246: Euphaea sp.

  Number: 246 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Euphaea

Species: Euphaea sp. / -

Province(s) sighted: Ubon Ratchathani

Habitat: Forested Streams 

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

Species easily confused with: Euphaea masoni

Back around late 2021, early 2022, a small number of dragonfly hunters from the Facebook group, Dragonflies of Thailand, had noticed an odd-looking Euphaea sp. popping up at a river that runs through Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park, Ubon Ratchathani right on the border of Thailand. Upon investigation, some were even saying that it was possibly E. decorata. So... me being me and very excited, I had to go and have a look in April that year. I went with my brother and on the first day, we checked in to our cool little rooms and I even saw a Sandstone Gecko, which was beautiful. Anyway, straight down to the main river and, being 11am, it was perfect timing. So, I searched... and searched... and searched. There were none. By then, it was incredibly hot so I decided to look under cover that stretched over boulders and parts of the river. And there they were, several of them. Superficially looking like E. masoni, but the black on the wings is minimal. Moreover, I saw about 20-30 individuals over a couple of days that looked identical. Even when we moved to a local further up the road (different water system), I found a few more. Now, it could possibly be a different population or it could be a subspecies. Better still, it could be a species yet to be described. So, for now, it has to remain Euphaea sp.

The Male

You can clearly see the difference straightaway. There is little black on the wings and in some cases (see below), almost none existent. However, that aside, it looks identical to E. masoni. I couldn't collect any as there were several other people there at all times and I was in a national park.

Another specimen, open winged. Look how little black there is.

Another specimen with slightly more black and a coppery hue, which is (I think) indicative of E. masoni.

The Female

Here is a close-up of a female. There were a couple in the area but mostly high up in the deeper shade. This was the only one that was close enough to me... but I could only get her face haha.

An emergence

Location:  Khao Soi Dao waterfall, Chantaburi province  
Date: Wednesday, 02 April, 2014 
  Areas visited: Waterfall and stream areas

On a recent trip to Chantaburi province, I was fortunate to see many odonates, including 3 new records for my slowly growing list (all my findings will be posted later). However, highlight of the trip for me was to witness my first full emergence of a damselfly. It was of a common species, male Euphaea masoni. I have added lots of photos below, which hopefully demonstrates nature at its best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, there you have it. My first sighting of an emergence. Now I just need to learn how to crop the size of the photos accurately. haha

75. Euphaea ochracea ochracea (Selys, 1859)

No: 75 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Euphaea

Name: Euphaea o. ochracea / Ochraceous Gossamerwing* 

Habitat: Forested streams, Uplands & Lowlands

Province(s): Widespread
In flight: April-October / Sightings (by me): Very common

Easily confused with: Dysphaea gloriosa

*As there’s no common name, I’ve used ‘Ochraceous’ from the given name, and used genus name ‘Gossamerwing’ in an attempt to standardise the genus.

Another member of the Euphaea genus that you will come across from time to time at streams and rivers, is Euphaea ochracea ochracea. I often see it sitting on the edge of twigs and branches overhanging the stream.

The male

The male has red/brown wings (or should that be ochre - probably where it got its name), which are very distinctive and make it very easy to recognise. The male likes to perch on branches and twigs over-looking the river as he waits for prey or a mate.

Some days, you can find many specimens hiding far away from the edge of the streams.

In the hand...

Younger male ...

Here is a youngish male that still has prominent yellow markings. He was a fair distance from the stream at Nam Nao headquarters (30/06/12).

The female

I had only previously seen the female while part of a copula. Until I went to Phu Rua, that is. At a small stream waterfall just outside the town, there were literally hundreds of males and females dotted around. In one opening alone through the trees, there was around 15 females and 5-6 males. What's more, they weren't very shy and I even managed to capture some with my fingers. This was the only species of this genus present, which made identification easy... good job as I still can't tell the difference females of this genus.

In the hand...

This one I caught with my fingers. There were so many of them, I had to catch one!

An old female ... 

This old-looking female I saw recently at a tiny stream under tree shade. She simply didn't move as I approached.

A copula

I have now seen a small number of copula. However, they are extremely difficult to get close to and photograph. These are the best I have so far.

The male then simply flicked the female off with his abdomen and she went straight under the water. She remained for around 1 minute before flying straight up into the air and diving at great speed onto another stem underwater where I lost sight of her. It was an amazing sight.

Courtship display...

Here the male and female are facing each other. Moments later, the male grabbed the female (left) and they began to copulate. 

More very strange courtship display. Once copulation was over, the male landed on the female's wings. It remained until I got too close and the female flew away. Amazingly, it landed a few metres away and within a second or so, the male landed on here again in the same way. Is this some kind of guarding the female from other males until ready to oviposit? 

Here is the copula which soon split...

Once they had finished, the male did this (at least three times as she moved)...

Another female in action...

Here's another female I saw dive in right at my feet and oviposited for around 25 seconds in an extremely rapid stream section.

Now she is completely submerged.

Amazingly she clung on for up to a minute before flying up and to another submerged bit of weed to continue. My foot was in the water near her and I could feel the strong current. I have no idea how she clung on. These were taken at Erawan Waterfall, Kanchanaburi.

74. Euphaea masoni (Selys, 1879)

No: 74 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Euphaea

Name: Euphaea masoni / Black Waterfall Gossamerwing* 

Habitat: Forested streams, usually found in sun spots (uplands & lowlands)

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

Easily confused with: Euphaea pahyapi

*As there is no common name, I Name adapted the first part 'Black Waterfall' the Thai name and 'Gossamerwing' is used for some species in the genus Euphaea, so the Black Waterfall Gossamerwing.

On the brightest of days one species you will often encounter at forested streams is Euphaea masoni. It is very easy to identify, as it is virtually black, including its wings. It is easily the most common species to be found at most waterfalls and rocky streams. That said, it is difficult to photograph as it is quite skittish.

The Male

If you are lucky, you may even find a male that shimmers blue in the sunlight. I saw a small population like this in Mukdahan province. I have only seen males like this once (several at one location).

However, most look like this...

Another male in the hand ...

The 'Young' 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)

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.