192: Cratilla metallica (Brauer, 1878)

Number: 192 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Cratilla

Species: Cratilla metallica / Dark-tipped Forest-skimmer 

Habitat: Ditches and small ponds in forested area 

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat, Yala

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

Species easily confused with: Cratilla lineata calverti

Well, I promised myself a trip to the south and I couldn't have got any further... Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in Narathiwat was a super-cool place that houses a lot of great species and has the potential for a whole lot more. That said, I saw plenty, including one I have always wanted to see in Cratilla metallica, commonly known as the Dark-tipped Forest-skimmer. It is a brilliant species and lives and acts in a very similar way to its cousin, C. lineata, which I also saw there. However, I only managed to spot two males and sadly didn't get to see the female. C. metallica is found from Kanchanaburi south, though I am not sure how common it is. If you manage to hit the south, look for tiny ditches along trails in the forest. Hopefully, you will manage to spot one or two like I did guarding 'their' mud hole. 

The male

He is very easy to ID due to the distinct double blue bands across the abdomen and the black tips to the wings which give it its nickname. It also has a wonderful metallic green thorax (which obviously gives it its scientific name). 

Another male I saw in Yala in a similar pose.

Here, you can see his awesome green metallic thorax.

The Female

Finally, I managed to spot a female at To Mo but it just would not come down from its high perch... and these were the best shots I could get. Still at least I have seen it now! Until we meet again. 

65. Cratillia lineta calverti (Brauer, 1878)

No: 65 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Cratillia

Name: Cratillia lineta calverti / Emerald-banded Forest-skimmer* 

Habitat: Edge of forested areas (lowlands and uplands)

Province(s): Widespread
In flight: Year-round / Sightings (by me): Common

Easily confused with: Cratilla metallica

*Though this species has been given the common name 'Emerald-banded Skimmer', I will change it to Emerald-banded Forest-skimmer to be consistent with the rest of the genus.

Back in October 2010, I spent the day at Phu Wiang National Park, a place about 60 kms from Khon Kaen City. I intended to visit two of the three waterfalls there, but with such poor information in English and misguiding signposts, I ended up only getting to one of the waterfalls - and it was already 5pm and going dark. While I was searching the place (every sign took you to a dinosaur remain!) I did manage to see a few dragonflies and damselflies while I was there, as well as about 10 million butterflies. It was quite scary walking through millions of the things. Amazing sight really. After all that, I did manage to see something that I wasn't sure what it was... When I looked closer... a new species for me! Cratillia lineta calverti. A species I had never seen before. Since then I have seen many, many specimens on the edge of forests. It turns out to be a very common species and easy to approach.

The Male

The male has blue and yellow markings to the thorax as well as slight yellow markings on the abdomen. However, the key to identification for me is metallic blue colour to the thorax, dorsally. It almost looks like it's been sprayed on as it flew past a car body shop. 

The 'Young' Male

I was also lucky enough to see a young male of the same species that day. The most obvious was to tell this species from other similar ones, is the back to front "J" on the thorax, a little bit like a fish hook. This  male was well away from any water supply.

The 'Teneral' Male

Not sure you can get much fresher than this... I think has literally just emerged. Look at that shine!

Welcome to the world... this one is still hanging on this his exuvia... I love this photo!

The Female

The female is very similar to that of the male, yet is far more robust and far less seen I was happy to see this female sitting happily right in front of me.

And another female...

The 'Young' Female

This specimen still has her glistening wings so won't be very old.

The 'Old' Female

This is my first half-decent photo of the female, which is similar to the male, but with a stouter abdomen.