201. Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata Selys, 1853

Number: 201 

Family: Euphaeidae

Genus: Dysphaea

Species: Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata

Common name(s): Black Velvetwing 

Synonym(s): Dysphaea limbata Selys, 1859; Dysphaea semilimbata Selys, 1859

Habitat: Large, exposed area of forested river with large boulders

Province(s) sighted: Nari River, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary,  sandy stream lowlands (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): Small number of skittish males 

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Dysphaea dimidiata walli; Dysphaea vanida; Euphaea masoni 

Another species that I hoped to see as it seems common in the south was Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata. I did manage to spot a small number of males, but each one was as difficult to approach as the next. I first saw two males battling it out with a Gomphidia abbotti abbotti on a fallen tree overhanging the River Narwi. They were so skittish that I ended up literally having to swim to the other side of the river and creep up on them... you can imagine how hard that was. Eventually, one settled down and I managed to fire off a few decent shots of it in blazing sunshine -- though  did have to swim around quite a lot to get all the shots I wanted. So, another one in the bag, though this attempt did mess up my camera for a day. 

I also managed to spot a couple more males along the same stretch of river and I saw a solitary male at a shallow and sandy stream on the lower reaches.

Sadly, I didn't get to spot the female, but I am happy enough to get the male!

The male
It is similar to other species in the genus but has 'more black' on the wings.

184. Orolestes selysi McLachlan, 1895

Number: 184    

Family: Lestidae    

Genus: Orolestes    

Species: Orolestes selysi McLachlan, 1895 

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): July    

Species easily confused with: Oroletes octomaculata

There are times when you have to question all those hours of your life spent being torn to shreds by nasty bushes, wading through treacle-like mud, waste deep in putrid water, bitten to death by leeches, mosquitoes and horseflies, as well as those long, arduous and expensive journeys. There are other times when it makes the bad times simply melt away. And last Saturday was one of them. I finally managed to see the fabled Orolestes selysi - a stunning damselfly that was the stuff of legends as many of the rarer species at Phu Khieo (and the rest of NE Thailand) seem to be. Though it is found in several countries, it seems to be a very rare species in Thailand. When, after all this time, I managed to spot one dangling from a tree overhanging a gloomy and temporary pond I was over the moon. Amazingly, like buses, I then noticed another and another. In fact, I saw three at this pond and two single specimens at other ponds. It must simply be a good year for them. Another thing of note was the fact that Orolestes octomaculata was also very much present (I am confident this species is around all year now) and they co-habit ... I was amazed to spot a male of each species on a branch, but was just too late to get a shot. The question is now whether there are hyaline specimens here too. According to Noppadon Makbun (the man who had said it was reported from Phu Khieo and encouraged me to find it), it is only known from this location in Thailand... hopefully it will be found again soon at a different location. Until then, I can now sleep happily, safe in the knowledge that I have photos of another rare species in Thailand. Roll on next weekend for more torture to my body for moments of true joy!

Here is the incredibly rare hyaline male. I managed to spot two males at a small pond and one shot each and they made a dash for the top of the tree canopy. Until next year, my friend, when I will get improvement shots!

81. Onychargia atrocyana (Selys, 1865)

Number: 81

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Onychargia

Species: Onychargia atrocyana

Common name(s): Marsh Dancer, Shorttail, Black Marsh Dart

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มพุ่มผู้ดำ

Habitat: Exposed ditches, drains, ponds and lakes (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Small pond nr. Tesco Lotus, Phu Wiang environs (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP (Petchabun);  Phu Rua environs (Loei); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima).
Sightings (by me): Localised, but common
In flight (that I have seen): February-September

When I was in Bangkok about 3 1/2 years ago, I spotted a small black damselfly and had no idea what it was. A year later I possibly spotted the same species at a tiny pond overgrown by weeds just outside Khon Kaen. I managed to take a photo of the male and it was identified by Noppadon Makbun as Onychargia atrocyana. I returned to the same pond and managed to get photos of the species at all stages. 

I have recently spotted a rare male with white pruinescence, which looks great (see entry).

The male

The mature male is completely black (sometimes has purple hues). Most, however, have white rings on the joints of each section of the abdomen. The anal appendages are unique too.

The sub-adult male

The young male hasn't yet become completely black and looks a lot more like the female with distinct yellow stripes on the abdomen.

The teneral male

This specimen has one wings that still hasn't full opened out (or it is deformed). I saw this early one morning at a lake just outside Phu Wiang National Park, Khon Kaen. 

Another teneral male

This one is newly emerged. There are hundreds like this at Nam Nao NP at present. This was probably its first landing from its maiden voyage (I scared it out of the weeds as I walked).

The female

The female is very close to the young male with prominent yellow and black stripes on the thorax.

The teneral female

This female has just emerged and again, it was very early in the morning. I saw this specimen at Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun.

Another teneral female...

And for a very short life... another teneral female, it had probably lived for a few hours, if it was lucky.

A copula in tandem... this male is displaying its shiny purple thorax.

74. Euphaea masoni (Selys, 1879)

Number: 74

Family: Euphaeidae

Genus: Euphaea

Species: Euphaea masoni

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มน้ำตกสีดำ, แมลงปอเข็มหางโป่งสีนิล

Habitat: Forested streams, usually found in sun spots (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Nam Nao environs (Petchabun); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Widespread (Chiang Rai); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Nang Rong Waterfall, Nakhon Nayok.
Sightings (by me): Common
In flight (that I have seen): March-December

On the brightest of days one species you will often encounter at forested streams is Euphaea masoni. It is very easy to indentify, as it is virtually black, including its wings. 

The male

 Only when it opens its wings, can you see any pattern at all. That said, I think its a rather handsome little fellow and one you should try to spot if you visit a river. The male loves to perch on twigs in baking hot sunshine.

Close up, eating lunch ...

Another male in the hand ...

The sub-adult male

 The young male is similar to the adult male but hasn't yet developed its black "furry" or pruinose thorax. Here it gives you the opportunity to see the markings which disappear under its black pruinose as it gets older. This male hid away from the river in the nearby bushes.

(photos taken 28/03/2011 @ Nang Rong Waterfall, Nakhon Nayok; added to blog 02/04/2011)

Close-up of young male's face

The female

Finally, I have managed to get good photos of the female. This genus is really difficult to differentiate the females, but at Nang Rong Waterfall, Nakhon Nayok, only this species was present.

(photo taken 13/04/2011 @ Koh Chang; added 26/04/2011)

Like buses, two come at once...

After looking for a long time to spot the female, I managed to spot 2 within the space of 10 minutes of each other. This one is much darker than the one above and I think is a young specimen (looks like the young male - please advise if you know otherwise). Again, like the young male, this one hid away from the stream in the bushes.

(photos taken 28/03/2011 @ Nang Rong Waterfall, Nakhon Nayok; added to blog 02/04/2011)

You can see this species throughout the country, especially at shallow streams, all year round. 

40. Prodasineura autumnulis (Fraser, 1922)

Number: 40
Family: Platycnemididae
Genus:  Prodasineura
Species: Prodasineura autumnulis
Common name(s): Black Threadtail
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มดำ, แมลงปอเข็มเรียวดำ
Habitat: Tree-lined or exposed rivers, streams and ponds (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: River Chi (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs, waterfall, Lomsak environs (Petchabun);  Phu Kradueng, Phu Rua NP/environs (Loei); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Widespread (Chiang Rai); Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Nakhorn Nayok; Khao Soi Dao NP, Khao Kitchakut NP/environs (Chantaburi).
Sightings (by me): Extremely common
In flight (that I have seen): All year

When I first visited the River Chi, Khon Kaen back in early 2008, I spotted my first ever Prodasineura species - Prodasineura autumnulis. I took a number of photographs of both the male and female. In this area they are in small numbers, but you often see one or two there. For over a year, I thought that the sub-adult male was fully grown. It wasn't until I went  to another place south of Nakhon Sawan that I noticed the adult males are jet black. At first I thought it was a different species, but research proved otherwise.

The male (various stages)

The adult male is black on the thorax and abdomen and also becomes slightly pruinosed with age. It is easily frightened and quite hard to photograph. This is the most common stage.

As the male ages, it changes slightly. This specimen, I captured in Nakhorn Nayok, has slight pruinescence to the side of the thorax (photo 28/03/2011 - added 02/04/2011) ... 

... and this one is completely pruinosed save a small greenish-bronze? part of the thorax. I must admit, this is the only specimen I have seen like this. It was at a largish waterfall in Lomsak province, Petchabun (14/07/12). Though it looks right, it acted differently to all the others around it and the colours add to the mystery. Maybe, just maybe, it may be a slightly different form. Can anyone shed light on this?

The teneral male

This male has just emerged and you can still see his exuvia at the base of the stick he has climbed.

The female

The female is almost identical to the sub-adult male, but the abdomen is far more robust. Like the sub-adult male, it tends to hide away and is less commonly seen.

A newly emerged female...

Although it is called Prodasineura autumnulis, it is common all year round. It prefers slow moving rivers and streams, but I have also seen it at small ponds.