170. Drepanosticta sp.

Number: 170 
Family:   Platystictidae
Genus: Drepanosticta 
Species: Drepanosticta sp. (probably yet to be described)
Common name(s):N/A
Synonyms: N/A 
Habitat: Rocky forested stream
 Province(s) sighted: Pa La-U Waterfall (Pratchup Khirikhan)
Sightings (by me): Solitary male
In flight (that I have seen): May (2014) 
Species easily confused with: Drepanosticta species

At the end of a long and fruitful day at Pa La-U waterfall, I made my way back down to the first level, acutely aware that a storm was brewing slightly higher up the mountain. Just as I was about to put my camera back into my camerabag, I noticed an extremely long Platystictidae perching on a tree trunk. I knew it was a new species for me, but couldn't tell in the bad lighting whether it was in the genus Drepanosticta or Protosticta. I managed a few poor shots and then a group of tourists walked past and the thing flew away. I searched for a while and then remembered the male Drepanosticta jurzitzai which I had spotted a few weeks earlier. I simply stood back and waited. And waited. And then ... amazingly, he returned to the exact same spot. This time I managed to get a few better shots and with the storm rapidly approaching, I caught the specimen with my fingers. By now I knew it was Drepanosticta sp. and thought it was possibly D. sharpi. I managed a few shots in the hand and while preparing to get shots of the abdomen, I slipped and released it by mistake. It flew straight up and out of sight. I still thought I had enough shots for ID. However, upon my return, I posted my photos on "Dragonflies of Thailand" on Facebook and Noppadon Makbun informed me that there are a number of species in the genus yet to be described. This is likely to be one of them. So ... like many specimens spotted on this trip, I cannot conclude the exact species. It will for now be Drepanosticta sp.

The male.

The male is, like many species in the genus, dull in colouration with a bright patch on the abdomen. This specimen, however, had an abdomen that seemed to go on forever. The other notable thing, is that the thorax has a dull but noticeable green metallic sheen dorsally.

 The best natural shots (in almost darkness):

Now in the hand (notice that stunning metallic green sheen):

 Not a great photo (light had almost gone), but gives an idea of size (and my hideous fingernails):

My best attempt at photographing the appendages, before it escaped:

Thanks to everyone with their help on trying to ID this specimen, especially to Noppadon Makbun.

165. Drepanosticta jurzitzai Hämäläinen, 1999

Number: 165 
Family:  Platystictidae
Genus: Drepanosticta
Species: Drepanosticta jurzitzai Hämäläinen, 1999
Common name(s):Jurzitza's Shadowdamsel
Synonyms: N/A 
Habitat: Deep forest area of upland streams 
 Province(s) sighted: Khao Kitchacut NP (Chantaburi)
Sightings (by me): 2 males
In flight (that I have seen): April (2014) 
Species easily confused with: N/A

Towards the end of a very fruitful trip, I was making my way back down the nicely laid out path of the waterfall at Khao Kitchacut NP. Really tired with burning legs from 2 /12 days of walking in and around streams and slippery boulders, I almost fell into an old hollowed out log between levels 7-8. Amazingly it spooked a damselfly I had missed on the way up. I knew straight away that it was a new species. I also knew it was a new genus for me though I wasn't sure of the species. I saw him land about 5 metres away. I edged forward and set myself up. Perfect ... ready ... focus ... bollocks! A female P. khaosiodaoensis spooked it and it seemed to fly away. I searched four about 20 minutes in really dull territory and almost gave up. Then I thought, "Maybe he has returned to that log." Amazingly, there he was. Inside his log. Now he was happy for me to snap away though the lighting was terrible and it took me a long time to get anything different. Once I was happy I had got good enough photos I said goodbye to him and went in search of his girlfriend. I didn't find her, but I did spot a second male at another log close by. When I returned home, I did a little research and it was clearly Drepanosticta jurzitzai, a species that seems to be only known from that location (though this may have changed). According to Noppadon Makbun, it is also early for the species ... maybe why there where no females to be found. 

The male.

It is instantly recognisable with its blue dorsal patch covering S9-10. They are easy to get near and photograph too.

 I will return one day in search of the female, though I will probably go a little later in the year when they may well  be more abundant.

 

163. Protosticta khaosoidaoensis Asahina, 1984

Number: 163
Family:  Platystictidae 
Genus: Protosticta 
Species: Protosticta khaosoidaoensis 
Common name(s):Khao Soi Dao's Forestdamsel 
Synonyms: N/A 
Habitat: Upland forested streams 
 Province(s) sighted: Khao Soi Dao waterfall, Khao Kitchacut NP, (Chantaburi province) 
Sightings (by me): Common at this location 
In flight (that I have seen): April (2014) 
Species easily confused with: Protosticta curiosa Fraser, 1934

I recently visited two well-known locations in the province of Chantaburi, specifically in search of one tiny species. The places I refer to are Khao Soi Dao waterfall near the wildlife sanctuary and Khao Kitchacut NP. Both places are fairly well documented in terms of odonates, as well as birds. I had also visited both places before but this was back in 2011 and also it was December, when it was very quiet on the dragonfly front. The damselfly in question was Protosticta khaosoidaoensis, a tiny and extremely slender-looking species which is superficially identical to the far more commonly seen P. curiosa. The latter species is known from the west of Thailand, whereas P. khaosoidaoensis is only known from the above locations in the east. I was fortunate not only to find both male and female, but they were extremely abundant. I seem also to have spotted two different females. One of which has dark end segments as described and a slight variant which has a distinct dorsal patch on S9. This could simply be a variation or possibly a different species or sub-species. Maybe someone out there knows! Anyway, I have now seen all 4 known species from the genus ... I couldn't be happier!

The male

The male is almost identical to other males in the genus. One of the most obvious differences is that it has only 1 tiny black dot on the prothorax. I tried to photograph the caudal appendages, but anyone who has seen this genus will know that it is almost impossible with a standard macro lens and poor lighting. 

Here you can see the solitary dot on the otherwise whitish prothorax. 

 Here's my best attempt at photographing the appendages (awful, really)

The female

The female is very similar to others in the genus. However, S9-10 are entirely dark. 

Yet several females had clearly defined white dorsal patches.

... and this specimen, the dorsal patch seems to be very faint.

The above females could simply be mature females or possibly of a different species. Hopefully an expert will know for sure. 

151. Protosticta medusa (Fraser, 1934)

Number: 151

Family: Platystictidae

Genus:  Protosticta

Species:  Protosticta medusa

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มรำไรเมดูซา

Habitat: Extremely darkened areas in forested streams

Province(s) sighted: Sai Yok Yai Waterfall (Kanchanaburi)

Sightings (by me): Rare

In flight (that I have seen): August

Following a difficult day at Erawan (seriously dark with heavy rain, mud and tourists), I decided to venture to a place I had been to once before. Again, it was extremely quiet on the odonata front and the heavens opened within about 5 minutes of my arrival. Fortunately, there was a break in the weather and I was able to search gingerly. The place was totally void of odonata ... well, not quite. Under a tree and heavily shaded, almost black, was a solitary damselfly. And I knew it was a new species straight away, due to its rather distinct caudal appendages. 

Searching the Internet when I returned home, I think it is Protosticta medusa. I only saw this solitary male, but did get a fleeting glimpse of the female. She came into view (near the same tree) and the male [I was photographing] swooped down onto her and then carried her high up into the trees. And that was it. I didn't see another male or female for that matter, even though I continued for long periods. Still, I got pretty good shots of the male. 

The male

It looks similar to many other species in the genus. However, its caudal appendages and highly distinctive and large. It also seems to have some kind of feather thing (???) above the caudal appendages, though I'm not sure what this is, or what it is used for.

Caudal appendages ...

Here you can see just how complex the caudal appendages are. Also, you can see the little feather-like protrusion coming out of the top. Any ideas what this is for???

150. Protosticta curiosa (Fraser, 1934)

Number: 150

Family: Platystictidae

Genus:  Protosticta

Species:  Protosticta curiosa

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มรำไรปล้องฟ้า, แมลงปอเข็มรำไรปล้องขาว

Habitat: Extremely darkened areas in upland forested streams

Province(s) sighted: Erawan Waterfall [level 5] (Kanchanaburi); Tak environs

Sightings (by me): Scarce

In flight (that I have seen): August-October

An amazingly difficult and arduous trip to Kanachanburi only yielded a few new species. In fact, there were very few species of any description full stop. Primarily, as it was raining heavily throughout the trip and many areas were completely inaccessible (some areas were totally blocked). After 4 hours of searching at Erawan waterfall, amongst the millions of Speedo-wearing tourists, I was about to give up. Then, my girlfriend, Beau, noticed a small damselfly deep in the bushes directly below level 5. It turned out to be a female Protosticta grandis - a species I had spotted briefly before, but only a teneral male. Searching deeper in the bushes, I noticed another male and then several more. Amongst them, I saw a single male of another species. It had an extremely long and slim abdomen. I could hardly see it and it took me an age to get any decent photos in almost pitch dark. Not only was it dark, they were resting on twigs just above rotting leaves. They were almost impossible to see. I saw 2 males and 3-4 females within a very small area. 

I returned home and did a little research on the Internet. I'm confident its Protosticta curiosa.

The male

It is instantly recognisable for its extremely long and slim abdomen - how can they fly with wings s short? It eyes are more of a jade colour too, whereas other similar species they are more of a blue colour. Since then, I have also spotted a male in Tak province and managed to get improved photos.

 

The female

There were more females than males present, but were still extremely difficult to photograph. Similar to the male, but has a much stouter and shorter abdomen.

In the hand

Here's a female I managed to catch with my fingers. Unfortunately, it was that dark, I couldn't hardly see when focussing, even with the pilot light on my ring flash. Though not a great photo (blurred to buggery), it shows more accurate colours (especially in the eyes).

If you want to see this species, you will have to search really carefully - even then it may elude you.

102. Protosticta grandis (Asahina, 1985)

Number: 102

Family: Platystictidae

Genus: Protosticta

Species: Protosticta grandis

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s):แมลงปอเข็มรำไรใหญ่

Habitat: Heavily forested upland streams
Province(s) sighted: Doi Inthanon (Chiang Mai); Erawan waterfall (Kanchanaburi).
Sightings (by me): Rare
In flight (that I have seen): March-August

When I visited Chiang Mai last March-May 2010, I discovered around 40 new species for my photo collection. One, which I initially misidentified, was Protosticta grandis. The correct I.D. was pointed out to me by Noppadon  Makbun.

The male
Since finding the teneral male, I have at long last spotted the adult male. He is similar to that of the teneral, however his eyes are now a vivid blue and the humeral stripe has a blue tinge to it. Again, I saw this specimen at Erawan waterfall.

Here's the best natural photo I managed to get (bear in mind it was the dullest, rainiest day in the world).

So ... capturing a specimen and finding a tiny light source was the best option...

 Here are the caudal appendages ...

                                                                      The teneral male

This is the specimen I found at Erawan waterfall, Kanchanaburi (March 2011) again under heavy tree cover ...

The female ...

I was fortunate to also find a female. She is almost identical to that of the male, but easier to approach. The male is slightly trickier to get near. 

Female in the hand ... 

notice how she is "playing dead"- something I have witnessed a lot with damselflies.