185. Ceriagrion pallidum Fraser, 1933

Number: 185    
Family: Coenagrionidae    
Genus: Ceriagrion   
Species: Ceriagrion pallidum 
Common name(s): N/A   
Synonyms: N/A    
Habitat: Forested pond (temporary)   
Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (Chaiyaphum)  
Sightings (by me): Rare 
In flight (that I have seen): Early July - Mid-August    
Species easily confused with: Ceriagrion fallax; Ceriagrion indochinense

A species I had been looking for at Phu Khieo WS for two years, has at last made an appearance. However, maybe I have seen it before, but simply overlooked it. At first glance it looks a lot like a young male C. indochinense or a young C. fallax (though I haven't yet seen this species at this location). However, luckily for me, it was actually the former species that helped me to ID it. Thanks to help and information from Noppadon Makbun, I knew it was similar to C. fallax but much paler. Then, yesterday, two male C. indochinense harried a slimmer much paler specimen into the reeds and it just looked different. I wasn't sure but following closer inspection and a few photos, it was in the bag: Ceriagrion pallidum was mine. It is exactly as the description and alongside C. indochinense, it is fairly easy to separate. Fortunately, I even managed to spot other males at different ponds and several females even made an appearance. Better still, this species is fairly easy to approach and not skittish like similar species in the genus. Now I just need to find C. nigroflavum (if it is actually now present in Thailand) to complete the "set" of known Ceriagrion species in Thailand, though there are more I am sure.

I would just like to add that I believe this to be more common and should be at different locations, though it is most definitely easy to overlook. Next time you see a pale specimen, don't simply pass it off as an immature C. indochinense or C. fallax. Take a closer look and you never know. 

The male

Here is a freshly emerged male, which I actually saw at the start of July, though I couldn't confirm it was correct until I found mature males. That said, it isn't really that different from the mature males, just even paler.

The female

Another, slightly paler still female

182. Ceriagrion malaisei Schmidt, 1964

Number: 182   

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Ceriagrion     
Species: Ceriagrion malaisei
Common name(s): N/A   
Synonyms: N/A    
Habitat: Lowland forest stream
Province(s) sighted: Pha Ing Waterfall (Chaiyaphum)  
Sightings (by me): Rare 
In flight (that I have seen): March    
Species easily confused with: Ceriagrion sp.; Ceriagrion chaoi

Thanks to Tom Kompier, I am now able to confidently say that I have definitely seen Ceriagrion malaisei. This means that my earlier sighting back in 2011 must now been downgraded to Ceriagrion sp. Although it is very similar, it is, in fact, as different species. C. malaisei has a longer abdomen than the Ceriagrion sp. and there are several differences between this one and C. chaoi. When I visited Ph Ing Waterfall in Chaiyaphum, I managed to spot on one male hiding deep in the grasses. However, it was a blisteringly hot day and was in the middle of a drought. Therefore, I expect t see many more when I return. Likewise, it means I will have to return to a pond (which I will struggle to find) about 5 hours away to get myself a specimen of the Ceriagrion sp. as it is most likely a species yet to be described. What a shame hehe.

Not the best shot in the world, but enough for a positive ID.

Once again, many thanks to Tom Kompier for the ID.

146. Ceriagrion calamineum (Lieftinck, 1951)

Number: 146

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Ceriagrion

Species: Ceriagrion calamineum

Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นคาลามีน
Habitat: Open uplands pond, surrounded by tree cover at one edge
Province(s) sighted: Khai Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima province
Sightings (by me): Fairly common only at this location
In flight (that I have seen): August (though must be longer)

I know colour isn't a good way to identify odonata. I also know that identifying Ceriagrion can really difficult with some species. However, on a recent trip to Khao Yai I spotted a damselfly that just seemed different to all the others. The colours were similar (but slightly more orange) to that of C. indochinense. However, it's size eliminated C. indochinense straight away (the latter is larger, in my experience anyway). Anyway, it turns out that it is a new species (well, most probably), known as Ceriagrion calamineum.

The male

There were many specimens at a natural uplands pond, moving around in the weed stems.

A close up of the male's bright yellow face.

In the hand... 

This gives an idea of its size.

Here, I placed him against my lighter for a better idea of size (I will get round to measuring that exact size one day).

I didn't get to see any females, but the males were commonplace.

So that is now the 9th species from the genus including: C. auranticum, C. azureum, C. calamineum, C. cerinorubellum, C. chaoi, C. fallax, C. indochinense, C. olivaceum and C. praetermissum. There's also one unidentified Ceriagrion species (possibly C. malaisei), though I'll probably never know for sure until I return to the same place one day. 

If anyone knows where I could find the remaining species,  C. nigroflavum, C. pallidum and C. malaisei, I would love to spot all the species from the genus... especially as it is one of my favourite genus! 

Once again, many thanks to Noppadon Makbun and Oleg Kosterin for the ID (both are pretty sure it's the correct ID)

130. Ceriagrion azureum (Selys, 1891)

Number: 130

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Ceriagrion

Species: Ceriagrion azureum
Common Name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นผู้ฟ้าเมียเขียว, แมลงปอเข็มเซอร์สีฟ้าสด
Habitat: Exposed, but weedy areas of upland ponds / lakes
Province(s) sighted: Helicopter Pad Lake, Nam Nao National Park (Petchabun)
Sightings (by me): Very uncommon
In flight (that I have seen): June-July

My 9th species in the genus Ceriagrion! I returned to Nam Nao Helicopter Pad at National Park, in search of the female, Indolestes inflatus. I found it, as well as a copula (Indolestes inflatus). In addition, I was surprised to find another new species... Ceriagrion azureum.

It was an amazing thing to see. Well, basically, you couldn't miss it. As far away as possible from the entrance to the lake, was an area where the lake shallowed up and was heavily covered by trees. I had caught a male Brachydiplax and was photographing the genital plate for correct ID. Then I saw it. A bright blue stick moved across the shallow and very weedy area. You couldn't miss it. It was clearly Ceriagrion and the only thing that possibly matches is Ceriagrion azureum. It's actually very large for Ceriagrion and the colours are not Ceriagrion like, but it has to be the most beautiful one of all (maybe because I'm a Man City fan). I then searched the whole area for a few hours. I managed to see a second male, as well as a number of other species, but the thousands of leeches biting and heavy storm brewing, cut short my day. 

Since then I have returned to the same place and was lucky to spot 4-5 males in a small area late on June afternoon - though I still didn't spot the female.

The male

It is easy to see why it is called C. azureum... it is basically completely azure blue. Only S9-10 and the caudal appendages are black. The stigma is black too and the wings are hyaline. It is larger than most Ceriagion too.

Here is the first ever male I saw, chomping away at a small leaf hopper, in the bright sunshine. Before he grabbed his lunch, it was difficult to get near. Once he tucked in, he didn't care that I was there.

Once he had finished, I managed to pick him up easily. 

I didn't spot the female, but I will return soon and hopefully find her then. 

Next trip: Khao Yai National Park again. In have unfinished dragonfly business there...

127. Ceriagrion cerinorubellum (Brauer, 1865)

Number: 127

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Ceriagrion

Species: Ceriagrion cerinorubellum

Common Name(s): Bi-colored Damsel, Painted Waxtail, 

Ornate Coraltail, Orange-tailed Marsh Dart
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นฟ้าแดง
Habitat: Exposed upland ponds and lakes
Province(s) sighted: Khon Kaen (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP (Petchabun); Khao Kitchacut NP (Chantaburi).
Sightings (by me): Uncommon
In flight (that I have seen): April-November 

Number 8! Yes, number 8 of 12 from the genus Ceriagrion... this time in the shape of the beautiful Ceriagrion cerinorubellum. This is a species that I have wanted to see for a long time and only had a very short time to see it. Just one photo, and it was gone. Confident I would see more, including the female, I searched the area, but to no avail. That really was it. Just one specimen. No idea why. Maybe it was a bit of a vagrant and was just being nosey. Maybe I am too early in the season. I will hopefully find out as I am to return to the area again on Saturday. I want to take photos from different angles and also would like to see the female. I can only hope! I now only need to add the following to my blog: C. azureum, C. calamineum, C. nigroflavum, C. pallidum and possibly C. malaisei (though this could be the one I have already found - the photos are not the best for identification). If anyone knows where I can find these species (or even has photos of them for ID purposes), please let me know... I will travel anywhere to see them.

The male

The male really is stunning and I saw it at the water's edge at the Helicopter Pad lake 2 kms from the entrance of Nam Nao National Park. I don't think that it can be mistaken for any other species. The caudal appendages are very long for this genus too. It's eyes and thorax are bright green (and can go more of a blue I think). S1-3 are orange, as well as part of S7-10. The caudal appendages are also orange.

... and a close-up of the first 'blue' male, I saw at Khao Kitchacut NP. This, I believe, is a fully mature male.

The female ...

I saw the female for the first time at Nam Nao NP. However, I have since spotted a number of females at Khao Kitchacut NP. Finally, I have some decent photos.

This species tends to only appear on the dullest of days in north and NE Thailand.

122. Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi (Laidlaw, 1931)

Number: 122

Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Ceriagrion

 Species: Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi

Common name(s): Black-tailed Marsh Dart
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นปลายดำ, แมลงปอเข็มเซอร์อกเขียวท้องเหลือง
Habitat: Upland ponds, tree-lined

Province(s) sighted: Headquarters, Doi Inthanon National Park (Chiang Mai); possible sighting Phu Kradueng NP (Loei)

Sightings (by me): Fairly common at above location
In flight (that I have seen): April (though longer, I'm sure)

The 7th species of 12 from the Ceriagrion genus, and one I have only just realised I forgot to post! Back in April 2010, I visited Doi Inthanon National Park for 8 days and camped alone... quite literally. I was pretty much the only person there. It was a wonderful place where I encountered numerous new species, and one I will return to for sure. One species I saw fairly regularly in the bushes away from water, was Ceriagrion fallax 

pendleburyi

. It's similar to C. indochinense (blog no. 14), which are common in Khon Kaen. However, much of the latter segments of the abdomen are black. 

The male

As you can see, the male is similar to C. indochinense, except for the prominent black dorsal markings from S7-10. Caudal appendages black also.

The female

Female is similar to the male, but dull in comparison. Also, the females are extremely shy and fly far away at the slightest movement.

00. Ceriagrion sp.

Number: 00

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Ceriagrion

Species: Ceriagrion sp.

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): N/A

Habitiat: Uplands exposed ponds

Province(s) sighted: Uplands roadside pond 304 highway just past Tap Lan National Park nr. Kabinburi (approx 800 metres)

Sightings (by me): Fairly common at this location

In flight (that I have seen): December

Species easily confused with: Ceriagrion malaisei; Ceriagrion chaoi

Another Ceriagrion sp. I saw back in December (2011), I thought originally was simply Ceriagrion chaoi. But, looking more carefully at the photos when I got home, I realised that it must have been a new species for me. Primarily because the abdomen is much thicker and is also longer. I sent photos of the male to Noppadon Makbun and he confirmed that it indeed wasn't Ceriagrion chaoi, but was difficult to identify from the photos I sent. I have since remembered that I had a few photos (not very good ones though) of two different copula I saw on the same day. Looking closely at the female, it has a distinct mark on the thorax. 

Recently, I found another similar species, but with a longer abdomen, which turned out to Ceriagrion malaisei. Now I am fairly confident that this is a species new to Thailand and therefore will have to return one day ... if I can remember where the bloody pond even was!

The male

The male is almost identical to C. Chaoi, but has a longer and more robust abdomen.

The female (part of a copula)

As you can see (just below the male) is a distinct mark on the thorax of the female).

A copula

Here you can still see a distinct mark on the thorax of another female.

I saw this species, which was fairly abundant, at a pond in-between Kabin Buri and Khorat. It was at an uplands pond (approx. 800 metres up) on the 304 highway just past Tap Lan National Park (which incidentally, is the strangest NP I have ever visited - there is literally nothing there). I noticed the pond as I reached the top of a mountain and was driving extremely slowly behind a truck. I managed to find a place to park and went to have a look... I'm glad I did.