193. Lestes dorothea Fraser, 1924

Number: 193  

Family: Lestidae

Genus: Lestes

Species: Lestes dorothea

Common name(s): -  

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Temporary ponds/small permanent forested ponds   

Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (Chaiyaphum); Nam Nao National Park (Petchabun)

Sightings (by me): Locally abundant 

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

Species easily confused with: Lestes praemorsus decipiens; Lestes elatus; Platylestes platystylus

Finally, after searching for it for a long time, I have found it. I think. Lestes dorothea has eluded pretty much everyone (many of the guys on Dragonflies of Thailand on Facebook) including myself but the help of identification through the female has helped for once. 

The major problem is that the males of L. praemorsus and L. dorothea are almost identical in appearance.  I knew that both species had been recorded at Phu Khieo previously and I did notice that the pruinescence at the end of the abdomen on some specimens was significantly reduced when compared to others. Conclusive proof? Of course not. Worse still, the appendages are almost identical (from what I could tell anyway). This was also noted by Tom Kompier on his blog with information that has helped a lot on this. The telltale difference (I am led to believe) is the difference in the female. The female of L. dorothea has the bold markings on the thorax (like a swoosh) followed by another prominent dot. This is the same as the male but is almost always hidden. Again, this was pointed out by Tom on his blog and Noppadon Makbun also explained this to me, though still would like to compare the appendages. Looking back at both males and females, the latter is now easy to separate (see comparison below). However, the male is still a little difficult to separate, but I will have to entrust the expertise of others for now (unless I can find a very young male for easy comparison).

The male:

Though I could be mistaken, from memory it is a slightly larger species than L. praemorsus. However, the key to identifying the male is the reduced pruinescence at the end of the abdomen (see comparison below). 

 L. dorothea, male

 L. praemorsus, male (for comparison)

L. dorothea, copula in the hot afternoon at Nam Nao

 L. dorothea, the same female (not the prominent markings on the thorax)

L. praemorsus, female (for comparison) from Nam Nao. Note the small dots on the thorax.

 Here is a more recent copula from Phu Khieo where the males seem to be abundant (now I can separate them).

Many thanks to Noppadon Makbun for all his help on this confusing genus as well as Tom Kompier for the more than useful information on his blog.

---. Lestes thoracicus (Laidlaw, 1920)

Number: ---

Family: Lestidae

Genus: Lestes

Species: Lestes thoracicus
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): N/A
Habitat: Lowland areas, often seemingly void of a water body
Province(s) sighted:  My back garden! and a few other places so widespread (Khon Kaen)
Sightings (by me): Uncommon
In flight (that I have seen): April-November (possibly year-round)

So the new species keep coming... even when I'm not doing anything! Lestes thoracicus, a species I didn't know I had photographed nor did I know it resided in Khon Kaen and even my back garden for that matter! I always thought that this was mature L. concinnus until Oleg Kosterin pointed out that it is, in fact, as different species altogether. 

Oleg commented on the species (when I had it identified it as mature L. concinnus): "Quite a time ago I was striken by your photos as I never heard L. concinnus gets blueish or greenish. Asahina describes it as "an entirely pale brownish tinted insect", and so I saw it many times. Also the broad dark dorsal stripe in the 'adult male' is strange. What I am trying to say: the bluish ones [whilst on my previous blog with a mix of 2 species] are Lestes thoracicus Laidlaw. I see two characteristic dots on the metepisternum of the prothorax. Asahina points at these dots and describes the colour as 'bluish olive' and wrote 'abdomen mat black dorsally' for the male, isn't this so in yours? What is also characteristic for the species: the pterostigma dark inside and light outside."

Well, that's me all excited again! I'm going to go out this weekend around Khon Kaen for a change and try to find out more abut the habitat of this species. 

The male

The male is about the same size as L. concinnus, but its obvious difference is its colour.

The female

The female is identical to the male, but is slightly more robust. I need to look for more photos of the female in my archives (I'm sure I have some, somewhere).

The female ... close up

Another female basking in the late after noon sun.

In the past, I used to search for this species often. I found 1 male, but then didn't spot another for a long time. Then, one day, I was out in the back garden (very small, but was overgrown with weeds at the time), I noticed 2 males and a female and I still haven't found a water source closer than 1 km. So, I have no idea why they were there. Bear in mind I live on an estate surrounded by many houses. Maybe they were resting. I have also spotted 2 males near small farmer's ponds, surrounded by flat, baron landscape. I need to search the area more thoroughly to give a more accurate description of habitat.

That now means that I have spotted and photographed 4 species from the Lestidae family in Khon Kaen province: Lestes elatus, Lestes concinnus, Lestes thoracicus and Orolestes octomaculata, which I saw at Phu Wiang NP, Khon Kaen earlier this year. 

Once again, Many many thanks to Oleg Kosterin for correcting my identification and providing information regarding the species.  

133. Lestes praemorsus decipiens (Hagen in Selys, 1862)

Number: 133

Family: Lestidae

Genus: Lestes

Species: Lestes praemorsus decipiens
Common name(s): Scalloped Spreadwing, 

Crenulated Spreadwing, Sapphire-eyed Spreadwing
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มปีกแผ่ลายสมอ
Habitat: Exposed natural upland ponds (heavily tree-lined at the edges)
Province(s) sighted: Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima).
Sightings (by me): Rare
In flight (that I have seen): April-July (I assume longer)

On my recent trip to Khao Yai NP, I saw a number of new species, as well as being on the receiving end of a million leech bites! However, it was all worth it, as I saw a beautiful new species in Lestes praemorsus decipiens. I saw this species once before in Chiang Mai, but the photos are too poor for a true ID. It was resting at the edge of the pond in open water, early in the morning and was the very first species I saw that day... anything else was a bonus!

The male
A beautiful specimen, that has a rather short abdomen, 
compared to L. platystylus. This specimen also has heavy pruinescence and therefore the dorsal 'scallop' shape is hidden. Still, a great looking damselfly and a new species for me.

The male very early in the morning.

Same image, but without flash, for a more natural appearance.

Close up of the face.

The female

Upon my return to Khao Yai, I managed to spot a copula, which was brilliant to watch. The female (still with the male attached) oviposited for long periods. Here is a close-up of the female (part of a copula).

The copula

Ovipositing

Here, the female is ovipositing onto rotting vegetation.

Many, many thanks to Mr. Oleg Kosterin for the ID of the male.

80. Lestes concinnus (Hagen in Selys, 1862)

Number: 80

Family: Lestidae

Genus: Lestes

Species:  Lestes concinnus

Common name(s): Brown spreadwing; Dusky spreadwing

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มปีกแผ่อีสาน

Habitat: Mostly found in long grasses of open, baron fields in the lowlands
Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common (but you have to search barren fields)

In flight (that I have seen):  March-December

Another Lestes species, and the first one I ever saw in Khon Kaen, is Lestes concinnus. It seems to be a fairly common species, but one you have to go in search for, as I have found it often well away from any water source in open, barren fields. Therefore, I haven't seen one for a fairly long time, except when they pop up at marshland from time to time.

The male

The male is a light or tan brown in colour. I spotted this specimen in Khon Kaen in marshland area.

The male sometimes folded his wings back when I approached. Maybe some kind of camouflage defence mechanism ... to add to the brown body over dry brown mud and dry brown sticks!

The female

The female is almost identical to the male, only the caudal appendages differ and the abdomen is more robust. 

Here's a female I found dead in a cobweb ...

I have seen this species all over Khon Kaen, from lakes to open featureless fields without any water supply. I have seen specimens from March-December but they seem very scarce nowadays.

3. Lestes elatus (Hagen in Selys, 1862)

Number: 3

Family: Lestidae

Genus: Lestes

Species: Lestes elatus

Common name(s): Emerald Spreadwing; White-tipped Spreadwing

Synonyms: N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มป่าสีฟ้าปลายขาว, แมลงปอเข็มปีกกางสีน้ำตาล

Habitat: Both Upland and lowland ponds (and remote, baron landscape)

Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen), Nam Nao environs (Petchabun), Phu Rua NP (Loei); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima)

Sightings (by me): Fairly Common

In flight (from what I have seen): Year-round (they seem scarce February-May)

Species easily confused with: Lestes concinnus; Lestes praemorsus decipiens; Lestes thoracicus

Lestes elatus... the damselfly that got me into chasing these little things around the country to get photos. I saw one in my back garden and just thought it looked amazing. This is a large-sized damselfly and, although quite clumsy in landing, can disappear quickly, making photography difficult.

I initially thought this was a lowlands dweller (it resides in Khon Kaen, which is extremely flat), but I have since spotted this species at Nam Nao environs (approx. 1000 metres above sea level) and a small pond at Phu Rua NP, Loei province (again up to 1000 metres up). So, it is a species that is highly adaptable.

The male

This is a mature male, which is a striking blue. The markings on the thorax make it easy to identify.

Mid-stage male

Shows the distinctive thoracic markings clearly. This male will eventually turn blue, like the male. 

Up close and personal

Shows the distinctive thoracic markings on a mid-stage male. 

Teneral male
Here is a teneral male. It clearly has a blue tinge to the wings. Something I have only seen on specimens I saw at Phu Rua National Park, Loei.

The female

Very similar to the young male, but has slightly different markings and colours and the abdomen is slightly thicker.

An unfortunate ending...

This female was snaffled by a rather ugly spider and met an abrupt ending.

The teneral female

These females really are 'fresh'. This female still has closed wings (top) and the blue tinge can clearly be seen. Looks very much like Indolestes I think! They will open out in time (as specimen 2). They, too, have a blue tinge to the wings, like the male counterparts at Phu Rua NP. I can only assume that the blue colouration fades with time.

A mature female

This is a fully mature female. It is slightly darker in appearance than the above female.

A copula...

This is a fully mature male (blue), with a fully mature female. I have seen many specimens of this species, but never a blue female. Personally, I don't think it turns blue. I think this is as close as you get to the adult female (see close-up). It's a greeny colour, with a slight blue tinge. The eyes are also slightly blue in colour.

Close up of the male's clapers in action...

This species I have spotted many times in Khon Kaen, north eastern Thailand, where I have been living for the past seven years. I have seen it throughout the year. It tends to stay far away from water, although I did spot two blue males near a swampy area when I visited Nam Phong National Park (near Khon Kaen). I have since seen a good number of males and a copula at a tiny pond by the roadside, Nam Nao town and Phu Rua NP, Loei, both uplands ponds.