241: Protosticta jirapornae Makbun, 2025

               Number: 241 / Family: Platystictidae / Genus: Protosticta

Species: Protosticta jirapornae / Jiraporn's Reedtail*

Province(s) sighted: Chaing Mai

Habitat: Forested Streams in Low Vegetation

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

Species easily confused with: All Protosticta Species

*As there is no common name, I have named it after the Thai translation and used 'Reedtail' as several species in the genus are named so.

One species I actually went to see in Chaing Mai was a newly-named species in the genus Protosticta. It was described by Noppadon Makbun and he named it Protosticta jirapornae, after his mentor, who had helped him so much while he was studying at university. What was even more exciting, when we went to the area where it can be found, we also met up with the person it was actually named after as she also wanted to see it in life. It was a wonderful experience but the day almost turned sour as it wasn't the best of days and numbers of odes were very low. Even worse was finding a specimen that decided to fly high up into the trees before we had a chance to look at it properly. Fortunately, as I was chasing another species, I just saw that little tiny white tip moving and, upon confirmation from Nopaddon, I got in a few nice shots and Jiraporn happily got photos of it too! 

The Male

It's a typical male that is identifiable upon inspection of the appendages. This was quite a small species, but now has a name.

Many thanks to Noppadon for leading me to it and to Jiraporn for being such wonderful company!

168: Drepanosticta sp.

Number: 168 / Family: Platystictidae / Genus: Drepanosticta 
Species: Drepanosticta sp. (probably yet to be described)
Habitat: Rocky forested stream
 Province(s) sighted: Pratchup Khirikhan
In flight: May 
Sightings (by me): Solitary male
Species easily confused with: All Drepanosticta species

At the end of a long and fruitful day at Pa La-U waterfall, I made my way back down to the first level, acutely aware that a storm was brewing slightly higher up the mountain. Just as I was about to put my camera back into my camerabag, I noticed an extremely long Platystictidae perching on a tree trunk. I knew it was a new species for me, but couldn't tell in the bad lighting whether it was in the genus Drepanosticta or Protosticta. I managed a few poor shots and then a group of tourists walked past and the thing flew away. I searched for a while and then remembered the male Drepanosticta jurzitzai which I had spotted a few weeks earlier. I simply stood back and waited. And waited. And then ... amazingly, he returned to the exact same spot. This time I managed to get a few better shots and with the storm rapidly approaching, I caught the specimen with my fingers. By now I knew it was Drepanosticta sp. and thought it was possibly D. sharpi. I managed a few shots in the hand and while preparing to get shots of the abdomen, I slipped and released it by mistake. It flew straight up and out of sight. I still thought I had enough shots for ID. However, upon my return, I posted my photos on "Dragonflies of Thailand" on Facebook and Noppadon Makbun informed me that there are a number of species in the genus yet to be described. This is likely to be one of them. So ... like many specimens spotted on this trip, I cannot conclude the exact species. It will for now be Drepanosticta sp.

The Male

The male is, like many species in the genus, dull in colouration with a bright patch on the abdomen. This specimen, however, had an abdomen that seemed to go on forever. The other notable thing, is that the thorax has a dull but noticeable green metallic sheen dorsally.

 The best natural shots (in almost darkness):

Now in the hand (notice that stunning metallic green sheen):

 Not a great photo (light had almost gone), but gives an idea of size (and my hideous fingernails):

My best attempt at photographing the appendages, before it escaped:

Thanks to everyone with their help on trying to ID this specimen, especially to Noppadon Makbun.

12. Paracercion melanotum (Selys, 1876)

No: 12 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Paracercion 

Name: Paracercion melanotum / Eastern Lilysquatter

Habitat: Uplands & lowlands ponds and marshland
Province(s): Khon Kaen, Chantaburi 
In flight: Year-round (scarce February-May) / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: Paracercion calamorum; Pseudagrion australasiae; Pseudagrion m. microcephalum

 

Another small blue damselfly that I have seen on few occasions is Paracercion melanotum. At first I was very confused with this species and Psuedagrion microcephalum. There are a number of differences, but the easiest way to distinguish the two is the '8' mark on segment 2. P. melanotum is also smaller.

The Male

The male is easy to spot with its bright azure blue and black colouration to the thorax and abdomen. The eyes are particularly stunning. 

The 'Old' Male

This old male has the same markings as the adult, but the colour has become lighter. At first I thought hits was a young male, but it has a lot of pruinescence on the thorax, suggesting it is old. 

The Female

I saw the female for the first time two weeks ago (Dec 11 2010) and I was really happy to see it. The female is much duller in comparison with olive green colouration to the thorax with a feint orange stripe. I recently saw a second female in Khon Kaen (March 13 2012).

Early morning exercise...

The 'Old' Female

Until recently I thought that the female was only green. Now I have just spotted my first female that has blue flanks along the thorax and abdomen. She also has lots of parasites on the underside of her abdomen. Looks like she's just scooped up a load of caviar ...

I have seen this species between March-December in Khon Kaen, as well as once at Chantaburi.