206. Prodasineura collaris (Selys, 1860)

Number: 206

Family: Platycnemididae 

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura collaris

Common name(s): Collared Threadtail

Synonym(s): Alloneura collaris Selys, 1860, Alloneura dohrni Krüger, 1898

Habitat: Seepage/overflow from the road that became a tiny stream

Province(s) sighted: Hala below-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): 1 male, 1 female 

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Prodasineura doisuthepensis

Though beautiful little damsels, Prodasineura species are difficult to get good photos of as they tend to hang around the edges of streams and very low down. It was no different when I saw a male Prodasineura collaris. As light was fading fast, I managed to spot a male on my first day deep down perched over a tiny trickle. However, with the light almost gone so too did my chances of getting anything worthy of a good photo.

Two days later, I returned to the same spot and there was a female Prodasineura species on a stick just above a collection of leaves over seepage almost in the exact same place as the male. It was clearly a female P. collaris and she was fairly happy to let me snap away. Content with my shot of the female, I decided to go after the male once more. I pushed my way through bushes and dropped down about 5-6 feet to where there was a little bit more seepage/trickle and there he was. This time I managed to get a few fairly decent photos, especially as he was in such an awkward place. 

The male.
It is easy to ID this species and I am pretty sure it gets its name from the distinct blue band across its collar (see close-up)!

The female.
The female is like most other females in the genus but it has a blueish tinge to it and fortunately for ID purposes, it was the only species in the area.

197. Prodasineura sp.

Number: 197  

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura sp.

Common name(s): 

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Forested sandy-bottomed stream  

Province(s) sighted: Lower reaches of Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat)

Sightings (by me): Locally common 

In flight (that I have seen): April   

Species easily confused with: Prodasineura autumnalis, prodasineura verticalis

One species that I expected to see at Hala-Bala did not disappoint, although it took a little bit of searching to find it. Instead of being at the wildlife sanctuary, it was fairly abundant at a couple of the more open and sandy-bottomed streams nearer the base of Bala. Prodasineura sp. (whichever species it is), is very similar in every aspect to P. autumnulis and P. verticalis and the genus needs revision. Like most species in the genus, it likes to hang low down near the stream's edges and is difficult to photograph. These were the best I could get in blazing sunshine, as my neck was slowly turning into the appearance of a gingerbread biscuit.

The male

109. Prodasineura laidlawii (Förster in Laidlaw, 1907)

Number: 109

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Prodasineura
Species: Prodasineura laidlawii
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มเอราวัณ

Habitat: Slow, uplands rivers and streams, generally where under tree cover

Province(s) sighted: Erawan and Sai Yok Yai waterfalls and environs (Kanchanaburi)
Sightings (by me): Common at several places around Kanchanaburi
In flight (that I have seen): March (though longer, I'm sure)

My recent trip to Kanchanaburi proved to be fairly successful, even though it is early in the 'flight' season. I will post all my findings as they are identified by Noppadon Makbun. Some, though, are easy to identify, even by me!

The first species I found and one I expected to see was Prodasineura laidlawi, my 6th species from the Prodasineura genus. I now just need to find, P. humeralis and P. collaris to complete the set. Hopefully I will find these species when I travel south in October. 

The male

The male is easy to identify and perches on twigs and leaves at the edge of the river. They are easy to spot with their blue stripes on the thorax. Segments 9-10 are blue dorsally and the caudal appendages are also blue. S8 also has a blue mark which changes as it ages. See photos below.

Prodasineura laidlawii, male - See how the marking on S8 has become more prominent as it ages.

A copula

I wasn't able to spot an individual female in the short time I visited Kanchanaburi, but I did manage to see a copula. You can see that the female is similar to the male, but much duller.

You can see this species in Kanchanaburi all year, especially at Erawan waterfall (if you can handle photographing nature amongst thousands of tourists in speedos). 

44. Prodasineura auricolor (Fraser, 1927)

Number: 44

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura auricolor

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มส้มพม่า

Habitat: Heavily forested upland streams
Province(s) sighted: Nam Nao NP and surrounding streams (Petchabun).
Sightings (by me): Common @NN Headquarters, July)
In flight (that I have seen): June-October

The fifth Prodasineura addition to my blog, and the latest I have seen, is Prodasineura auricolor. I saw this species the second time I visited Nam Nao National Park, back in October 2010. I saw two males, one in almost darkness and the other in bright sunshine. The second one I saw, would not keep still and continually moved its abdomen around, providing me with some strange looking photos.

The male

The male is easy to identify as it has bright orange and white markings on its thorax and white dorsal patch on S10.

He moves is mysterious ways...

This male would not keep still and continually moved its abdomen around. Looks good though.

The female...

Similar to other species in the genus, but can't be confused because of its orange colouration to the thoracic stripes. Unlike the male, she likes to hide away under the protection of the bushes.

43. Prodasineura doisuthepensis (Hoess, 2007)

Number: 43

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura doisuthepensis

Common name(s): Doi Suthep's Threadtail

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มดอยสุเทพ

Habitat: Forested upland streams (yet love to perch in exposed gaps)
Province(s) sighted: Stream running through Nam Nao NP (Petchabun);  Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Huay Gairo Waterfall, Ob Khan NP (Chiang Mai).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common
In flight (that I have seen): March-May (though probably longer)

The fourth species of the genus Prodasineura I have now added to my blog is Prodasineura doisuthepensis. I initially thought this was P. collaris, until my mistake was pointed out to me by Noppadon Makbun (who else!?!). When I visited Chiang Mai in March 2010, this species was abundant high up in the national parks, especially (you guessed it) Doi Suthep. I recently saw many specimens residing at the stream which runs through Nam Nao NP ... I was really happy to see this species here.

The male

The male is easily distinguished by its bold blue marks to the thorax and abdomen. They like to sit in the sunshine over streams.

I like to hover for hours ... 

Close up and personal ... a male from Nam Nao NP

The female

The female is much more boring in comparison and is similar to other females of the Prodasineura genus. It does have slightly blue hues to the thorax and eyes.

Ovipositing ...

Though not the best photos in the world (it was dark, really low down and at an almost impossible angle - how I wish I'd had my Canon 60D then!), but they show how this species oviposits. 

These shots were from Nam Nao NP ...

And these in Chiang Mai ...

If you want to see this species you are sure to see it if you visit the rivers and waterfalls around Doi Suthep. That said, Noppadon informed me that the following flight season, they were fairly scarce.

42. Prodasineura verticalis (Selys, 1860)

Number: 42

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus:  Prodasineura

Species:  Prodasineura verticalis

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มส้ม

Habitat: Forested upland streams
Province(s) sighted: Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon; Koh Chang environs (Trat); Lamklong Ngu NP (Kanchanaburi).

Sightings (by me): Uncommon (most common in Chiang Mai)
In flight (that I have seen): March-May (though probably much longer)

When I went to Chiang Mai back in March-May 2010, I noticed a species of Prodasineura that I instantly fell in love with. Prodasineura verticalis. Since I saw this species for the first time, Noppadon Makbun told me that there are 3 distinct forms of this species; "Northern", "Eastern" and "Western" forms, which I have been lucky enough to spot and photograph. Without Noppadon mentioning this, I would have over-looked the other forms. If you compare the three males, you can see significant differences. Noppadon isn't sure which is the true form of the species. It's a fantastic looking species and is the 3rd Prodasineura damselfly I have added to my blog.

The "Northern" male

The male has wonderful red, black and orange stripes on the thorax and the abdomen is completely black except for the caudal appendages which are a greyish colour. This specimen I saw in Chiang Mai (25/03/2010).

The "Eastern" male

The thoracic dorsal markings are much broader than the "Northern" specimen. Other markings are slightly different too. Caudal appendages are also black, not greyish (as above). This specimen I saw at a small river, Koh Chang (13/04/2011).

The "Western" male

Though not the best angle in the world, you can see that the markings on the thorax are different again to the two above (they are slimmer and straigher) and the caudal appendages are black. This one I saw at Kanchanaburi (26/03/2011).

The "Northern" female

The female looks similar to all species in the Prodasineura genus, except it has a slightly red tinge to the thoracic markings. Again, this specimen I saw in Chiang Mai.

The "Eastern" female

Again, even with the female, the thoracic markings are much slimmer than the Northern form. This specimen was ovipositing at a small river, Koh Chang.

An "Eastern" copula, ovipositing

The "Western" female

This isn't a very good shot and so comparing this specimen is difficult. It was raining and under heavy tree cover, making it really dark. It was also too high up to see dorsally and flew away when it tried to get above it. I will get a better example soon. I saw this female in Kanchanaburi.

41. Prodasineura coerulescens (Fraser, 1932)

Number: 41

Family: Platycnemididae

Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura coerulescens

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มผู้ปลายแฉก
Habitat: Tree-lined rivers, lowlands
Province(s) sighted: River Chi (Khon Kaen)
Sightings (by me): Rare
In flight (that I have seen): November-March

The second species of the genus Prodasineura I ever saw, was Prodasineura coerulescens. I was taking photos at the River Chi, Khon Kaen back in December 2008. I thought I had come across another P. autumnulis, but then noticed its azure blue colouration. Then it hit me... it's a new species for me! I have since seen 3-4 males and a female. That said, I haven't spotted this species of damselfly for over 2 years.

The male

Very similar to a young P. autumnulis in appearance, but has wonderful azure blue stripes on its thorax, end segments and its eyes. It is also fairly easy to get close to and photograph. 

I recently returned to the same area [23.xi.13] and saw about 6-7 and the same numbers of females within a very small area of banking, deep undercover.

The male in flight

Like many species in the Prodasinerua genus, they tend to hover for long periods before they settle again (often not until they have caught something to eat).

The female

The female resembles P. autumnulis. However, I saw a number females roosting along with males. The only difference I can see between the two females is that the abdomen of P. coerulescens seems slightly longer and, like the male, is fairly easy to approach.

This female I saw back in 2009.

I have only spotted this species in Khon Kaen and it is seldom seen even here. It is apparently known along the west of Thailand, but I don;t think it is commonly seen.

40. Prodasineura autumnulis (Fraser, 1922)

Number: 40
Family: Platycnemididae
Genus:  Prodasineura
Species: Prodasineura autumnulis
Common name(s): Black Threadtail
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มหางเข็มดำ, แมลงปอเข็มเรียวดำ
Habitat: Tree-lined or exposed rivers, streams and ponds (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: River Chi (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs, waterfall, Lomsak environs (Petchabun);  Phu Kradueng, Phu Rua NP/environs (Loei); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Widespread (Chiang Rai); Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Nakhorn Nayok; Khao Soi Dao NP, Khao Kitchakut NP/environs (Chantaburi).
Sightings (by me): Extremely common
In flight (that I have seen): All year

When I first visited the River Chi, Khon Kaen back in early 2008, I spotted my first ever Prodasineura species - Prodasineura autumnulis. I took a number of photographs of both the male and female. In this area they are in small numbers, but you often see one or two there. For over a year, I thought that the sub-adult male was fully grown. It wasn't until I went  to another place south of Nakhon Sawan that I noticed the adult males are jet black. At first I thought it was a different species, but research proved otherwise.

The male (various stages)

The adult male is black on the thorax and abdomen and also becomes slightly pruinosed with age. It is easily frightened and quite hard to photograph. This is the most common stage.

As the male ages, it changes slightly. This specimen, I captured in Nakhorn Nayok, has slight pruinescence to the side of the thorax (photo 28/03/2011 - added 02/04/2011) ... 

... and this one is completely pruinosed save a small greenish-bronze? part of the thorax. I must admit, this is the only specimen I have seen like this. It was at a largish waterfall in Lomsak province, Petchabun (14/07/12). Though it looks right, it acted differently to all the others around it and the colours add to the mystery. Maybe, just maybe, it may be a slightly different form. Can anyone shed light on this?

The teneral male

This male has just emerged and you can still see his exuvia at the base of the stick he has climbed.

The female

The female is almost identical to the sub-adult male, but the abdomen is far more robust. Like the sub-adult male, it tends to hide away and is less commonly seen.

A newly emerged female...

Although it is called Prodasineura autumnulis, it is common all year round. It prefers slow moving rivers and streams, but I have also seen it at small ponds.