96. Neurothemis tullia (Drury, 1773)

Number: 96

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Neurothemis

Species: Neurothemis tullia

Common name(s): Pied Paddy Skimmer, Pied Parasol, Pied Percher, Blackspot Widow

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านใหม่ผู้แต้มขาวเมียลาย

Habitat: Open wasteland / edge of ponds (mostly lowlands)

Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao environs (Petchabun);  Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); small pond, Kabin Buri;  Koh Chang (Trat); farmer's pond (Prachaub Khiri Khan).

Sightings (by me): Extremely common

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

If you visit any field in the Khon Kaen area, you are sure to bump into this tiny dragonfly. Neurothemis tullia is a very common species that I have seen many many times. I would say it is also one of the smallest dragonflies, certainly that I have seen anyway. 

The male

The male changes in colour slightly as it ages. On the adult male, the most obvious feature are its wings. Both the forewings and hindwings have black colouration from the base of the wings to about half way. There is also a white patch following the black. This is only on the adult males. Youngest males don't have the white mark yet (see teneral male). There is a cream dorsal line with black edging running from the prothorax to S-8 on the abdomen, which disappears as it matures.  The synthorax is brown/cream and darkens with age. S9-10 are black, caudal appendages white. The eyes are cherry red dorsally and green at the base. 

The mature male...

This is the least common sight amongst this species. Most males are similar to the ones below. However, the mature male has a completely black abdomen. The white patches on the wings also seem to fade with age. 

... now looking at what I am doing.

The male

This is the most common sight. Most males have a cream dorsal stripe along the abdomen and the white patch on the wings seems far more prominent.

The teneral male

This very young male is the same as the above, but doesn't yet have the white patches on the wings.

The female

The female is very similar to the male, except for the wings. The abdomen is also stouter. The white patch on the wings becomes more prominent as it ages.

A common, yet extremely nice looking dragonfly. It is also very small and a shy creature making it difficult to photograph.

95. Neurothemis intermedia atalanta (Rambur, 1842)

Number: 95

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Neurothemis

Species: Neurothemis intermedia atalanta

Common name(s): Paddyfield Parasol, Pale Yellow Widow, Ruddy Meadow Skimmer

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านใหม่กึ่งวิถ

Habitat: Varied (Open lowland paddy fields to the edge of uplands forests)

Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun);  Phu Rua environs (Loei); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Khao Soi Dao (Chantaburi); Kanchanaburi environs (Kanchanaburi); small pond, Kabin Buri;  Pang Sida NP (Sa Kaew); Koh Chang (Trat).

Sightings (by me): Very common (except for the mature male)

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

A common member of the Libellulidae family is Neurothemis intermedia atalanta. It can be seen in many places from open wasteland to the edge of forests. I would say that the female is more commonly seen than the male.

The male

The male is easily identifiable. It is generally orange/yellow in colour. It has two broken black lines running dorsally along the abdomen. The stigma is black and becomes ochre as it ages. The eyes are cherry red dorsally. The base of the eye is green/white. It has feint markings on the synthorax.

Strangely enough, the mature adult male is scarce - for me anyway. It is similar to the younger male, but the abdomen colour has change to a bold orange, and the colour at the wing base is more prominent. Though scarcely seen, this male was spotted in my back garden!

Male, in the hand

A male starting to turn orange ...

Sub-adult male

The young male is very similar to the female and are very common at this stage.

The female

The female is very similar to the young male. The black dorsal lines are thicker than the males and the terminal segments are generally darker. The colour at the base of the wings is generally much less prominent.

Female, in the hand

You can see this species throughout the country, especially in open vasting fields and is commonly seen during the cool season.

72. Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773)

Number: 72

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Neurothemis

Species: Neurothemis fulvia

Common name(s): Fulvous Forest Skimmer, Russet Percher, Cleartip Widow

Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านใหม่กลม, แมลงปอบ้านตาลปลายปีกใส

Habitat: Edge of forests, drains, ponds, lakes and streams (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Phu Wiang NP (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun);  Phu Kradueng, Phu Rua NP/environs (Loei); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Widespread (Chiang Rai); Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Khao Soi Dao (Chantaburi); Kanchanaburi environs (Kanchanaburi); small pond, Kabin Buri;  Koh Chang (Trat).
Sightings (by me): Extremely common
In flight (that I have seen): February-December

A common dragonfly, I often spot at the edge of forests, is Neurothemis fulvia. It is easy to identify and if you see one, you should see a number of them at the same time.

The mature male

The male is sometimes red and sometimes brown, depending on age. The patterns on the wings make it easy to identify. They like to perch on branches and twigs near water, as well as a good distance away. This specimen, I saw in Chiang Mai, is more of a red colour.

The young male

This male (younger than the one above), will eventually become more like the specimen above. 

The oldest male in the world...???

I felt really sorry for this old guy and had to take a photo of him... he really does look like he's been in the wars and could tell his kids a story or two.

The female

The female is more interesting than the male, as it seems to have a number of shades of colour and depends on age. This one is more of a yellow colour and therefore young. 

More females

The following two females I saw in Chiang Rai and have slightly different wing colours. I think they look great.

What are you looking at?

This female was very inquisitive and landed right above my head, looking at what I was doing (probably anyway). I think it has a look of Mick Jagger!

The mature (actually ancient) female

This female, I saw at Phu Wiang National Park, Khon Kaen. It was very old looking and when it flew you could hear it from a good distance. Not like other specimens that are very quiet.

71. Neurothemis fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793)

Number: 71

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Neurothemis

Species: Neurothemis fluctuans

Common name(s): Obligue-banded Widow, Coppertone Velvetwing, Common Parasol

Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านใหม่เฉียง, แมลงปอบ้านแถบปีกมน

Habitat: Exposed ditches, ponds, lakes and rivers (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: River Ping (Chiang Mai); Khao Kitchakut (Chantaburi); Koh Chang (Trat); Pa La-U waterfall (Pratchup Khiri Khan).
Sightings (by me): Uncommon, except at Koh Chang
In flight (that I have seen): April-December

One species that is supposed to be common, but I have only seen seldomly, is Neurothemis fluctuans. When I was in Chiang Mai, I saw a solitary male at the River Ping for the first time. Since then I have spotted this species at several lowland areas, often on the edge of forests.

The mature male

 It is often confused with the very similar species, Neurothemis fulvia. The easy way to tell them apart is the wing pattern. On the male Neurothemis fluctuans, the edge of the colour on the hind wings is arced. Also, the marks on the abdomen are slightly different. The mature male is more cherry red/brown in colour.

The young male

When I was just outside Khao Kitchakut National Park in December 2010, I had a quick look at a tiny pond by the roadside. I was fortunate enough to see a young male which was hiding away in the bushes. It has all the markings of the adult, but isn't fully developed. I also saw another young male at Kaeng Krachan recently.

The female

Right after spotting the young male, I saw a female in the same bush for the one and only time. It is very similar to the young male, but  doesn't have any colouration to the wings. Since then, I spotted several females at a ditch right on the beach at Koh Chang, though photographing them was too difficult.

Thank you, David Bastien, for correcting my typo ....  Neurothemis fluctuans and NOT  Neurothemis fluctans. Serves me right for cutting and pasting. I need to pay more attention!!!