255: Cryptophaea yunnanensis (Davies & Yang, 1996)

      Number: 255 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Cryptophaea

Species: Cryptophaea yunnanensis / Clear-winged Satinwing

Province(s) sighted: Nan

Habitat: Forested Shaded streams

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

On a recent trip to Nan province with my brother Paul and Noppadon Makbun, we hoped to find plenty of birds and dragonflies. Instead, we ended up trying to photograph moths in our room. We planned to stay for 4-5 nights depending on how good it was. However, it just rain heavily for the entire time, other than two very short afternoons. We got out a little... and saw very little. Nothing was showing as it was cold and miserable. Then, for a brief moment, one female damsel dropped down. Literally one poor photo later (everything was set up wrong and she was far away) and off she went again. And That was it. Fortunately, Noppadon has already seen the species and has good photos. So he knew what it was instantly: Cryptophaea yunnanensis. A new species for my records and I will return to get better photos and see the male hopefully. What is weird, is that Noppadon mentioned that this species is usually very approachable. But not that day! Never mind. Until the next time.

The Female

Terrible photo but at least I have now seen it. Quite a dull female, but has a nice stripe on the abdomen.

254: Bayadera hyalina Selys, 1891

     Number: 254 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Bayadera

Species: Bayadera hyalina / Clear-winged Satinwing

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Shaded streams

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, even for the genus, I decided upon 'Clear-winged' as it ties in with the Thai name and I raised the name 'Clear-winged' for the genus Bayadera. If you can think of better, let me know.

One species I have always wanted to see and apparently lives at Nam Nao National Park (though I have never seen it), is Bayadera hyalina. Well, that chance finally came along on a trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun in July, 2024. While we were at Doi Inthanon, one teneral male dropped down onto a leaf right above up obscuring most of it, but you could clearly see the markings. I got a couple of photos, but Noppadon already has great shots of it. For me, it was a first. So I attempted to get him to move a little. It was a calculated risk and it absolutely worked! Then I woke up and ate my cornflakes. Nope... it flew about 10 metres or so, landed, then quickly moved again. I ended up with a couple of terrible shots. I wanted to cry, but then Noppadon reminded me that I had now seen it so not all bad! I will return one day to try and find it again. Having said that, I really want to find it at Nama Nao.

The 'Teneral' Male

Here is what we first saw... you can clearly see the stripes on the thorax.

When I tried to coax him out of hiding, he flew further away and was even more obscured.

Here I could see him better but he was about 15 metres away in the gloom... then gone...

Apologies for these terrible shots but will definitely return to try and find it again!

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.

243: Anisopleura furcata Selys, 1891

 Number: 243 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Anisopleura

Species: Anisopleura furcata / Northern Scalloped-wing*

Province(s) sighted: Chaing Mai

Habitat: Forested Streams 

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, even for the genus, I decided upon 'Northern Scalloped Wing' as it ties in with the Thai name and I raised the name 'Scalloped-wing' for the genus Anisopleura. If you can think of better, let me know.

When I returned to Doing Inthanon, Chiang Mai for the first time in well over a decade, there was one species that kept on cropping up on other searchers' checklists, was Anisopleura furcata. And oddly, other than a few very common species, it was the first 'special' one to show at Sirphum Waterfall. It was still fairly early in the morning, but one had decided to show and was warming up the early morning sun. It was amazing to see and I was so happy! It was my first 'new species' for the entire trip. I ended up seeing 7-8 specimens in total including male and female.

The Male

I am not entirely sure if this the fully mature male or a young male. Note the appendages and blue face (pic 3). Very cool damsel.

The 'Old' Male

Here is a male and was the first one I ever saw. Note the interesting appendages.

He loved basking in the early morning sunshine.

The 'Young' Male

This (I think) is a young male as it doesn't yet have any pruinescence on S9-10 or the appendages yet.

The Female

I think this might be a young female though not entirely sure. Seems a bit too yellow, whereas the 'old' female may just be mature. Anyone know?

The 'Old' Female

This female looks quite old and was set back a good distance from the stream.

199: Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata Selys, 1853

No: 199 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Dysphaea

Name: Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata / Black Velvetwing 

Habitat: Lowland forested and sandy streams
Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat; Yala; Songkhla
In flight: April & August / Sightings (by me): Uncommon 

Easily confused with: Dysphaea vanida

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. Fortunately, I was able to see a few more specimens when I returned in August, 2025 when I visited Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. Though I didn't get to see the female, I did get improvement shots.

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

The Male
The male is instantly recognisable with its black and clear wings and is a fairly large damselfly. However, if you get it at the right angle with the sun on it, it can shimmer purplish-blue. Looks stunning I think.

Not shimmering in the light and looks matte black.

120: Dysphaea gloriosa (Fraser, 1938)

Number: 120 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Dysphaea 

Species: Dysphaea gloriosa

Common name(s): Glorious Velvetwing
Thai name(s): N/A
Habitat: Forested Rocky Streams 

Location(s): Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Petchabun, Loei, Trat 

In flight: April-July / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Species easily confused with: Euphaea o. ochracea

*As there is no common name, I took the species name 'gloriosa' meaning 'Glorious' and 'Velvetwing' being the most consistent name given to the genus, Dysphaea.

A species that confused me so much was Dysphaea gloriosa. It looks so much like Euphaea ochracea, it is unbelievable. But when I saw it fly, it looks so different and thought that it must be a new species. It is bigger, the wings are solid ochre and it flies completely differently (the wings tend to move in a circular motion). The caudal appendages are much longer too. I sent photos to Noppadon Makbun and he confirmed that it was Dysphaea gloriosa, which I have named the Glorious Velvetwing, so a new species for me! Since then I have seen this species at numerous locations and can be the dominant species.

Anyway, it taught me a lesson. If you see a damselfly that looks slightly different... take lots of photos as it might be a new species!

The Male

It really is a stunning river dweller that has very long wings and are an obvious ochre colour. It is easily confused with Euphaea ochracea but the wings and the way it fly make it easier to pick out in the field.

Interestingly, this male has a distinct black tip and the whole population (15+ specimens) at a small stream on Koh Kood, Trat, were all the same. 

Here he is in a more natural position. They tend to 'hug' whatever they land on (large logs and rocks)...

Male in the hand. This shows how much larger it is than E. ochracea.

The Copula

Here is my only ever sighting of a tandem, which I saw at Tat Ton National Park in Chaiyaphum where there the species is abundant. Only a record shot, but very hard to see this.

The Female

I did manage to spot a solitary female on a cable high above a road in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary as it started to pour down. Here is the best I could get using a 400mm lens.

Here is how I first saw it... just as the rains came.

The 'Teneral' Female ???

When I visited a small stream near a resort I was staying at recently (8/7/12), I noticed a number of males. Very early the following morning I noticed a newly emerged female. Unfortunately, Euphaea masoni was also present. However, I have seen a number of females of that species and this one seemed larger. I could be wrong, though. Can anyone shed light on the matter? I know identifying teneral specimens can be very tough.

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.