for comparison) from Nam Nao. Note the small dots on the thorax.

 Here is a more recent copula from Phu Khieo where the males seem to be abundant (now I can separate them).

Many thanks to Noppadon Makbun for all his help on this confusing genus as well as Tom Kompier for the more than useful information on his blog.

190. Coeliccia nigrescens Laidlaw, 1931

Number: 190  

Family: Platycnemidiae

Genus: Coeliccia

Species: Coeliccia nigrescens 

Common name(s): N/A  

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Upland Forested ditch   

Province(s) sighted: Khao Yao National Park (Nakhon Nayok) 

Sightings (by me): Rare (2-3 males, 1 female) 

In flight (that I have seen): May   

Species easily confused with: Coeliccia didyma didyma; Coeliccia didyma didyma


So, one trip in yielded nothing (Pala-U w/f). The next trip to Khao Yai and into Nakhon Nayok, did produce... thanks to November Rain Rain (Facebook name). Thanks to her kindness, I managed to find the rather elusive Coeliccia nigrescens. It is a species that has already been recorded at Nakhon Nayok and, as far as I am aware, one location in the south. However, I found it where I didn't expect it to be... along the edge of the road under the cover of tree cover and darkness. It seemed to be at home in the overflow bit that runs along side the road, but only in one short section. It was reported to be along a path and was commonly seen, both males and females. Unfortunately, I was greeted by torrential rain and seriously poor conditions. The path -- which I found -- was almost devoid of the species... I got a fleeting glimpse of a solitary male that retreated hastily back into the gloom. Fortunately, there were 2-3 males, plus a solitary female under heavy cover. However, with the horrible rain and gloom, photography was really tough. I managed to get some OK shots of the male and a record shot of the female, which will have to do for now. However, I know where it is now and will return in better weather for sure. It is very much like a Coeliccia sp. and has many of the same traits... the annoying speed at which it can retreat when you finally managed to spot one in the gloom and the way they hand from the tips of leaves. It is also incredibly like C. didyma but can be separated by the white appendages and doesn't have a blue patch on segments 9-10. Also, the markings on the thorax are slightly different. 
So, until I return, these photos will have to do.

The male
Very much like C. didyma but can be separated by the end of the abdomen.

The female
A record shot for now and really tough to separate from other females in the genus... thankfully males were around.

187. Aciagrion sp.

Number: 187  

Family: Coenagrionidae 

Genus: Aciagrion   

Species: Aciagrion sp. (possibly A. occidentale)

Common name(s): N/A  

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Forested pond   

Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (Chaiyaphum)  

Sightings (by me): 3-4 males spotted at one natural pond 

In flight (that I have seen): October    

Species easily confused with: All Aciagrion species

Tiny, blue and all look the same! Talk to any dragonfly lover about Aciagrion and they instantly wince. It is an incredibly difficult and confusing genus that needs to be resolved - though anyone who dares to do it is a brave individual indeed. There are several known species in Thailand, though one or two of them could have been misidentified (possibly even by the original authors). That said, it seems that there are possibly several more out there that are yet to be described. One of which, I may have spotted last week. It is an Aciagrion species that seems to fall between A. hisopa and A. borneense with a sprinkling of A. pallidum thrown in for good measure. Superficially, it looks like A. borneense. However, the striking difference is the solid blue patch on the abdomen (save a tiny "v" nick) and the appendages are white. The colouration of the rest of the male seems to match that of A. borneense. If it was the only specimen, then I would possibly put it down to being a slightly different population of A. borneense. However, through Dragonflies of Thailand (on Facebook), it appears that this species (with exacting markings) has been spotted at several locations throughout Thailand, though is scarce or overlooked. Also, looking back through my records (old photos) it appears that I did spot a young male (very pale but with a solid patch) at Nam Nao a couple of winters ago. Unfortunately, I was unable to catch one (I saw 3-4 males at one location) as I had forgotten my net. I will return to try and collect a specimen. For now, however, it can only be known at Aciagrion species - until someone far braver than me takes up the horrible and extremely confusing Aciagrion gauntlet and goes back to the drawing board with this genus. Probably not in my lifetime though haha.

The 'new' Aciagrion species (to add even more confusion to the boiling Aciagrion pot):

For comparison, here are photos similar species (where - though subtle - you can make out differences):

1. This one taken at Nam Nao a few years back I first though was A. borneense, but you can just make out the markings (which are similar to that of the specimen above), though this could even be A. occidenale aaarrrggghh!!!)

2. A pallidum, a common winter species (here, this male has whitish appendages...

... though many have a more reddish/orangy colour (often more than this)...

...or an even more confusing blue colour (though this could be another species!!!)

3. A. borneense - here you can clearly see the typical markings which make ID possible - very different than the new species. Easily the most common species.

4. A. hisopa - similar to the 'new' species but completely blue (no green) and the ocelli (eye spots) are large. Also, from memory, it is slightly larger too.

5. Just for good measure, here is A. approximans, another fairly common uplands species to add to the mix (though fairly easy to separate with its purplish hues).

So, there you have it. Aciagrion is as clear as mud! Over to the experts.

177. Indolestes gracilis expressior Kosterin, 2015

Number: 177  

Family: Lestidae  

Genus: Indolestes   

Species: Indolestes gracilis expressior 

Common name(s):N/A   

Synonyms: N/A   

Habitat: Forested marshy lake  

Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum   

Sightings (by me): Rare

In flight (that I have seen): July  

Species easily confused with: Indolestes inflatus

Just as I was clicking my heels at finding one new species for my records, I noticed another ... Lestes inflatus again. My old friend from Nam Nao which I discovered for Thailand (see above). But, wait. No! Surely this wasn't L. inflatus after all. I could see that the wings were clear (a key feature of L. inflatus is that the wings are a brownish colour), the legs were black and the appendages seemed different. I managed to get the best photos I could in the blustery wind and when I returned home I knew it was a new species for me and it actually turns out to be a new record for Thailand! It is Indolestes gracilis ssp. and was IDd by Noppadon Makbun (with thanks). He told me that Oleg Kosterin had recently described a new Indolestes gracilis subspecies from Cambodia and it is quite possibly that species or another very similar species. However, the only way to truly know is if I collect a specimen ... though that's easier said than done. I am going to return this weekend in search of the female and hopefully another male or two. It could even turn out to be a completely new species yet to be described to science ... watch this space. 

NOTE: Since recording this species, I FINALLY managed to track down a second specimen following around eight further trips and got solid shots of the appendages. It confirms that it is, indeed,  Indolestes gracilis expressior Kosterin, 2015. It also highlights just how rare this species is!

2016 specimen playing dead:

The appendages (added 2016):