229: Orchithemis pruinans (Selys, 1878)

      Number: 229 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Orchithemis

Species: Orchithemis pruinans  / Blue Sentinal

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat

Habitat: Forest Peat Swamp

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

Species easily confused with: Orchithemis pulcherrima

Another species I expected to see at Sirindhorn Peat Swamp was Orchithemis pruinans, and it didn't disappoint... eventually! For the first part of the morning, it didn't show but then one eventually turned up and later in the day, a few more appeared, through no females. In all, there were around five  or six males spotted. Definitely not a common species, as it is only known form this location in Thailand as far as I am aware. Also known as the Blue Sentinal, it is very similar to the black form of its cousin, O. pulcherrima, though this species has a much slimmer abdomen. 

The Male

From a distance, it looks uniform black with a single white band, but when you photograph it and look closely, it has several colours and one being the pruinescence on its thorax, possibly where 'Blue' in the common name comes from. He is a rather stunning chap and not too difficult to approach once the day heats up.