179: Anax guttatus (Burmeister, 1839)

Number: 179  / Family: Aeschnidae / Genus: Anax    
Species: Anax guttatus / Pale-Spotted Emperor   
Habitat: Ponds and Lakes (Uplands and Lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Petchabun, Loei 
Sightings (by me): Uncommon
In flight (that I have seen): May-October    
Species easily confused with: All Anax Species

I was stood in the middle of a shallow pond, bitten to death by horse flies, mosquitoes and leeches. It was an overcast area of the small pond with light fading fast. Suddenly, a large Anax sp. appeared from nowhere and started whizzing around the little pond desperately in search of a mate. This was my chance to add another Anax species to my list. However, it had to be the worst place to do it - it was too dull and enclosed. Worse still, a second male appeared and a million aerial battles ensued. However, I noticed that at one end of the pond, the wind would whistle through causing this big guy to stop momentarily. I edged around to the other side of the pond and set myself up. Basically, I sat in the pond with leeches digging into my arse. Still, I was going to get it this time. As I waited and waited, then I noticed a Lestes sp. to my right. I know that L. dorothea also lives somewhere at PK and turned towards it to see. It was L. elatus (I think). As I turned back Anax guttatus was right there in front of me, hovering as I had predicted. Perfect. As I lifted my camera, the wind dropped and it was off.... aaaarrrrggghhh! Missed it again. And this time it seemed to disappear. I was about to stand up and pull the leeches off my body when it swooped back down to the edge of the other side of the pond. I waited again and the wind picked up. He stopped, though a little further out. But I got my shots in and I am extremely happy with them. I know you can get better shots of dragons in flight, but I don't care. I know how hard I worked to get these ... and I finally did it! I managed to capture a rare photo of a very common species. Well, it's actually not that common where I live, though I do see it now and then, and it isn't rarely photographed, though I always find it impossible. Now I just need to find it in better lighting. Until the next time...

The Male

A very majestic species that left me looking anything but... literally sitting in a pond trying to get the right angle as it kept stopping near me. 

The Female

I was fortunate enough to capture the oviposition of a female (laying eggs) while at Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei. She spent a good while on each stem before flying around and then working another stem. It was amazing to see!

Searching for decent submerged stems...

And here's another...

Those ripples are caused by her moving bit by bit down the stem.