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.