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...

243: Anisopleura furcata Selys, 1891

 Number: 243 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Anisopleura

Species: Anisopleura furcata / Northern Scalloped-wing*

Province(s) sighted: Chaing Mai

Habitat: Forested 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 'Northern Scalloped Wing' as it ties in with the Thai name and I raised the name 'Scalloped-wing' for the genus Anisopleura. If you can think of better, let me know.

When I returned to Doing Inthanon, Chiang Mai for the first time in well over a decade, there was one species that kept on cropping up on other searchers' checklists, was Anisopleura furcata. And oddly, other than a few very common species, it was the first 'special' one to show at Sirphum Waterfall. It was still fairly early in the morning, but one had decided to show and was warming up the early morning sun. It was amazing to see and I was so happy! It was my first 'new species' for the entire trip. I ended up seeing 7-8 specimens in total including male and female.

The Male

I am not entirely sure if this the fully mature male or a young male. Note the appendages and blue face (pic 3). Very cool damsel.

The 'Old' Male

Here is a male and was the first one I ever saw. Note the interesting appendages.

He loved basking in the early morning sunshine.

The 'Young' Male

This (I think) is a young male as it doesn't yet have any pruinescence on S9-10 or the appendages yet.

The Female

I think this might be a young female though not entirely sure. Seems a bit too yellow, whereas the 'old' female may just be mature. Anyone know?

The 'Old' Female

This female looks quite old and was set back a good distance from the stream.

242: Lamelligomphus sp. [nec. risi (Fraser, 1922)]

               Number: 242 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Lamelligomphus

Species: Lamelligomphus sp. [nec. risi (Fraser, 1922)] / -

Province(s) sighted: Chaing Mai, Udon Thani

Habitat: Forested Streams 

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

On my last trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Mabun, he took me to a lovely shallow but rocky stream that had a number of species, many common, but one or two fantastic finds. One of which, turns out to be Lamelligomphus sp. It is potentially a new species and looks identical to the one I saw in Udon Thani, but for now it will be placed as Lamelligomphus sp. [nec. risi (Fraser, 1922)], as there are a lot of similarities such as prominent yellow appendages and subtle differences in the markings. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon and it could turn out to be something new. For now, the exact location will not be revealed.

The Male

On the surface, this looks like a somewhat standard gomphid... until you look at those appendages, that is! Wow... they are enormous and black and yellow, curving to make a perfect circle. With a weapon like that, maybe the female is a total battle axe! 

I was lucky enough to catch it in flight...

... and Noppadon managed to catch one!

The Female

I also saw two females briefly but both of them were in flight. It has similar markings to those of the male. Sadly, this shot is a little blurry. Until the next time!

241: Protosticta jirapornae Makbun, 2025

               Number: 241 / Family: Platystictidae / Genus: Protosticta

Species: Protosticta jirapornae / Jiraporn's Reedtail*

Province(s) sighted: Chaing Mai

Habitat: Forested Streams in Low Vegetation

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

Species easily confused with: All Protosticta Species

*As there is no common name, I have named it after the Thai translation and used 'Reedtail' as several species in the genus are named so.

One species I actually went to see in Chaing Mai was a newly-named species in the genus Protosticta. It was described by Noppadon Makbun and he named it Protosticta jirapornae, after his mentor, who had helped him so much while he was studying at university. What was even more exciting, when we went to the area where it can be found, we also met up with the person it was actually named after as she also wanted to see it in life. It was a wonderful experience but the day almost turned sour as it wasn't the best of days and numbers of odes were very low. Even worse was finding a specimen that decided to fly high up into the trees before we had a chance to look at it properly. Fortunately, as I was chasing another species, I just saw that little tiny white tip moving and, upon confirmation from Nopaddon, I got in a few nice shots and Jiraporn happily got photos of it too! 

The Male

It's a typical male that is identifiable upon inspection of the appendages. This was quite a small species, but now has a name.

Many thanks to Noppadon for leading me to it and to Jiraporn for being such wonderful company!

240: Anax panybeus Hagen, 1867

              Number: 240 / Family: Aeshnidae / Genus: Anax

Species: Anax panybeus / Arrow Emperor

Province(s) sighted: Phitsanoluk, Udon Thani

Habitat: Forested Ponds and Streams

In flight: May-September / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: All Anax Species

Back in 2015, I was at Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park in the Phitsanulok area and I saw an Anax species patrolling a large lake and I wasn't sure exactly which species it was. I managed to get a couple of shots of it but it was so far away and the closest I could get covered about 3 pixels. Anyway, I asked on the Facebook group, Dragonflies of Thailand and a few experts, including Noppadon Makbun suggested that it could be Anax panybeus, based on the faint and small spots on the abdomen. The real reason why there wasn't much confidence was that it seemed out of range... until my daft brother, Paul, and his big lens for birding popped up again. 

He was searching an area in Udon Thani province of all places and while out looking for feathered friends in Isaan, he takes photos of interesting looking dragons for me to look at. This time he came back with a good photo of an Anax species. I was confident that it was Anax panybeus but got confirmation from Noppadon Makun first and he stated that it was, in fact, not just a provincial record, but a new record for the whole of the NE of Thailand which is an amazing feat! Congrats, r Paul! But, that got me thinking again... and I dug out a few other photos of the one I saw patrolling at PHRK and putting two and two together, I came up with A. panybeus too, commonly known as the Arrow Emperor! Not quite in the NE of Thailand but still another great find, which Noppadon confirmed later. So, as I only have a couple of terrible shots of it, I am posting Paul's great in-light shot of his he saw in Udon Thani!

The Male

This is Paul's great effort in capturing a male, A. panebeus, while in flight...

...and here is my poultry attempt...

I must get a better photo of him one day (I did only have a 180mm lens on me!)

First photo courtesy of my brother, Paul, as a placement photo until I can get a good shot my own. Many thanks, r kid!

239: Drepanosticta anascephala Fraser, 1933

             Number: 239 / Family: Platystictidae / Genus: Drepanosticta

Species: Drepanosticta anascephala / Doi Suthep's Shadowdamsel*

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Uplands Shaded Streams

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

Species easily confused with: All Drepanosticta species

*As there is no common name, I decided to name this species as a translation of the Thai name with 'Shadowdamsels' being a common name for the genus.

On a fairly recent trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun, we visited Doi Inthanon and a little later Doi Suthep. Here, I managed to get photos of another Drepanosticta species, this time in the shape of Drepanosticta anascephala, now known as Doi Suthep's Shadowdamsel. All Shadowdamsels are extremely difficult to find and it was down to Noppadon Makbun to point it out this time. Worse still, it was very gloomy, a little windy and photography was incredibly difficult. In the end I was really happy to get these photos and identification is made by observing the appendages. Many thanks to Noppadon for leading me to this species. 

The Male

This species is typical in appearance of many in the genus, with a dark thorax with whitish stripe(s), a long dark abdomen with dark whitish rings and is typified by a large blue patch at the end of the abdomen. 

238: Anotogaster gregoryi Fraser, 1924

     Number: 238 / Family: Cordulegastridae / Genus: Anotogaster

Species: Anotogaster gregoryi / Gregory's Pointed-belly Dragonfly*

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Uplands Forested Streams

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there was no common name, I simply settled on Gregory's Pointed-belly Dragonfly, which is a translation of the Thai name. 

While at Siriphum Waterfall at Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai, I noticed an enormous dragonfly bomb straight over my head and disappear over the trees. It was massive and I was gutted that I would never get to know what it was. Then, about five minutes later, another (or the same one) came back over the tree canopy and dropped down onto a fairly low hanging leafless tree about 15 metres away... I edged along and managed to fire off a number of shots before it became to weary and flew away. I was so excited to get photos of it and it was clear as soon as I got back to my room what it was: Anotogaster gregoryi, now known as Gregory's Pointed-belly Dragonfly. It is an absolute beast yet stunning, though the only species in the family Cordulegastridae known s far in Thailand. Hopefully, there are more out there.

The Male

Simply stunning is the best description. Massive, yet beautiful with its golden rings, and green eyes, it really is a truly majestic creature of the skies

237: Burmagomphus w. williamsoni Förster, 1914

    Number: 237 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Burmagomphus

Species: Burmagomhpus w. williamsoni / Williamson's Clubtail*

Province(s) sighted: Prachuap Khiri Khan

Habitat: Open Streams on the Edge of Forest

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

Species easily confused with: All Burmagomhpus species

*No common name so named 'Williamson' after Edward Bruce Williamson and 'Clubtail' which is linked to Burmagomphus.

This was a photo that sat on my hard drive for quite a few years as it is, well, terrible. However, according to Noppadon Makbun, it is actually a female of the species Burmagomphus williamsoni, which I have simply named Williamson's Clubtail. I saw the species literally for about 2 seconds... one photo, gone. I was at a stream outside the entrance to Pa La-U Waterfall. There isn't much else to say about it really as it is such a poor photo, but I will add it until I can get better photos of the female and of the male. 

The Female

As you can see, not exactly an award-winning photo but at least I have seen it!

236: Burmargiolestes melanothorax (Selys, 1891)

            Number: 236 / Family: Rhipidolestidae / Genus: Burmargiolestes

Species: Burmargiolestes melanothorax / Orange-faced Burmese Damselfly*

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Uplands Shaded Streams/Ponds

In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Locally Common

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, I have based in on the Thai name, with the fact that it has an orange face and was first described from Burma. Can you think of better?

Almost 15 years past from my first visit to Chiang Mai searching for dragonflies when I found 40 new species for my records... I was over the moon. But in all the times I had been since, I never ever saw one I was desperate to see: Burmargiolestes melanothorax, which am now giving the common name, the Orange-faced Burmese Damselfly for now at least. Anyway, it took another trip, along with Noppadon Makbun and a lot of searching and then, in an instant, I saw a female... and then a male... and then more. In fact, there were lots of them in the gloom. Hard to photograph, but there, all thanks to Noppadon! I was so happy to finally put it to bed and got decent shots of the male and the female.

The Male

I can't show you this species without showing his face first. Is there anything better? Rather a plain-looking species but that orange face changes everything. It was worth the 15-years wait!

And a more traditional shot of him...

The Female

The female is very much like the male minus the orange face but is much more robust. She does have nice orange legs, though.

235: Sundacypha petiolata (Selys, 1859)

           Number: 235 / Family: Chlorocyphidae / Genus: Sundacypha

Species: Sundacypha petiolata / Stream Sapphire

Province(s) sighted: Yala

Habitat: Shaded and Shallow Forest Stream

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

Species easily confused with: N/A 

Easily one of the highlights of the trip was specifically looking for, and finding, Sundacypha petiolata, commonly known as the Stream Sapphire. It is an incredibly rare species that has only been recently discovered for Thailand and we were kindly told about the location by a couple of birders who are close friends of Noppadon Makbun and in the Facebook group, Dragonflies of Thailand. However, for the first hour or so, it was a no show... just a few common species popping up. As the day warmed, more species showed, typical of forest streams. Eventually, I got the call: "Dennis!!!" I was further down the stream and I could hear Noppadon firing away. I reached him and there it was: a female. We both got plenty of shots in, though it was still a little dull. Then eventually, I spotted a male. Not too skittish, but not that easy. Anyway, we carried on along the stream and saw a few more individuals and some other more common species too. Many thanks to the friends of Noppadon (and Noppadon) for guiding us to the stream. There is no way I would have found it otherwise.

The Male

For me, one of the most beautiful little species known in Thailand. Very small and a little bit skittish, but you can get photos if you see him. Stunning colours with yellow markings on the thorax and orange dorsally on the abdomen. That's before we see the black wingtips that shine iridescent blue in the right light.

The Female

The female isn't as colourful as the male but still beautiful in her own way.

I also got a brief glimpse of a second female (feint wingtips) ovipositing on a twig on the stream, closely guarded by a male.

234: Ictinogomphus acutus Laidlaw, 1914

           Number: 234 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Ictinogomphus

Species: Ictinogomphus acutus / Rusty Clubtail*

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat

Habitat: Peat Swamp Forest

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is currently no common name, I have based the name on the genus being known as 'Clubtails' and the appendages of the species having a unique 'rusty' colour. 

Like many species at Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest, Ictinogomphus acutus eluded us 'til the last. My brother saw this species a year or so earlier and managed to get a decent shot of it, which we quickly named it the Rusty Clubtail, due to its abdomen end segments. When we arrived, it was nowhere to be seen... except it was! Paul's missus, Suu, saw it perching in the trees and took some nice photos which I will add when I get them processed. Paul even sent images of where it was! But the dragonfly guys (me and Noppadon Makbun) missed it again. 2-0 to the birders! As we searched for it, the birders returned and explained where it was... but we couldn't see it. The other guys wandered off looking for birds. Suddenly, there it was... massive... it WAS still in that tree but it shot off and we watched it disappear over the other side of the lake. It returned shortly afterwards, circled the lake and then, instead of landing in the same tree, it decided it had had enough and zoomed high and far into the distance. It was a beautiful, if not fleeting, glimpse of it, but enough to count it for my records. Until I return, I am using Paul's shot of it from his previous trip.

The Male

The male is very easy to recognise and is found in Mainland Malaysia just over the border so it isn't a surprise to find it here. Check out the 'rusty' end of its abdomen... definitely a beast of a dragonfly and hope to get my own photos next trip!

Photo courtesy of my brother, Paul, as a placement photo until I can get my own. Many thanks, r kid!