124. Pseudagrion australasiae Selys, 1876

Number: 124

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Pseudagrion

Species: Pseudagrion australasiae

Common name(s): Blue-headed Sprite, Look-alike Sprite
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มบ่อออสเตรเลีย, แมลงปอเข็มบ่อฟ้าใหญ่
Habitat: Exposed ponds and lakes (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Khon Kaen environs; Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun);  Widespread (Chiang Mai); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Khao Kitchakut NP (Chantaburi).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common
In flight (that I have seen): April-December
Species easily confused with: Pseudagrion microcephalum; Cercion malayanum;

One species that I'm sure I have seen a number of times is Pseudagrion australasiae. However, unless you are very, very close to it, it is hard to tell the difference between P. australasiae and P. microcephalum. Having studied photos for a long time, one difference I have noticed (I think) is that P. microcephalum is a brighter, more vivid blue. Whereas P. australasiae is a slightly more muted blue. Also, P. australasiae is slightly bigger but has shorter caudal appendages compared to that of P. microcephalum. 

The male

As mentioned above, the male is very similar to the male of P. microcephalum. If you see two together, it is easier to compare as P. australasiae is duller in colouration and is also larger. Also, P. microcephalum is far more common in Khon Kaen and the surrounding areas. 

 

P. australasiae is slightly larger than P. microcephalum (a good way of IDing if seen together)

The superior (top) appendages are shorter than those of P. microcephalum

dorsal view ...

A youngish male

This one hasn't quite developed that shimmering blue colour.

The 'adult' female...

The female is very similar to other females in the genus. However, for me, I was lucky recently. At at large, shallow lake I saw recently at Khao Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima province, I spotted many males and females, including the female at all stages. P. microcephalum wasn't present, making identification much easier.

Here is a very old female.

The adult female is blue in colour.

The 'mid-stage' female...

Here, we have a mid-stage female, which is just showing signs of blue on the thorax.

The 'young' female...

This is a young female, which is brown in colour. There were many of these early in the morning. However, once the sun came up, they all vanished into the bushes and trees.

77. Pseudagrion pruinosum (Burmeister, 1839)

Number: 77

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Pseudagrion

Species: Pseudagrion pruinosum

Common name(s): Grey Sprite

Thai name(s):แมลงปอเข็มบ่อขนเทา, แมลงปอเข็มแปลงฟ้าดำ

Habitat: Exposed ditches, ponds and lakes (uplands and lowlands)

Province(s) sighted: Nam Nao environs (Petchabun); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Khao Soi Dao NP, Khao Kitchakut NP (Chantaburi); Kanchanaburi environs (Kanchanaburi).

Sightings (by me): Common in localised areas

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

A medium-sized damselfly I have seen in Chiang Mai, Chantaburi, Kanchanaburi and as far east as Petchabun, is Pseudagrion pruinosum. 

The male

The male is instantly recognisable, with its orange face and heavily pruinosed thorax. If spotted, I tend to only see it in small numbers.

This is the most 'eastern' male I have seen, spotted recently in Petchabun. It was a solitary male that I spotted, so is obviously uncommon in the area.

A male enjoying the blazing sunshine at 'Huaykaew' waterfall, Doi Suthep.

Close up of a younger male and is more of a blueish colour.

The female

Like many species I have seen over the three years I have been looking on and off for odonata, the female Pseudagrion pruinosum has proved to be tough to find and I have only spotted the female once in Chiang Mai. Worse still, when I returned home I noticed that the shot was slightly blurred. Never mind, I'm sure I will be able to add a better one soon.

24. Pseudagrion williamsoni (Fraser, 1922)

Number: 24

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Pseudagrion

Species: Pseudagrion williamsoni
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มบ่อวิเลี่ยมสัน, แมลงปอเข็มแปลงฟ้าหน้าแดง
Habitat: Exposed uplands ponds and lakes (southerly) 
Province(s) sighted: Khao Kitchakut/environs (Chantaburi)
Sightings (by me): Fairly common at the above location
In flight (that I have seen): November (though obviously much longer)
Species easily confused with: Pseudagrion australasiae; Pseudagrion microcephalum

Another Pseudagrion species and the third I have now posted, is one I saw late last year at Khao Kitchakut National Park, near Chantaburi. It is, of course, Pseudagrion williamsoni. 

The male

At the large lake near the headquarters of Khao Kitchakut NP, I spent a long time looking for this species. There were many Pseudagrion microcephalum, making locating them tough. Then I saw the green face. It's unmistakeable. They are very shy and fly away at the slightest movement. Eventually, I managed to spot one that was happy in my company and I got a few photos. 

Green with envy...

I managed to capture this one and again I haven't got round to cutting those fingernails!

The female

I am 99% sure that this is the female. The black stripe on the side of the thorax is much broader than that of P. microcephalum. If I am wrong, please let me know.

I have only seen this species once and was guided there by... you guessed it, Noppdon Makbun! Thank you very much once again. I think the species is there all year round. 

23. Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps (Selys, 1876)

Number: 23

Family: Coenagrionidae

Genus: Pseudagrion 

Species: Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps
Common name(s): Saffron-faced Blue Dart, 
Orange-Faced Sprite, Red-Headed Sprite
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มบ่อหน้าส้ม
Habitat: Exposed ponds, lakes & drains (uplands & lowlands)
Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun); Khao Kitchakut (Chantaburi); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima).
Sightings (by me): Extremely common
In flight (that I have seen): February-December (probably year-round)
Species easily confused with: None

The first Pseudagrion species I ever saw and managed to get photos of, was Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps. It is a very common species and in certain parts of Khon Kaen, there are many, many of them in localised areas. The males are very commonly seen, but the females tend to hide away in nearby bushes, grasses or trees. Unfortunately, they are really difficult to get near and photograph. It has taken me a few years to get photos like the ones below.

The male

It's easy to see why the male is instantly recognisable... it's got a bright, orange head that makes it look a bit like Paul Scholes! The thorax is azure blue and green dorsally and the abdomen is blue with black markings and bright blue end segments.

Hmmm ... I'm getting hungry

What's that ... ?

Naaa ... just a tasteless moth

In the hand ...

The (almost) adult male

This male I saw at Nam Nao recently and it is the first I have seen that is in-between the young brownish specimen and the full adult.

The sub-adult male

The young male has all the hallmarks of the adult, but the colours have not yet developed.

The female

The female is often seen in bushes, grasses and trees up to 200 metres from the water's edge. Only when it is ready to mate does it reach the water. The colours of the female are similar to that of the young male.  The end segment marking can also sometimes look like a "pacman". 

A 'very old' female I saw recently in Khon Kaen...

 

The fully mature female ... 

in action (fending off a male Aciagrion tillyardi ... the purple splodge in the background)

Caught in the act...

I managed to catch this female with my fingers and it gives an idea of size. She returned to her tree afterwards, unharmed. And, yes, I need to cut my fingernails!

The copula

I managed to take a photo of a copula in the "tandem" position. 
The copula stayed inter-locked for long periods of time. Note the damage to the female's eye - probably caused by an over-eager male.

You will find this species pretty much throughout the country all year, but take care not to confuse the female with other Pseudagrion females. Though they are common, they are also very shy and it takes a lot of stealth and dedication to get close to them.