165: Paragomphus capricornis (Förster, 1914)

Number: 165 Family: / Gomphidae / Genus: Paragomphus 
Species: Paragomphus capricornis / Yellow-banded Hooktail
Habitat: Forested Sandy Streams
 Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai, Narathiwat, Pratchup Khirikhan, Sakhon Nakhon, Sara Buri 
In flight: May-July / Sightings (by me): Fairly Common
Species easily confused with: N/A

A second species I saw for the first time recently, is a supposedly fairly common Gomphidae - but one which has eluded me in over five years. Paragomphus capricornis, commonly known as the Yellow-banded Hooktail, is a medium-sized Gomphid with terrifically gruesome appendages. Its unmistakable appendages make it easy to ID. However, it is extremely skittish and is also difficult to spot as it perches on sandy areas or small pebbles on the ground. I saw 3-4 males early in the morning at the same location where I saw a solitary O. culminicola. By the time the sun was at full heat, most of them had vanished. I did also spot an ovipositing female, but the photos are too poor to show.

One the way back to Khon Kaen I made a quick stop-off at a forested stream in Sara Buri province, called Ched Sao Noi waterfall (or seven young girls waterfall). No idea why. The place was packed with hundreds of locals escaping the blistering heat (it was free to enter). I walked along the stream away from swimmers and eventually saw another Gomphid - you guessed it, another P. capricornis. So, none in over five years and then several at two different locations within a week. Since then, I have seen it at a few locations around Thailand but it still isn't anywhere as commonly seen by me as it is supposed to be.

The Male

Easily recognised by its appendages and position on the ground ...  if I were a female, I wouldn't want to be collard by those appendages anyway.  Would you?