252: Coeliccia doisuthepensis Asahina, 1984

   Number: 252 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Species: Coeliccia doisuthepensis / Doi Suthep's Sylvan*

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Stream

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

Species easily confused with: All Coeliccia Species 

*As there is no common name, I have used 'Doi Suthep' from the Thai name and given the genus the name 'Sylvan', creating Doi Suthep's Sylvan.

One species I had often dreamt about and even looked for it at Phu Hin Rong Kla in hope... but never saw it was Coeliccia doisuthepensis. During a recent trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun, we visited an area that is known to have the species amongst others. Sadly, like most other species, it didn't show as it was really dull and breezy. Suddenly, Noppadon pointed out a female in a real darkened area and a spent an age trying to get good shots, and they turned out OK. Then suddenly as I was walking up, I saw a male. It flew about 10 metres away from me and landed on a leaf that was constantly shaking from the breeze. I fired off a few shots but it very quickly became skittish and flew higher and higher up... and... gone. And that was it. I really was expecting it to be quite easy to shoot but nope. Another species I have to return to Chiang Mai to get improvement shots. 

The Male

The male is similar to other species in the genus but S9-10 are orange. There are also more markings present on the thorax. These were the best I could do on a windy day before it flew away.

The Female

Similar to most females in the genus, this one differs slightly due to the yellowish markings at the end of the abdomen.

I will return one day for better shots.

193: Coeliccia albicauda (Förster in Laidlaw & Förster, 1907)

Number: 193 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Species: Coeliccia albicauda / White-tailed Sylvan*  

Habitat: Forested stream  

Province(s) sighted:Narathiwat, Yala

In flight: April-August / Sightings (by me): Uncommon  

Species easily confused with: Coeliccia didyma, Coeliccia nigrescens, Coeliccia sp. (undescribed species),  Coeliccia kimurai 

*Name changed to match Sylvan, which is used to describe the genus.

One species I should have come across whenever I visited the western part of Thailand is Coeliccia albicauda, known as the White-tailed Sylvan. However, until my last trip it had always eluded me for some reason. At Hala-Bala, however, I noticed a small C. loogali-sized damsel clinging on to a leaf on the ground along a dark and dingy trail. I managed to get a few shots away and then realised that it was in the bag! However, it proved to be an absolute nightmare to get anything that resembled a decent shot... and there was no way that I was settling for a record shot after waiting so long to see it. So, many, many, many attempts later I managed to get what I would deem pretty decent shots (to say that I was on my arse in a muddy puddle in poor lighting trying to take a photo of a dark needle over a muddy ditch). Still, they turned out OK in the end. I managed to spot a few more males during the trip but each and every one seemed to prefer darkened areas almost on the deck. I managed to get a glimpse of a female but it shot off before I could get any shots off.

The male

A typical pose while trying to get the right shot away (you can see the puddle it liked)...

*Photo of me courtesy of Sum Nara Nara (our awesome guide for the trip)

188: Coeliccia nigrescens Laidlaw, 1931

Number: 188  / Family: Platycnemidiae / Genus: Coeliccia

Species: Coeliccia nigrescens / Dusky Sylvan* 

 

Habitat: Narrow Forested Streams 

Province(s) sighted: Nakhon Nayok, Kalasin, Sakhon Nakhon 

Sightings (by me): Rare (2-3 males, 1 female) 

In flight (that I have seen): May-June   

Species easily confused with: Coeliccia didyma didyma; Coeliccia didyma didyma

*As there is no common name, I based the first part on the species name 'nigrescens' meaning 'becoming black' or  'darkening' so settled on 'Dusky' and 'Sylvan' which has been used for some species in the genus, so the Dusky Sylvan.

So, one trip in yielded nothing (Pala-U w/f). The next trip to Khao Yai and into Nakhon Nayok, did produce... thanks to November Rain Rain (Facebook name). Thanks to her kindness, I managed to find the rather elusive Coeliccia nigrescens, which I have named the Dusky Sylvan. It is a species that has already been recorded at Nakhon Nayok and, as far as I am aware, one location in the south. However, I found it where I didn't expect it to be... along the edge of the road under the cover of tree cover and darkness. It seemed to be at home in the overflow bit that runs along side the road, but only in one short section. It was reported to be along a path and was commonly seen, both males and females. Unfortunately, I was greeted by torrential rain and seriously poor conditions. The path -- which I found -- was almost devoid of the species... I got a fleeting glimpse of a solitary male that retreated hastily back into the gloom. Fortunately, there were 2-3 males, plus a solitary female under heavy cover. However, with the horrible rain and gloom, photography was really tough. I managed to get some OK shots of the male and a record shot of the female, which will have to do for now. However, I know where it is now and will return in better weather for sure. It is very much like a Coeliccia sp. and has many of the same traits... the annoying speed at which it can retreat when you finally managed to spot one in the gloom and the way they hand from the tips of leaves. It is also incredibly like C. didyma but can be separated by the white appendages and doesn't have a blue patch on segments 9-10. Also, the markings on the thorax are slightly different. 
So, until I return, these photos will have to do. Since then, I have seen it a few times at Phu Phan National Park in both Kalasin and Sakhon Nakhon, where it is more abundant, though does look a little different.

The Male
Very much like C. didyma but can be separated by the end of the abdomen which has small whitish tips. Here is the 'Phu Phan' form...

Here is the 'Khai Yai' form. See how the blue spots of the thorax are heavily reduced.

The Female

I have taken photos of the female at both Phu Phan and Khai Yai and there is rather conflicting views.

This specimen looks very much like C. poungyi and it could possibly be that species. However, I am yet to see a male of that species at Phu Phan NP in around 8-10 trips. Furthermore, take a look at the copula (at the bottom) and the other female (directly below). It is decidedly similar, though C. poungyi seems to have a spot closer to the top of the abdomen, whereas this is a longer spot/stripe that comes from the base. Please correct me if I am wrong. I need to find more specimens.

As you can see, this is 100% C. nigrescens as it had just split after ovipositing. Here, it is more like a full stripe. 

And here is a record shot of the female from Khao Yai, though obviously older. 

The Copula

This copula I managed to photograph at Phu Phan and you can clearly see the similarities with the females at the top.

150: Coeliccia sirindhornae Makbun, Phan, Ignatius & Keetapithchayakul, 2025

Number: 150 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus:  Coeliccia

Species: Coellicia sirindhornae / Sirindhorn's Sylvan 

Habitat: Forested Streams

Province(s) sighted: Kanchanaburi

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

Species easily confused with: Coeliccia didyma

*As there is no common name, I have used 'Sirindhorn' from the Thai name and given the genus the name 'Sylvan', giving Sirindhorn's Sylvan.

**Since I wrote this post (2012), the species has been described (late 2025) and is now officially a species of Thailand! Many thanks to all involved for all your hard work. 

**A 2-hour drive from Kanchanaburi to Lamklong Ngu National Park, followed by a torrid drive through mud to only be told that the place was closed, was heart-wrenching. The pathway was blocked with fallen bamboo and there was no way through for the car. Unperturbed, I left the car at the entrance (with my girlfriend inside) and set off, climbing over bamboo and trees that had fallen over in the torrential rain. 

I reached the river ... awesome. Yet, unlike the last time when odonata were buzzing around everywhere, there were simply none. Nothing at all. I walked about 500 metres along an extremely slippery pathway, only to be greeted by a blocked section of the river, which caused mass flooding of the area and there was totally and utterly no way through. A waste of a journey. I turned back and made it to the entrance of the river. I looked along the sheltered trees to see if any specimens were taking refuge ... and there was a solitary Coeliccia didyma. I couldn't get a shot of him where he was (too far up and the leaf he was on was constantly bouncing from the rain drops), so I picked him up with my fingers and noticed something different about him ... the thoracic markings were totally different. Surely this wasn't C. didyma at all, was it? I scrambled to get my camera out of the bag again with one hand (the other held the specimen) and as I attempted to get the ring flash, the heavens opened once more. This time heavier than ever. There was no way I could use the ring flash - the water would have wrecked it for sure. Instead, I was limited to my camera without flash and in extremely low light. Crouched over my camera to keep it as dry as possible, I took a few photos, but just as I was about to take photos of the caudal appendages, I noticed that my camera bag was open and I reacted to close it and save may camera equipment and passport from certain death. By doing this I momentarily let go of the specimen and he flew about 5 metres high up into the branches - I could see him, but he was too far away. The rain continued to pour down heavily and I had to give up my search. 

The male is similar to that of C. didyma, but also resembles both C. nemoricola (endemic to Borneo) and C. octogesima (consigned to the very south of Thailand). However, looking at all 3 species [see asia-dragonfly.net], it is clearly none of them.

I have since had this confirmed by Noppadon Makbun that it is indeed a different species. However, it is yet to be described (and has been undescribed for a long time). The first record of this species was also recorded at the same place. So good news that it is a new species. Bad news, however, that it's not yet been described!

The male ...

Here is the standard shot in the hand ... he looks the same as C. didyma. However, there is a small black downward-turning protrusion at the base of the inferior caudal appendages.

Here is where the species differs much more. It looks like music notes ... 

Here I was trying to focus on the neck joint - the whiteish-grey joint between the head and the neck (sorry for not knowing the correct technical words) If you look closely, you can clearly see 2 small blue arrow shaped marks.

Unfortunately, as I was about to photograph the caudal appendages, all hell broke loose and he was able to fly up into the trees. 

Hopefully, one day, it will be described and I can give him a name!

Many thanks to Noppadon for the info!

39. Coeliccia loogali (Fraser in Laidlaw, 1932)

No: 39 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia loogali / Blue-crescent Sylvan* 

Habitat: Forested streams
Province(s): Petchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai
In flight: April-October / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, I based the 'Blue-crested' on the Thai name and 'Sylvan' which is associated with a number of species in the genus.

The 6th (and 7th sort of) damselfly of the Coeliccia species I have seen is Coeliccia loogali as well as Coeliccia c.f. loogali. Both are similar, but the true form (I have seen in Chiang Mai) has a long slim crescent stripe along almost the entire thorax, whereas the close form has a considerably shorter and wider stripe. This form I have seen over a large area spanning Chaiyaphum, Petchabun, Loei and Phitsanulok. It is entirely possible that it is just a slightly different population but only time will tell.

The Male (Close Form)

When I visited Nam Nao National Park in October 2008, I didn't notice this species for a long time. On the 3rd day, I was walking along the pathway which runs along the river at the headquarters and I noticed a tiny little blue blob hovering near the ground. It was Coeliccia. c.f. loogali. Another species for me! Then I noticed many of them. They love extremely dark areas and almost hug foliage on the ground. The marks are pretty easy to distinguish, except for the markings on the end segments of the abdomen which change with age.

The Female (Close Form)

The female is very similar to the true form.

The Male  (True Form)

I saw a true form male on a recent visit to Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai. Here you can see how the thoracic markings are somewhat different. Also the very tips of the caudal appendages are whitish in colour, whereas they remain black on the c.f. specimens.

The Copula

I was also lucky enough to spot a copula while at Phu Rua NP, though it was seriously difficult to get anywhere near them so I am happy with this photo.

Coming soon...

The 'Young' Male (True Form)

This is the only true C. loogali I have spotted, when I visited Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai last April. It is a young male that will change significantly in colour as it ages. You can also see how the thoracic markings are much slimmer and longer than the different form of the mature adult above.

The Female (True Form)

Here is a true form old female I also saw in Chiang Mai at the same time as the sub-adult above. It is identifiable as it has a kind of cross-shape dorsally at the end segments.

Here is a younger female from Nan.

Here is a old female from Chiang Mai.

I am not sure how common the undescribed C. c.f. loogali is, or its distribution (Chaiyaphum, Petchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok so far). But if you visit Nam Nao National Park, if you look very carefully in the darkened areas, you are sure to find this species.

38. Coeliccia chromothorax (Selys, 1891)

No: 38 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia chromothorax / Yellow-throated Sylvan* 

Habitat: Forested streams
Province(s): Chaiyaphum, Phitsanulok, Petchabun, Loei, Chiang Mai, Trat
In flight: April-December / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: N/A

*Name made up by me (based on Thai names/existing common names of other species in genus).

The fifth damselfly from the Coeliccia genus I have added to my blog, is Coeliccia chromothorax. This was the 2nd Coeliccia species I ever saw and again it was at Nam Nao National Park in October 2008. Since then, I have seen it at quite a few upland streams and seems to be quite abundant when you see it.

The male

The male is easy to spot as it not only has striking yellow/orange and black colouration to the thorax and abdomen, it also likes to perch on branches and leaves in the sunshine.

Another male I spotted at Nam Nao National Park.

Male, in the hand ... and playing dead. Something I have seen a lot with this genus. He flew away unharmed moments later.

The Female

The female is much more difficult to identify as it is similar to other females from the Coeliccia genus. The adult female has two separate white marks on the end segments of the abdomen and is also seen close to the male, but often in darker areas.

If you visit Nam Nao National Park you are sure to see this species if you walk along the river near the headquarters.

35. Coeliccia kazukoae Asahina, 1984

No: 35 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia kazukoae / Blue-striped Sylvan* / แมลงปอเข็มท้องยาวขีดฟ้า

Habitat: Forested streams
Province(s): Nakhorn Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Chantaburi, Sa Kaew
In flight: April-December / Sightings (by me): Uncommon

Easily confused with: N/A

*Name made up by me (based on Thai names/existing common names of other species).

Another species I found on my recent trip to Khao Soi Dao National Park (December 2010), is the rare and endemic Coeliccia kazukoae. I was fortunate to spot this species both at Khao Soi Dao NP and also, I saw one male at Pang Sida National Park in Sa Kaew.  

The male

It's one of the smaller Coeliccia species (similar to C. loogali), not only is it slim and small, it likes virtual darkness. Well, very dark areas at least! It took me a long time to spot any (I saw a tiny blue dot from its end segments moving) and even then they are in small numbers. I saw 3 males in total, 2 that were along a tiny off-shoot from the river - an area that had just a tiny pool of water and was really dark through tree cover. Unfortunately, they are really skittish and fly away at the slightest movement. I did mange to spot a third specimen. This one was right along the river, but in a tiny cut out, with a tiny pool of water at the bottom. I managed to get some good photos of this one and, amazingly, the sun poked through the trees and I managed to get a photo without flash.

This male I saw recently at an uplands pond at Khao Yai NP.

This one at Pang Sida NP

Playing dead...

Amazingly, though the other two were easily frightened, I managed to catch one with my fingers. It gives a good idea of its size (and ... no ... I never did get round to cutting those nails!) When I released him, he just played dead on a rock. He stayed there for about 30-40 seconds and I could touch him again if I wanted, before he flew high up into the canopy and out of reach. Something I have never seen before.

The female

I recently visited Khao Yai National Park (22/04/2011) and was very surprised to see this species again. AND I saw a female for the first time as part of a tandem. Unfortunately, they are not the best photos in the world, for many reasons: I had to use my 300 mm lens as my macro lens was wet (it only stops down to 5.6). Add that to the fact it was pouring with rain and almost dark under heavy tree cover at 1p.m., and my girlfriend was screaming out loud because of dozens of leeches were all over the footpath (I was bitten about 5 times), and you can imagine the problem of trying to take photos of two small toothpick-sized things. So all in all, not a bad effort really. The female is similar to the male. This is the same female as the tandem below.

The teneral female...

Upon a recent visit to Khao Yai NP, I visited a swampy pond that was tree-lined at one end. Here, I saw a number of teneral females and 1 mature male.

A copula...