213. Risiophlebia guentheri Kosterin, 2015

Number: 213

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Risiophlebia

Species: Risiophlebia guentheri

Common Name(s): N/A 

Habitat: Forested swampy area

Provinces sighted: Krathing Waterfall (Chantaburi)

Sightings (by me): One male, one female

In flight: July

Species easily confused with: N/A

One of the reasons why the group trip was arranged was to see an incredible species that was recorded for the first time for Thailand just last year. Tiny and black (with yellow markings) and being at home in dull swampy areas, I actually missed it at first. Under heavy tree cover, the other Facebook guys were trying to point it out. They were all firing away and I still couldn't see it! Eventually, on a little stick, there it was: a tiny, dull species known as Risiophlebia guentheri. It is a rather peculiar species that obviously likes swampy areas and so far is only known from the one location in Thailand. Once I managed to get in a few decent photos in the gloom, I could see just how good it looked with its bulbous S1-2 of the abdomen and a curve to the remainder. Fortunately, for me (blind and stupid haha), it was fairly easy to approach. Once we made it back outside the swamp, a couple of the team were already happy in the fact that they, too, had found male and female! Aaarrrgh! They saw the female... and the lighting was much better outside. Amazingly, a second female was found and everyone managed to get in shots of both sexes, although the place was then shrouded in cloud as the rains moved in (you can see the rain on the female as I took photos before dashing for shelter).

The male

Identifiable by its diminutive size and that incredible bulbous section on the abdomen. Knowing how dark it was, I am very happy with these shots. 

The female

Similar to the male but has a more robust abdomen and the bulbous section is even more prominent (you can just see the rain on her abdomen). 

Many thanks to Noppadon Makbun for leading us to this species.

209. Macromia cupricincta Fraser, 1924

Number: 209
Family: Macromiidae
Genus: Macromia
Species: Macromia cupricincta
Common name(s): N/A
Synonyms: N/A
Habitat: Forested stream
Sightings: Solitary male
In flight (that I have seen): July
Species easily confused with: Macromia moorei

During the death throes of the day's light, I was sitting in a bungalow with my wife, Beau, at Krathing Waterfall, when I suddenly heard a loud thud on the window followed by the distinctive 'clacking' sound of a dragonfly. I jumped into action and saw it on the floor outside trying the get upright again. I grabbed it quickly and knew it was Macromia straight away but not sure which species (there are at least ten in the genus and I have only seen one). I hastily put my gear together (everything was being charged for the following day) and started shooting it. Sadly, the lighting was terrible. So, I waited until the morning when there was more light, though it was still very dull with the pending rains. I managed to snap away and with decent shots I did a little research. I landed on Tom's awesome blog (as I usually do now -- thanks, Tom!) and it was quite easy to work out that it was Macromia cupricincta. The unique curve at the base of the wings near the anal loop as well as the protrusion on S10 make identification possible. Yay! Another species for my records.

The Male
It is similar to other species in the genus but has a few distinctive features.

 One is the curved wing near the anal loop...

 ... then there is that dull brownish face to go with its awesome emerald eyes...

... and, of course, that protrusion on S10...

208. Philoganga loringae Fraser, 1927

Number: 208
Family: Philogangidae

Genus: Philoganga

Species: Philoganga loringae 

Common name(s): N/A

Synonym(s): N/A 

Habitat: Small forested stream

Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, (Chaiyaphum)

Sightings (by me): 1 male

In flight (that I have seen): May   

Species easily confused with: Philoganga montana

After years of searching during March and April at PK, I had mentally given up on seeing Philoganga loringae. I know it is on the wing during this time and it had also been recorded at Phu Khieo in March, though I am not sure how many years back we are talking. I never managed to see it and thought that it may not actually be there anymore. However, during a recent trip right at the end of May, I was standing on a bridge looking down at a small, narrow stream with Adrian Plant and my brother, Paul, and pondering whether or not to investigate it. Suddenly, I spotted a large damselfly in the distance at eye level perched on a twig that was high up above the stream. Armed only with my 180mm macro lens getting a photo would have been an impossibility -- well, I actually tried and I am too embarrassed to show the shots. However, with my brother around, he is always set up for birds with his 100-400mm lens. With this setup, it was possible to get in a few shots, though they are only record shots for now. That said, I was clicking my heels all the way home with this sighting. Once I had a record shot in the bag, I searched the stream below but didn't manage to spot a single specimen, which was made worse by the fact that the male was still perched high above my head (maybe I need to learn female damselfly mating sounds if there were ever such a thing haha).

I had actually seen and photographed Philoganga montana a few hundred kilometres north of Kanchanaburi a few years back in March and, though still rare, P. loringae seems to be a little more common but had evaded my lens until now. So, roll on next year when I can spend more time searching for this stunning damselfly... but will go in March/April again now I know where it is and there may be a few others to be seen.

The male
Only record shots, but good enough for an ID. One of the largest damsels in Thailand.

207. Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae Selys, 1878

Number: 207

Family: Gomphidae

Genus: Macrogomphus

Species: Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae

Common name(s): N/A

Synonym(s): N/A 

Habitat: Lowland forested stream (shallow and sandy-bottomed)

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

Sightings (by me): 3-4 males

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Macrogomphus matsukii

My last 'new species' for my records from Narathiwat is a beauty. At a shallow and sandy-bottomed stream I instantly noticed a fairly large Gomphid. As I closed in, I knew it was a Macrgomphus species but it flew away before I got decent shots of it. I continued wading through the stream and noticed at least 2 other males. Both of these were far easier to approach and I managed to snap away, though one was clinging on to grass which made photography difficult. I also managed to get fairly decent shots of the appendages and, therefore, was able to get a solid ID when I returned back to base. It turns out to be Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae a species that is known from the south of Thailand. I was really happy to see it and it is the second I have managed to find in the genus. Sadly, the female escaped my lens... until next time!

The male.

The Appendages.
The easiest way to separate most Gomphids! Always get close-ups if you can.

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.

205. Megalogomphus sumatranus (Krüger, 1899)

Number: 205

Family: Gomphidae

Genus: Megalogomphus

Species: Megalogomphus sumatranus

Common name(s): N/A

Synonym(s): Heterogomphus sumatranus Krüger, 1899; Heterogomphus unicolor, Martin, 1902

Habitat: Lowland exposed and sandy-bottomed forest stream

Province(s) sighted: Small sandy stream , Hala below-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): 1 male (fleeting glimpse)

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Megalogomphus icterops

 This species was a complete surprise... Wading through a shallow and sandy stream at the lower reaches of Hala-Bala, I came across a large green dragon basking in the late afternoon sunshine. I edged forward but armed with only a 180mm macro lens, I wasn't that confident I would get in a shot. However, before it literally flew very, very far away, I managed to get away one record shot good enough for an ID. It turns out to be Megalogomphus sumatranus (confirmed by Noppadon Makbun) which is known from the south of Thailand. Maybe not the best shot in the world, but sooooo happy to see such a beauty. I tried for a few hours to find again but to no avail. 

The male
Quite simply, this is one of the largest and most beautiful species I have ever seen!

204. Vestalis amethystina Lieftinck, 1965

Number: 204

Family: Calopterygidae

Genus: Vestalis

Species: Vestalis amethystina

Common name(s): Common Demoiselle

Synonym(s): N/A

Habitat: Fairly large exposed shallow river (but hidden in the foliage)

Province(s) sighted: Trail at the Research Centre, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): Two males

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Vestalis anne; Vestalis gracilis gracilis; Vestalis amoena

Another Vestalis species I managed to spot was Vestais amethystina. However, unlike V. amoena where, if you found one, you found several, this species was in seriously low numbers. Maybe it was the wrong time of the year or they were just out of sight that day. I did manage to spot two males along a short and manicured trail that runs near the river at the research centre. Looking through bins I could clearly make out the 'V' nick in the appendages but my shots of the appendages are not so clear. I also found this species to be far more skittish and it took an age to get the shots I got... so I am happy for now. I can find this species in Kanchanburi down, so I should see him again someday -- and I really hope to spot the female too as she eluded me this time round.

The Male
The male is exactly the same as V. amoena and can only be separated by its appendages. However, I wonder if they like slightly different habitats?

The second male...

 The Appendages... you can just about make out the 'V' nick in the superior appendages (if you look carefully enough).

Sadly, I didn't get to see the female this time...