53. Orthetrum triangulare triangulare (Selys, 1878)

No: 53 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Orthetrum

Name: Orthetrum t. triangulare / Blue-tailed Forest Hawk / แมลงปอบ้านเสือสามเหลี่ยมเหนือ

Habitat: Exposed ponds & seepage, forested streams and rivers (uplands)
Province(s): Petchabun, Chiang Mai, Loei, Chantaburi, Nakhon Nayok
In flight: March-December / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: Orthetrum t. malaccensis

The sixth species of Orthetrum I have added to the blog (and the last I have spotted so far) is Orthetrum triangulare triangulare. I am still looking for several species of Orthetrum in Thailand. I have seen this at a number of upland streams and rivers, especially in Chiang Mai, Phu Kradeung National Park and Nam Nao environs. The tend to live alongside other Orthetrum species and tend to like hot, sunny weather. The males are common at the water's edge, but I have only spotted one female. 

The male

The male is easy to recognise as it has a large blue section to the abdomen and the rest of it is completely black. They like to hang right over the water's edge on branches and twigs.

A copula

The only time I have ever seen a female of the this species, was part of a copula at the small pond right next to the headquarters of Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai. This demonstrates that they are as happy by ponds as they are alongside rivers.

Here's another male and female. The female is ovipositing with the male guarding above. I was this pair late afternoon at the same location as the copula above. This went on for several minutes.