226: Macromia callisto Laidlaw, 1922

    Number: 226 / Family: Macromiidae / Genus: Macromia

Species: Macromia callisto  / Beautiful River Cruiser*

Province(s) sighted: Songkhla

Habitat: Lowland Forested Shallow Rivers

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

Species easily confused with: All Macromia species

*Name made up by me based on 'River Cruisers' being the given name for Macromia species and 'callisto' meaning 'most beautiful'.

One species both Noppadon and I believed we saw a couple of times on the trip to the deep south was Macromia callisto, a species I have named the Beautiful River Cruiser. However, without solid photos, it was impossible to tell for sure. Then, on the last day at San Kala Khiri National Park in Songkhla, Noppadon managed to net a female. Oddly, while he was catching that I saw a male Macromia species whizzing past me along the edge of the river at speed, but I couldn't place it (I am not confident with this family at the best of times). Though I am poor at identifying females of Macromia species, Noppadon is confident that this, indeed, Macromia callisto, a species he has seen before. Sadly, no male, but at least it's another species for my records. I don't think that it is very rare, just incredibly difficult to correctly ID without capturing them. With thanks to Noppadon for catching this beautiful specimen and allowing me to photograph it for a first close up of this species.

The Female

A typically robust Macromia female, identifiable through the markings on the abdomen.