129: Ceriagrion azureum (Selys, 1891)

Number: 129 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Ceriagrion

Species: Ceriagrion azureum / Azure Marsh Dart
Habitat: Often Exposed, but Weedy Areas of Upland Ponds / Lakes
Province(s) sighted: Chaiyaphum, Petchabun
In flight: June-October / Sightings (by me): Locally Common

Species easily confused with: N/A

My 9th species in the genus Ceriagrion! I returned to Nam Nao Helicopter Pad at National Park, in search of the female, Indolestes inflatus and I was surprised to find a new species for my records... Ceriagrion azureum, commonly known as the Azure Marsh Dart.

It was an amazing thing to see. Well, basically, you couldn't miss it. As far away as possible from the entrance to the lake, was an area where the lake shallowed up and was heavily covered by trees. I had caught a male Brachydiplax and was photographing the genital plate for correct ID. Then I saw it. A bright blue stick moved across the shallow and very weedy area. You couldn't miss it. It was clearly Ceriagrion and the only thing that possibly matches is Ceriagrion azureum. It's actually very large for Ceriagrion and the colours are not Ceriagrion like, but it has to be the most beautiful one of all (maybe because I'm a Man City fan). I then searched the whole area for a few hours. I managed to see a second male, as well as a number of other species, but the thousands of leeches biting and heavy storm brewing, cut short my day. 

Since then I have returned to the same place and was lucky to spot 4-5 males in a small area late on June afternoon - though I still didn't spot the female. Since posting this, I have spotted this species regularly, especially in the Chaiyaphum/Petchabun mountain range, where it can be quite common at times.

The Male

It is easy to see why it is called C. azureum... it is basically completely azure blue. Only S9-10 and the caudal appendages are black. The stigma is black too and the wings are hyaline.

The 'Young' Male

This male is a more whitish-green colour and most of the time you don't see any, but on certain days, you can see many of them flying around... many of which are in tandem! But getting a photo is another story as they are so skittish at this stage.

The Female

Though I have seen a fair few tandems, I seldom see the female. Fortunately, this one had just finished copulating and I managed to get a few shots in before she took off in the wind and disappeared forever. The female is similar to most in the genus, but is uniform pale olive green. However, older females turn blue like the male. This female is cleaning off after copulation.

The Copula

This is my one and only copula that I have managed to get near. They are usually so, so skittish.

The Tandem

Though I have seen it quite regularly, getting photos of the tandem is tough...