186: Tramea virginia (Rambur, 1842)

Number: 186  

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Tramea   

Species: Tramea virginia 

Common name(s): Saddlebag Glider  

Synonyms: N/A    

Habitat: Lowland Forested pond   

Province(s) sighted: Phu Wiang National Park, (Khon Kaen) 

Sightings (by me): Rare (1 male) 

In flight (that I have seen): September    

Species easily confused with: Tramea transmarina euryale

Well, I am desperate to get to that magical 200 species barrier (though I may need a few more due to some of them not identified yet - I really want 200 identified species photographed). And, though it is rare nowadays, I will never give up until I get there. I am now in the process of wading through about 10 million backed up photos  (sorting out other bugs and animals too). Suddenly, from a set of photos from Phu Wiang last year, I noticed a few record shots of a Tramea transmarina euryale male that, well, didn't sit right. The problem was that there were several males flitting about on that  day and all seemed to want to land on the same stick. I took a few photos and left it at that (a record shot for Khon Kaen). In any case, I was preoccupied with hundreds of Amphiallagma parvum at the same small pond (I had only ever seen them in tiny numbers before). But, looking carefully again last night, one of the specimens was clearly not T. transmarina euryale. The colour patches on the wing bases were far too big and I also noticed that it had a whitish face instead of having a metallic blueish patch. Doing a little research I saw Tom Kompier's brilliant examples from Vietnam and started to get excited. I then sent my photo to Noppadon Makbun, who did a little research himself and came up with it probably being Tramea virginia - the same species I thought it was. I couldn't be happier. And though it's only a record shot (and the sun was right in my face), I now know where it is... and I will find it again.

According to the IUCN Red List: "There is a single old record from Thailand". So, not a bad find really!

You can see the large patch on the base of the wings and he has a whitish face.

I will return and find you again for better shots!

118: Tramea transmarina euryale (Brauer, 1867)

Number: 118 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus:  Tramea

Species:  Tramea transmarina euryale / Saddlebag Glider

Habitat: Upland and Lowland Forested Ponds and Lakes

Location(s): Widespread

In flight: April-November / Sightings (by me): Locally common 

Another species I saw alongside Indothemis limbata limbata, was Tramea transmarina euryale, commonly known as the Saddlebag Glider. There were 4-5 males constantly patrolling the edges of the pond. I watched them for about 30 minutes and almost gave up on waiting for one land to take photos. However, my luck was in and a male landed in the bushes behind me, just while there was enough light left. Once it had landed, it wasn't easily frightened and both photos below are uncropped, using a 300 mm lens. Since seeing it for the first time in 2011, I have seen this species at numerous locations around Thailand and is widespread and locally common.

The Male

The thorax is brown and the abdomen is a strong red, with prominent dorsal marks on S8-9. The caudal appendages are black and very long. There is also red colouration to the base of the wings.

The Female

The female is similar to the male, but more of a brownish colour, rather than bright red. This one I saw in Narathiwat.

The 'Teneral' Female

This female had recently emerged. I managed to carefully collect her for a quick photo...

Before I released her unharmed...

The Copula

It's very rare for me to see a copula let alone be able to approach it so you could say I was just a little bit happy with this form Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary.

And what was also of note was the number of mites on the female... yummy!