98. Ischnura rufostigma Selys, 1876

No: 98 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Ischnura

Name: Ischnura rufostigma / Orange Bluetail* 

Habitat: Uplands ponds with lots of grasses

Province(s): Chiang Mai
In flight: April-July / Sightings (by me): Locally Common

Easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name I adapted it from 'Bluetail' from with I. senegalensis and other species in the genus, and orange being the predominant colour of the abdomen.

Ischnura rufostigma is a small species that I saw when I visited Doi Inthanon National Park, April 2010. However, where I first saw it, those lovely little ponds near HQ had been sadly destroyed. Fortunately, returning to a different place I had visited with Noppadon Makbun, I noticed several specimens. Furthermore, Noppadon took us to another place that very quiet as it was a misty still morning, but there were little orange streaks darting everywhere in the grasses.

The Male

The thorax is black with bright green stripes. S1 is also green and it has two small blue ocular spots. The abdomen is orange from S2-6, S7-10 are black. S8 has a distinctive blue dorsal patch.

The 'Andromorph' Female

The female is similar to the male, but paler. Also, it only has microscopic blue dorsal patch on S8. However, the second one may be not quite fully mature and the third one is old and lost the blue patch.

The 'Young' Female

I am not sure if this is andromorph (takes on male colours) or gynomorph (takes on females colours)... still, it looks amazing anyway!

The Teneral Female

I was fortunate to spot a teneral (newly emerged) female which glistened as t flew in the grass. Note it still has pale whitish eyes.

A Copula (Andromorph Female)

I was fortunate to spot and photograph a copula, with an 'andromorph' female, which is the only one I have ever seen!

27. Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842)

No: 27 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Ischnura

Name: Ischnura senegalensis / Common Bluetail 

Habitat: Exposed uplands & lowlands ponds, lakes & slow-moving streams
Province(s): Widespread
In flight: Year-round / Sightings (by me): Extremely common

Easily confused with: N/A 

Another extremely common damselfly is Ischnura senegalensis. It can be seen everywhere in the lowlands and is quite an aggressive feeder. Both males and females are spotted in close proximity, though sometimes the females hang back from the water.

The Male

The males have green and black stripes on the thorax, but the most obvious feature is the azure blue end segments on the abdomen. They are abundant, but are quite difficult to photograph because they are small and easily frightened. 

This one has no table manners whatsoever... it is eating breakfast (some kind of moth) and is having a pooh at the same time!

The 'Blue' Male ...

Apparently the blue specimens (possibly maturer specimens) are common, but I hardly ever see them. I think they look cool.

The Crown Jewels...

A close up of this male shows many parasites that live on odonata. This specimen has many different coloured ones... probably the same species, but at different stages.

The Female

The standard fully mature female is a kind of brownish/beige colour...

The Rare 'Andromorph' Female

I have only sen this form once and I was facing the sun, though I must admit, I don't exactly go looking for it as the species is very common. This female basically takes on the appearance of the male.

The 'Young' Female

The female changes colour from bright red (below) to a green/beige colour as it matures. 

The 'Old' Female

The old female is much duller in appearance. This photo was captured early in the morning and was busily devouring its breakfast (Agriocnemis pygmaea, male) at Phu Kradeung.

Hannibal Lecter eat your heart out...

This female is eating another damselfly (A. femina femina, teneral female) and has just bitten its head clean off so that it can devour the juicy bit of the thorax. Mmmmmm delicious!

The Copula Wheel...

9. Ischnura rubilio Selys, 1876

No: 9 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Ischnura

Name: Ischnura rubilio / Western Golden Dartlet 

Habitat: Open ponds, marshes, generally uplands
Province(s) sighted: Petchabun, Chaiyaphum, Chiang Rai, Chantaburi, Nakhorn Ratchasima 
In flight: February to Noember / Sightings (by me): Uncommon 

Easily confused with: N/A

For me, this is the king of the 'minis'. Ischnura rubilio is only tiny, but his colours scream for attention. The males like to sit in long grasses and are supposed to be common in paddy fields... though I have never seen one in Khon Kaen and its full of paddy fields there! It isn't a very common species, but I do bump into it from time to time.

The Male

Green and black stripes on the thorax with a bright yellow abdomen, capped by stunning black and bright blue end segments, make it truly one of the best looking damselflies I've seen.

The 'Teneral' Male

This is the one and only time I have seen a teneral male. Looks similar just very washed out.

The Female

She's really dull in comparison. She has slight blue hues on the thorax and slight yellowing to the abdomen. The markings on the abdomen are also completely different to that of the male. The females are far more difficult to spot and the one I saw hung far back from the main body of water in the bushes.

Here is a slightly younger female ...

The 'Teneral' Female

Strangely, in the same day I saw a teneral male, I saw a teneral female.

This species is supposed to be fairly common, but I have only spotted it a few times. I first saw two males in a paddy field on the outskirts of Chiang Rai in April. I then spotted another male at the pond at the Helicopter Pad at Nam Nao National Park in November. Here I also saw a female for the first time (I recently spotted a 2nd female there). I also spotted a male at a pond near Khao Khrating National Park in November this year. I have now spotted male and female at Nam Nao in February. I have seen many more than this now, but will leave it in for relevant information.