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.