131. Rhyothemis obsolescens (Kirby, 1889)

Number: 131

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Rhyothemis

Species: Rhyothemis obsolescens

Common Name(s): Variegated Plain Skimmer, Dusky Flutterer, Bronze Flutterer
Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านไร่ลายเลือน, แมลงปอบ้านไร่ขีดใส, แมลงปอบ้านปีกลายเลือน
Habitat: Exposed upland rivers
Province(s) sighted: Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima)
Sightings (by me): Uncommon
In flight (that I have seen): June-July (longer, I'm sure)

I have just returned from a 2-day trip to Khao Yai Nationl Park. I visited there for the first time, back in April and it was rather quiet, although I did manage to spot one or two new species. This time, however, I faired rather better. Torrential rain, armies of hungry leeches, heavily swollen rivers and inaccessible areas I had previously visited, didn't put me off (though my girlfriend stayed in the rented car most of the time). And it was worth it. I managed to spot a few more specimens, as well as a lot of non-odonata related things and I had a great time. 

I had been driving around Khao Yai National Park all day and right at the death, I noticed a slow-moving, but swollen river about 900 metres up or so. I chanced my arm and drove towards it. I then noticed it was part of a campsite I hadn't even noticed before. There was a beautiful river that ran though it, shrouded by tall, large lilly pads. I saw a few species and decided I needed a full day there and so planned to camp there with my girlfriend in the next few weeks. As I walked back, I noticed something that looked a little like Neurothemis fulvia. Then I realised... it was a species I had been after for a long time, Rhyothemis obsolescens. I followed the male for long periods, trying to get close to it, but it fluttered further along the lilly pads every time. I followed it about 40 metres downstream and then noticed that there were a few more specimens. Almost waist-deep in mud, I managed to get close enough to get a few half-decent photos, much to the amusement of the camping Thais, and the embarrassment of my girlfriend. So, there you have it... all 5 species in the Rhyothemis genus! I couldn't be happier.


Since then, I have returned and found both male and female!

The male

From a distance, the male looks much more boring than its cousins. However, on closer inspection, its a vivid bronze with lots of dazzling variants in colour and patterns on its wings. It really is a truly magnificent creature.

In the hand...

I managed to capture a young male. As you can see, they are small, but no less beautiful.

The female...
Early one morning, I ventured out to the river while my girlfriend was still in the tent. I was glad that I did, as I saw not one, but two females! As with all species in the genus, the females usually hide far away from the water's edge.


The female is identical to the male, except its abdomen is more robust. This one has a damaged forewing.

Here's another female, which I also managed to capture with my little net (it's really handy!)

Now in the hand...

This shows just how similar the female is to the male.

128. Rhyothemis triangularis (Kirby, 1889)

Number: 128
Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Rhyothemis

Species: Rhyothemis triangularis

Common Name(s): Sapphire Flutterer, Triangle Glider, Lesser Blue Wing
Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านไร่สามเหลี่ยม
Habitat: Exposed marshland, ponds and lakes (uplands) surrounded by forest
Province(s) sighted: Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common at Nam Nao environs
In flight (that I have seen): April-September

One of my favourite genus is Rhyothemis and it has just got even better for me. I managed to spot and photograph Rhyothemis triangularis for the first time and it is incredibly beautiful close up. I saw several of the species at the Helicopter Pad lake, Nam Nao. Fortunately for me, the wind was strong, forcing many of species to land and hold onto the grasses and weeds. 

I managed to get very close (the photos are uncropped) to the species and take some photos and I instantly fell in love with it. Although it seems much smaller in real life than I thought, it still looks extremely beautiful. On the second day (with little wind), they resumed their fluttering in the air for long periods, similar to that of the other species in the genus. 
Since then, I visited a number of ponds along the roadside on the way to Nam Nao town (road 2116, I think). At every pond - mostly farmer's ponds - there were one or two present. However, just 1 kms outside Nam Nao town, there was a cluster of ponds/marshland and there were literally hundreds of them!

The male

Simply beautiful. That's all I really have to say. It can't be mistaken for any other species. The base of the wings are a bluish purple. The stigma is also the same, as is the thorax and the abdomen.

The wings are much darker on the underside.

The female...

Not only did I see hundreds of males at marshland,  near Nam Nao town, I also saw a few females which only land briefly after copulation.

Another female from a slightly different angle. If you look carefully, you can see the eggs forming at the base of her abdomen.

An amazing thing...

This is another female I managed to capture with my net. As I held her up to photograph her, eggs started pouring out. The difference in time with the below two photos is about 15-20 seconds. When I released her, she flew straight down to the water and dropped them into the water, before flying high back into the treetops. I wonder if the female can't stop producing/releasing eggs, once she has started.

The copula...

I even managed to spot and photograph a copula (though not the best photo in the world). Bear in mind that they always land deep in the rushes and it only lasts for a few seconds, then they split. So, not a bad effort really.

118. Rhyothemis plutonia (Selys, 1883)

Number: 118

Family: Libellulidae

Genus:  Rhyothemis

Species:  Rhyothemis plutonia

Common name(s): Greater Blue Wing
Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านไร่ปลายใส
Habitat: Exposed shallow, weedy marshland (warm water), ponds and lakes (mostly mid- uplands)
Province(s) sighted: Phu Wiang NP & environs (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun);  Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Phu Ruea environs (Loei).
Sightings (by me): Fairly common
In flight (that I have seen): April-July

FINALLY! I managed to capture photos of this species. I had seen a solitary male twice before, but they continually flew high above the treetops giving me no hope of photographing them. Then, at a tiny pond/marshy area with warm water, I saw two males fighting each other. After each battle they would land back in the same position. They did this over and over again. Eventually, I crept down some steep banking and through the marshy area. I got it! In fact, these are completely uncropped and I was amazed how they didn't just fly away. So there it was, my 3rd species from this genus, Rhyothemis plutonia.

The male

Simply stunning is the best way to describe this species. It is almost completely black, but has sparkling metallic green and pink/orange colouration to the wings, which gives it its name.

These are the best natural photos I have managed so far. 

This one I caught recently at Nam Nao... it had just been in a battle with another male, hence the damaged wing. 

The female ...

At long, long last I have managed to get good photos of the female when I visited a stream at Phu Ruea environs (7/6/12). Unlike the few others I have seen (mostly as part of a copula that lasts for a few moments), she sat there happily, letting me get close to her. These photos are uncropped. The female is the same as the male, but the abdomen is more robust. Also, she seems to have more green colouration to her wings and no pink, though this could vary.

Since writing this blog, I have spotted many more males, especially at Phu Wiang National Park, Khon Kaen. 

103. Rhyothemis phyllis (Sulzer, 1776)

Number: 103

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Rhyothemis

Species: Rhyothemis phyllis

Common name(s): Common Plain Skimmer, Batik Glider, Yellow-barred Flutterer

Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านไร่ปีกทอง

Habitat: Exposed (but mostly tree-lined) marshland, ponds and lakes (uplands & lowlands)

Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao NP/environs (Petchabun); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Khao Yai (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Khao Kitchakut (Chantaburi); small pond, Kabin Buri;  Koh Chang (Trat).

Sightings (by me): Common and widespread
In flight (that I have seen): April-December

Species easily confused with: Rhyothemis variegata variegata

A beautiful Libellulidae I see on regular occasions is Rhyothemis phyllis phyllis. It is very close to Rhyothemis variegata (see earlier entry on my blog) and are often seen together. It flutters in the breeze and can be easily be mistaken for a butterfly. They also tend to fly for long periods of time. 

The male

The male is very similar to the male of Rhyothemis variegata, but has only one black marking on each wing, whereas Rhyothemis variegata has many more small marks. Otherwise, it is very similar.

The female

The female is similar to the male, but the abdomen is more robust. The females are also less common than the males, though can often be seen - without ever landing! I will post more detailed wing shots when I get them.

32. Rhyothemis variegata variegata (Linnaeus, 1763)

Number: 32
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Rhyothemis
Species: Rhyothemis variegata variegata
Common name(s): Common Picture Wing, Variegated Flutterer
Thai name(s): แมลงปอบ้านไร่ปีกทองเปื้อน
Habitat: Exposed areas, near or at ponds/lakes and slow streams (often fly in swarms high up)
Province(s) sighted: Widespread (Khon Kaen); Nam Nao environs (Petchabun); Khao Yai NP (Nakhorn Ratchasima); Widespread (Chiang Mai); Khao Kitchakut NP (Chantaburi); farmer's pond (Prachaub Khiri Khan).
Sightings (by me): Common
In flight (that I have seen): April-November
Species easily confused with: Rhyothemis phyllis phyllis

There are 5 Rhyothemis species of dragonfly and I have so far only seen 2 in Khon Kaen.  The female of Rhyothemis variegata variegata is very common and is often seen with R. phyllis phyllis. They tend to flutter and could easily be mistaken for a butterfly. They are often seen fluttering for long periods of time and only land for brief moments.

The male

The male is difficult to identify but has more spots on its wings than its counterpart R. phyllis phyllis. After two years of searching I finally managed to capture a photo of the male - now I can spot them more easily. 

The female

Unlike the male, the female is easy to separate the species as this female has much more patternation to its wings. They love the bright sunshine and only land momentarily - so have your cameras at the ready.

Very late in the afternoon I managed to pick this one up with my fingers!

You can see this species throughout the country most of the year and is a beautiful species, though it may take some time to spot the male.