39. Coeliccia loogali (Fraser in Laidlaw, 1932)

No: 39 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia loogali / Blue-crescent Sylvan* 

Habitat: Forested streams
Province(s): Petchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai
In flight: April-October / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, I based the 'Blue-crested' on the Thai name and 'Sylvan' which is associated with a number of species in the genus.

The 6th (and 7th sort of) damselfly of the Coeliccia species I have seen is Coeliccia loogali as well as Coeliccia c.f. loogali. Both are similar, but the true form (I have seen in Chiang Mai) has a long slim crescent stripe along almost the entire thorax, whereas the close form has a considerably shorter and wider stripe. This form I have seen over a large area spanning Chaiyaphum, Petchabun, Loei and Phitsanulok. It is entirely possible that it is just a slightly different population but only time will tell.

The Male (Close Form)

When I visited Nam Nao National Park in October 2008, I didn't notice this species for a long time. On the 3rd day, I was walking along the pathway which runs along the river at the headquarters and I noticed a tiny little blue blob hovering near the ground. It was Coeliccia. c.f. loogali. Another species for me! Then I noticed many of them. They love extremely dark areas and almost hug foliage on the ground. The marks are pretty easy to distinguish, except for the markings on the end segments of the abdomen which change with age.

The Female (Close Form)

The female is very similar to the true form.

The Male  (True Form)

I saw a true form male on a recent visit to Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai. Here you can see how the thoracic markings are somewhat different. Also the very tips of the caudal appendages are whitish in colour, whereas they remain black on the c.f. specimens.

The Copula

I was also lucky enough to spot a copula while at Phu Rua NP, though it was seriously difficult to get anywhere near them so I am happy with this photo.

Coming soon...

The 'Young' Male (True Form)

This is the only true C. loogali I have spotted, when I visited Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai last April. It is a young male that will change significantly in colour as it ages. You can also see how the thoracic markings are much slimmer and longer than the different form of the mature adult above.

The Female (True Form)

Here is a true form old female I also saw in Chiang Mai at the same time as the sub-adult above. It is identifiable as it has a kind of cross-shape dorsally at the end segments.

Here is a younger female from Nan.

Here is a old female from Chiang Mai.

I am not sure how common the undescribed C. c.f. loogali is, or its distribution (Chaiyaphum, Petchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok so far). But if you visit Nam Nao National Park, if you look very carefully in the darkened areas, you are sure to find this species.