256: Caliphaea thailandica Asahina, 1976

       Number: 256 / Family: Calopterygidae / Genus: Caliphaea 

Species: Caliphaea thailandica / Thai Shortwing*

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Shaded streams

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Mnais Andersoni

*As there is no common name, I have used 'Thai' from the Thai name and given the genus the name 'Shortwing'.

One last species I saw in Chiang Mai at Doi Intanon with Noppadpn Makbun was a belter! And we were both surprised to see it! Caliphaea thailandica is a very rare species and we saw a very small number of them as we went from place to place. We spent ages trying to get shots of the first one but it was very shy. However, as we walked along a shaded stream, there seemed to be a male at every other opening with sunlight. As the sun got stronger, the males became less skittish and by the end, we both got plenty of good shots. I must admit, this was a special find for me and I was jumping for joy!

The Male

The male has a beautiful coppery colour on the thorax and abdomen and has yellowish-green at the base of the abdomen. The white dorsal patch is quite large too but it is the unique appendages that separate it from other similar species.

255: Cryptophaea yunnanensis (Davies & Yang, 1996)

      Number: 255 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Cryptophaea

Species: Cryptophaea yunnanensis / Clear-winged Satinwing

Province(s) sighted: Nan

Habitat: Forested Shaded streams

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: N/A

On a recent trip to Nan province with my brother Paul and Noppadon Makbun, we hoped to find plenty of birds and dragonflies. Instead, we ended up trying to photograph moths in our room. We planned to stay for 4-5 nights depending on how good it was. However, it just rain heavily for the entire time, other than two very short afternoons. We got out a little... and saw very little. Nothing was showing as it was cold and miserable. Then, for a brief moment, one female damsel dropped down. Literally one poor photo later (everything was set up wrong and she was far away) and off she went again. And That was it. Fortunately, Noppadon has already seen the species and has good photos. So he knew what it was instantly: Cryptophaea yunnanensis. A new species for my records and I will return to get better photos and see the male hopefully. What is weird, is that Noppadon mentioned that this species is usually very approachable. But not that day! Never mind. Until the next time.

The Female

Terrible photo but at least I have now seen it. Quite a dull female, but has a nice stripe on the abdomen.

254: Bayadera hyalina Selys, 1891

     Number: 254 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Bayadera

Species: Bayadera hyalina / Clear-winged Satinwing

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Shaded streams

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, even for the genus, I decided upon 'Clear-winged' as it ties in with the Thai name and I raised the name 'Clear-winged' for the genus Bayadera. If you can think of better, let me know.

One species I have always wanted to see and apparently lives at Nam Nao National Park (though I have never seen it), is Bayadera hyalina. Well, that chance finally came along on a trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun in July, 2024. While we were at Doi Inthanon, one teneral male dropped down onto a leaf right above up obscuring most of it, but you could clearly see the markings. I got a couple of photos, but Noppadon already has great shots of it. For me, it was a first. So I attempted to get him to move a little. It was a calculated risk and it absolutely worked! Then I woke up and ate my cornflakes. Nope... it flew about 10 metres or so, landed, then quickly moved again. I ended up with a couple of terrible shots. I wanted to cry, but then Noppadon reminded me that I had now seen it so not all bad! I will return one day to try and find it again. Having said that, I really want to find it at Nama Nao.

The 'Teneral' Male

Here is what we first saw... you can clearly see the stripes on the thorax.

When I tried to coax him out of hiding, he flew further away and was even more obscured.

Here I could see him better but he was about 15 metres away in the gloom... then gone...

Apologies for these terrible shots but will definitely return to try and find it again!

253: Ictinogomphus rapax (Rambur, 1842)

    Number: 253 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Ictinogomphus

Species: Ictinogomphus rapax / Indian Common Clubtail

Province(s) sighted: Petchabun, Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Ponds, Marsh

In flight: March - July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops

One species I actually saw back in 2010 and then again on occasion (alegedly) over the years but didn't actually know it, is Ictinogomphus rapax. Commonly known as the Indian Common Clubtail, it looks identical to I. decoratus and it took a while for people to work out how to separate the two species. It appears that, other than additional markings on the thorax (though that isn'y always the case), the key to ID is a solid ring on S8 near the end of the abdomen.

The Male

This male sat on my hard drive for many years, leaving me to think it was Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops... but you can clearly see the solid yellow ring towards the end of the abdomen.

Here is another specimen I saw back in 2010! Yep, it sat there for 15 years as the wrong species!

So, if you have lots of photos of the common species, take a look as you never know! I a sure I have more too.

252: Coeliccia doisuthepensis Asahina, 1984

   Number: 252 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Species: Coeliccia doisuthepensis / Doi Suthep's Sylvan*

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Stream

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: All Coeliccia Species 

*As there is no common name, I have used 'Doi Suthep' from the Thai name and given the genus the name 'Sylvan', creating Doi Suthep's Sylvan.

One species I had often dreamt about and even looked for it at Phu Hin Rong Kla in hope... but never saw it was Coeliccia doisuthepensis. During a recent trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun, we visited an area that is known to have the species amongst others. Sadly, like most other species, it didn't show as it was really dull and breezy. Suddenly, Noppadon pointed out a female in a real darkened area and a spent an age trying to get good shots, and they turned out OK. Then suddenly as I was walking up, I saw a male. It flew about 10 metres away from me and landed on a leaf that was constantly shaking from the breeze. I fired off a few shots but it very quickly became skittish and flew higher and higher up... and... gone. And that was it. I really was expecting it to be quite easy to shoot but nope. Another species I have to return to Chiang Mai to get improvement shots. 

The Male

The male is similar to other species in the genus but S9-10 are orange. There are also more markings present on the thorax. These were the best I could do on a windy day before it flew away.

The Female

Similar to most females in the genus, this one differs slightly due to the yellowish markings at the end of the abdomen.

I will return one day for better shots.

251: Anax nigrofasciatus nigrolineatus Fraser, 1935

   Number: 251 / Family: Aeschnidae / Genus: Anax

Species: Anax nigrofasciatus nigrolineatus / Blue-spotted Emperor

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Ponds

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: All Anax Species

On a trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun back in 2024 turned out to be a great trip. And one species that hadn't even crossed my mind made an appearance. However, at an uplands pond on a rather dull day an Anax came out to play zooming around very quickly around the edges of the pond. Noppadon pointed out quickly that it was Anax nigrofasciatus nigrolineatus as it is the only one that shows in the area. Excited, I put on the 400mm lens and did my best to get a shot but they turned out to be terrible! That said, you can tell it is that species (very pale and small spots). But I must return one day in the future to chance my arm again and maybe on a slightly sunnier day when it may stay out longer.

The Male

Very typical Anax appearance but has small pale spots along the abdomen. Shame about the minging photo!

Many thanks to Noppadon for pointing out this species! Apologies once more for the terrible photo!

Big Update to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Thailand Blog

Dragonflies of Thailand is Back in 2026

Hi, guys. Just a quick update on the blog. If anyone still uses this blog as a reference site for the dragonflies and damselflies of Thailand, enjoy dragonflies or just like some of the pictures, you will be happy to know that there has been a massive update recently. I have worked really hard to update everything over the past week or so to drag it back to 2026. This has included 30-odd new species for my records (more to come), updating all name changes, removing a few that, well, don't exist anymore and updating my own photos with a massive vault of new ones with many, many improvement shots. I am even trying to update the common name of species in Thailand, but that is for another page.

Not Getting Out Much

Though I am still very much living in Thailand, I haven't been getting out anywhere near as much as I'd like to over the past few years, but other commitments have put paid to that. I have been on a few great trips though over the past couple of years that has included Chiang Mai and a mammoth two-week trip to the deep south taking in Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. That was a real experience and I will create a few posts on these soon (though most of the species are on already).

The Future of This Blog

I have no idea if Blogspot.com is going to keep going forever but while it remains free and still in operation, I will too... I will keep on with the updates and hope that it helps in some way when you are looking to ID any species. If Blogspot is still alive in 10 years... and I am too, then so will this blog. Keep on searching for dragonflies and I hope you find many great species. Cheers, Dennis.

250: Drepanosticta sp. (possibly D. Khaochongensis Asahina, 1984)

   Number: 250 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Drepanosticta

Species: Drepanosticta sp. / -

Province(s) sighted: Phuket

Habitat: Forested Stream

In flight: October / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: All Drepanosticta Species

Back in October, 2018, I took a trip to Phuket with Beau. Obviously it was a normal holiday but I wasn't giving up the chance to have a good look around for odes. I decided on two places (and an area that Oleg Kosterin found Podolestes coomansi, but I couldn't even find the place, let alone the species. On the whole, I was disappointed with what I found (it was very quiet) but maybe because it was October and I was searching blindly, I don't know. One very interesting species I did manage to find, however, at Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary in Phuket was a medium-sized Drepanosticta species. Talking to Noppadon Makbun about it, it is probably Drepanosticta khaochongensis which I would simply call Khao Chong's Shadowdamsel! It was one of only a few species there, though it was early. As the day brightened up, hordes of kids turned up screaming and shouting and diving into the water. I don't blame then, but it made life tough going so I moved on. Oddly, I found this specimen at about 7am. I also saw a female but it moved too high and I couldn't get a shot away in the gloom. I would love to simply put it as D. khaochongensis but for now, I will leave it as Drepanosticta sp. 

The Male

Medium-sized and quite plain, with only the typical blue patch that gave it away, I managed to pick him up and get a couple of photos but this was 7:00am and it was very dull so this is the best I could get. Any advances on species?

249: Nychogomphus lui Zhou, Zhou & Lu, 2005

  Number: 249 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Nychogomphus

Species: Nychogomphus lui / Southeast Asian Forest Hooktail*

Province(s) sighted: Bueng Khan

Habitat: Forested Stream

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: N/A 

*As there isn't a common name, I based it on the existing Thai name 'Southeast Asian' and gave the genus the common name 'Forest Hooktail', so the Southeast Asian Forest Hooktail.

I once visited Bueng Khan in search of a number of species, including one called Nannophyopsis clara. Even though I had perfect directions to the location, it eluded me... or I was a month late to see it as it is known from May-June and I visited in July. Slightly unhappy, I trudged on and almost walked straight into a medium-sized gomphid with strange-looking appendages. I knew it was something new straightaway and got a few decent shots in poor light. When I returned home, Noppadon Makbun confirmed it was most certainly Nychogomphus sp. though not sure of the exact species. However, a year later or so, the species has been confirmed in Thailand as Nychogomphus lui and this includes the one I saw. Fortunately, I even managed to get a couple of record shots of the female too!

The Male

The male is a medium-sized gomphid, identifiable by its unique appendages. You've got to love those dark green eyes too!

The Female

Sadly, I only have poor record shots of the female. I saw two but they were both high up and incredibly hard to photograph. They will have to do for now until I get the chance to see it again.

Many thanks to Noppadon Makbun for all his help with this species.

248: Sympetrum thailandensis Makbun, 2023

  Number: 248 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Sympetrum

Species: Sypetrum thailandensis / Thai Mountain Darter*

Province(s) sighted: Nakhon Nayok

Habitat: Forested Ponds

In flight: July-October / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Sypetrum hypomelas

*As there is no common name, I decided to use the first part of the Thai name 'Thai Mountain' and 'Darter' which seems fairly common for the genus, Sypetrum, so the Thai Mountain Darter.

Back in 2018, a couple of nice ode enthusiasts (like me) visited different areas of Khao Yai National Park and eventually spotted Sypetrum hypomelas. They took photos and then noticed that some of them looked different. Noppadon Makbun showed me the photos and I decided to go and look for myself as they did indeed look rather different. When I arrived at the location (just one forested pond), I saw a few common species. Then suddenly, S. hypomelas showed up. Then another... then... huh? Ahhhh! Yes! The 'different' one! And yes, in nature it looked so different, especially when looking at them side by side. In simple terms, it is more red and black, whereas S. hypomelas was more black, red and yellow. Anyway, I got a large number of photos and went home. I tried to collect, but there were people around. Roll on five years and it has now been described by Noppadon. It has been name Sypetrum thailandensis, which I have named the Thai Mountain Darter, based on the Thai name. It is a super beautiful species. I returned a couple of years later and I was a little early (July) for the species but I still managed to spot a solitary female that had newly emerged.

The Male

The Male is similar to S. hypomelas, but differs in the fact that full males are predominantly red and black and there are two black dorsal spots on S7-8 of the abdomen. It is an incredibly beautiful species and I am so happy to have seen it!

Here, you can clearly see the two blacks spots on the abdomen.

Likewise here. Note the damaged wing from flighting (they were quite aggressive).

The Female

This one is not quite fully mature as it will darken a little more, but you can make out the two spots on the abdomen like with the male.

The 'Teneral' Female

This female had just emerged but is identifiable due to the the prominent spots on the abdomen (S7-8).

The Ovipositing Female

Here is a female producing one egg at a time and the firing into the water, which is typical of this genus.

247: Macrogomphus albardae Selys, 1878

  Number: 247 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Macrogomphus

Species: Macrogomphus albardae / Indochinese Giant Tiger*

Province(s) sighted: Chaiyaphum

Habitat: Forested Streams and Rivers

In flight: June / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: All Macrogomphus Species

*As this species has no common name, I have used the Thai name 'Indochinese' and the genus I erected for the genus 'Giant Tigers', based on the Thai name, so the Indochinese Giant Tiger.

This species I originally had as Macrogomphus matsukii, though it has been renamed as Macrogomphus albardae. I still cannot differentiate between the two species, though it may simply come down to range. From what I can tell, M. albardae prefers uplands forested rivers and streams, whereas M. matsukii favours more open lowland and large rivers. Other than that, it is a typical looking species.

The Female

I saw this female perching early morning at the large river that flows through Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Chaiyaphum. Though it is a beast of a dragonfly, it is also quite skittish.

Here is another female I saw in Bueng Khan low down under a bridge.

(More images to add soon).

246: Euphaea sp.

  Number: 246 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Euphaea

Species: Euphaea sp. / -

Province(s) sighted: Ubon Ratchathani

Habitat: Forested Streams 

In flight: April / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Euphaea masoni

Back around late 2021, early 2022, a small number of dragonfly hunters from the Facebook group, Dragonflies of Thailand, had noticed an odd-looking Euphaea sp. popping up at a river that runs through Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park, Ubon Ratchathani right on the border of Thailand. Upon investigation, some were even saying that it was possibly E. decorata. So... me being me and very excited, I had to go and have a look in April that year. I went with my brother and on the first day, we checked in to our cool little rooms and I even saw a Sandstone Gecko, which was beautiful. Anyway, straight down to the main river and, being 11am, it was perfect timing. So, I searched... and searched... and searched. There were none. By then, it was incredibly hot so I decided to look under cover that stretched over boulders and parts of the river. And there they were, several of them. Superficially looking like E. masoni, but the black on the wings is minimal. Moreover, I saw about 20-30 individuals over a couple of days that looked identical. Even when we moved to a local further up the road (different water system), I found a few more. Now, it could possibly be a different population or it could be a subspecies. Better still, it could be a species yet to be described. So, for now, it has to remain Euphaea sp.

The Male

You can clearly see the difference straightaway. There is little black on the wings and in some cases (see below), almost none existent. However, that aside, it looks identical to E. masoni. I couldn't collect any as there were several other people there at all times and I was in a national park.

Another specimen, open winged. Look how little black there is.

Another specimen with slightly more black and a coppery hue, which is (I think) indicative of E. masoni.

The Female

Here is a close-up of a female. There were a couple in the area but mostly high up in the deeper shade. This was the only one that was close enough to me... but I could only get her face haha.

245: Pornothemis sp.

  Number: 245 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Pornothemis

Species: Pornothemis sp. / -

Province(s) sighted: Trat (Mainland & Koh Kood)

Habitat: Mangrove Forest

In flight: June / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Pornothemis starrei

On holiday in Trat with Beau, my brother, Paul, and his missus, Suu, part of the trip was to visit mangrove areas. We also met up with an old friend and birder, Mark Hogarth, who now lives on Koh Chang. He went out with us one day to search for birds in the mangroves. For me, I had three potential species in mind, with the hope of more. I was preying to see a lifer for me in the shape of Mortonagrion arthuri, Pornothemis starrei (which had just been seen somewhere in Trat province) and also maybe Raphismia bispina and other mangrove specialists. However, several hours of walking in and two things were clear: there are very few species at mangroves and, if there are any, they don't show early. To the point, of the first outing, I didn't even see a single ode! Not one, but enjoyed seeing lots of crabs. On a further trip, we set out early (bloody birders), and walked and walked. Several nice birds were spotted but odes: 0. Nothing. Nada. By about 8:30am, the day was warming up and the birds were retreating. Then, as I walked along a boardwalk, I massive dragonfly moved from one branch and went a bit further away... then.... wait, it's not a massive dragonfly... it's a copula! Sadly, it was quite far out and I only got a few record shots of it against a gloomy backdrop, even using the camera's own flash! It was clear straight away that it was Pornothemis starrei, until I got back to my room... it looks a little different and is missing a lot of the markings. And according to Noppadon Makbun, there could be more than one species in the genus in Thailand and should be left at Pornothemis sp. for now. Hopefully, that will change soon! Still very happy to see it, though that was it... not a single other species or specimen. Finally, once I reached Koh Kood, we were looking from a bridge at mangrove and I saw another male Pornothemis sp. at great distance through binoculars, perching on a tree branch over mangrove... by the time I got down to it, it had gone. We even decided to stay one more day and visited there the next day to find it and others. We did but other than an enormous gomphid (with strange markings) that eluded the camera and a few very common species, that was it. Not a single other Pornothemis sp. to be found, though it had been threatening rain all day. Bad weather, too late in the year or just a bad day at the office? Who knows? I will have to return one day. 

The Copula

Though it looks very similar to Pornothemis starrei, there are very few greenish-yellow spots like you find on that species. Therefore, for now, I will leave it as Pornothemis sp.

 

244: Hylaeothemis clementia Ris, 1909

 Number: 244 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Hylaeothemis

Species: Hylaeothemis clementia / Eastern Junglewatcher

Province(s) sighted: Chaing Mai

Habitat: Forested Streams 

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: N/A 

Another species I had dreamt of seeing but didn't really know much about was Hylaeothemis clementia, commonly known as the Eastern Junglewatcher. Thankfully, Noppadon Makbun was on hand to help out. He showed me where it was and he had seen it the day before, both male and female. When I went to see it, it was a little early and nothing was showing. Then there was a little shower and I thought that there was no hope. So we moved on... we returned later and nothing still. But amazingly, a solitary male dropped down from the trees and was in a great position to get a few shots, though I had to turn round very carefully so not to spook him... and that was it. One male. I didn't get to spot the female, but I will return one day! Once more, many thanks to Noppadon for guiding me to this species!

The Male

It's quite a small species and seemingly quite approachable, though I wasn't taking any chances. The most striking features of this species are it's blue eyes and prominent dorsal spot on the abdomen. It also sat back from the stream.

Here's on Noppadon caught earlier...