The Thai Dragonfly Flag is Still Flying (Dec 2024)

Still Searching for Dragons in Thailand

This is just a quick update to let anyone know who's interested in this blog on Thai odonata (is there anyone?). I am still perfectly OK and very much still out looking for dragonflies within Thailand's borders. I haven't been as active as I would have liked to have been in recent years due to time constraints and budget issues (I am skint most of the time haha). 

I haven't really posted anything for a good few years on this blog and I have been made aware that there are a few people out there who regularly use it as a reference for ID etc.

Therefore, I am in the process of updating everything on the blog. This will include:

- Updating some of the recent name changes

- Adding MANY new and improved photos of existing species on the blog 

- Adding a new of new species for my records

- Adding write ups once more on my field trips

- Adding write ups on some of my better trips over past few years that I haven't included 

 

So keep a lookout for new posts... I have a lot of work ahead just to catch up! In the meantime, here are a few photos to whet your appetite from a trip to Doi Inthanon back in July 2024 with Noppadon Makbun. Thanks, Dennis. 

  

Ischnura rufostigma Selys, 1876 (แมลงปอเข็มนาส้มจุดฟ้า), copula (note gynomorph female). Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai 04.07.24 

Burmargiolestes melanothorax (Selys, 1891) (แมลงปอเข็มพม่าหน้าส้ม), female. Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai 06.07.24

Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787) (แมลงปอบ้านปานปีกทอง), male. Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai 02.07.24

COVID-19 = COMSP-19

Name: COMSP-19

Date: 25 March - unknown

Location: Khon Kaen (areas within a short radius of my house)

During these horrible times of COVID-19, we are trapped in the house most of the day with nothing to do. I should actually now be in Yala and the surrounding areas but the government has enforced a virtual ban on travelling out of the province and also encourages everyone to avoid crowded areas. However, it is important to still get out a little and get some exercise. Therefore, I am going to try to complete "COMSP-19"... a stupid name I came up with to overcome the boredom where I will attempt to spot and get decent shots of 19 common species of dragonflies and damselflies by walking around where I live during the virtual lockdown. Obviously I can only check the immediate areas around my home and small ponds etc. close by. There are, of course, more species but many are difficult to photograph well. Let's see if I can do it... I will add species as I find them. If you cannot be bothered waiting for me to get better shots (it may take a lifetime haha), please feel free to see more/better shots by clicking "see here". 

Species 1-9 still to find... can I do it? Watch this space!

Species 10 - Crocothemis servilia servilia (see here)
Another seriously common species you can find almost anywhere. Often spotted in the longer grasses or perched on sticks near the edge of ponds, this species usually doesn't disappoint in making an appearance. Though the females are quite dull, the males, on the other hand, are a beautiful red and can be identified by a solid stripe along the abdomen. (male above, female below).

Species 11 - Brachydiplax chalybea chalybea (see here)
This is a beautiful little dragonfly you will often find at tiny ponds up to enormous marshy areas. As it is quite small and a little skittish, it is difficult to get decent shots. When you do, you can only admire his orange flanks, black tip to the abdomen and stunning blue colour along the top of the thorax and abdomen. If you look carefully, you should find the male but the female is difficult to find. Will add a female--if I can find one.

Species 12 - Diplacodes trivialis (see here)
Right up there as the most common species in Thailand, it is still difficult to photograph well. Primarily as it tends to perch on the ground or very close to it and it is also a rapid mover... just as you get into position, it shoots off... probably why I haven't photographed it fr so many years! Anyway, here is a female. Males were present, but they just annoyed me so I gave up on them. You can see this species anywhere... 

Species 13 - Rhyothemis phyllis (see here)
Another common species that is often seen fluttering around the edge of ponds and forests. There are just problems with this species, though. It often hangs out with its closely-related cousin Rhyothemis variegata variegata, which are almost impossible to separate when in the air, except the females. Also, the females of this species are rarely encountered. Fortunately, I managed to spot one at my pond today! Sadly, she was at quite a distance and only managed a record shot... still great to see. (male above, female below).

Species 14 - Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (see here)
This is a beast of a dragonfly and one you are most likely to encounter if you visit any pond or lake. They hang around the edge of ponds and guard "their" area. Strangely, I only saw a female today. Not the best shot but I have only seen the female about a dozen times (compared to literally hundreds of males). Will add a male when I spot one.

Species 15 - Ceriagrion auranticum (see here)

Very commonly seen throughout Khon Kaen, but the females are often overlooked as it tends to hide away in shaded areas. Here are two females. I think the "reddish" female is the mature one and the greenish one is slightly more immature.

Species 16 - Ceriagrion praetermissum (see here)
Not that often seen but quite common when you do find them. The males are quite brightly coloured, the females are not. Worse still, the females tend to hang around shaded areas are are hard to spot. Here is a close-up of a female. Will post photos of the male, if I can get one.

Species 17 - Trithemis pallidinervis (see here)

Commonly found in exposed areas around ditches, ponds, marshy areas and slow-moving rivers. Can easily be spotted on exposed twigs and are fairly easy to approach (male top, female bottom).

Species 18 - Ischnura senegalensis (see here)

One of the most common species of damselfly found throughout Thailand. Hangs around the edges of ponds often in the scrub, but easy to spot its blue end segments of the abdomen as it moves... will add the female when I spot it.

Species 19 -  Brachythemis Contaminata (see here)

Easily the most common species in Thailand and can be found at almost any body of water. Found right at the edge and even often a good distance away from water. The only difficulty is getting shots of them with a creamy background as they perch low down. Commonly known as the ditch jewel, it may be common but still quite stunning. 

Phu Phan National Park: Part 2

Location: Phu Phan National Park (Kalasin)

Date: Saturday, 30 June 2018

Habitat: Lowland forest (waterfall, small pond, dry and dingy riverbed) 

Well, following my recent visit to Phu Phan National Park (Kalasin end), there were a number of questions left unanswered. Therefore, I had to return. However, being so busy with teaching, proofreading and now doing a ton of coursework for my teacher's licence with trips to Bangkok you would be forgiven or thinking that I simply did not have the time. Well, I simply had to find time. 

So, I returned... though I didn't arrive until almost 10 am. I decided to hit the pond where I previously saw a few decent species, including around 25 Camacinia gigantea. Now, the pond/marsh was starting to fill up with water. It was much more difficult to get around and I always got that sinking feeling with almost every step... quite literally. So, I had to tread carefully. Being later did have its advantages as it was already super bright and hot. Again, Camacinia gigantea were everywhere. And there were even more of them. It was an amazingly cool spectacle watching them whiz around the  marshy area diving into incredibly short mid-air battles with other males. I then was drawn to a small blue copula... a species that I saw on the previous trip... was it, in fact, the species that I quickly dismissed as Indolestes anomalus? Well, turns out it was. Not long after, another Anax guttatus turned up like it did last time... but then it got me thinking: "Was it A. guttatus?" With the blinding sun beating down and right in my face (like last time) it was difficult to tell and so my only option was to (secretly) get out my net. I bombed it passed a few times coming closer with each passing. Then, I just went for it and YES! I got it. Even through the net, I realised that I was incorrect with my initial ID. It was, in fact, Anax indicus! Certainly not the rarest of species, but the first time I have seen in it Kalasin. Provincial record? Who knows?

Well, that was about it for the pond, but I will return there later in the year. I needed to hit the bone dry stream -- or overflow from the pond. This time I wasn't attacked by bees or wasps and the walk was painless enough. Once I reached to dry stream it looked the same as last time. Quite a few Vestalis gracilis still watching me from afar but that seemed to be it. I finally saw a glimmer of blue in the gloom and knew what it was... but thought I would leave it til later. I decided to search for the Gynacantha species I saw last time. However, being a snip brighter this time round left the place devoid of life. Nothing, now't, zip... not a sausage. There were rangers doing something about 50 meters away and maybe they had scared them off, but I think they had moved much deeper into the undergrowth due to the light. So, back to that blue dot. Like last time, there was only one Coeliccia species there. And there was only one specimen. Being so dark and the specimen being as skittish as hell I was none the wiser. So, I moved along a little and at another junction, I saw a further three males and a solitary female. 
Also, with slightly better light I finally managed to get improvement shots, though I still want better. Now, I am pretty sure that it is, in fact, Coeliccia nigrescens. I also managed to collect a solitary male and I am sending it to Noppadon so hopefully will have 100% confirmation an time now. So, that was it. Quiet, but still has bags of potential when the water finally arrives. It has also opened my mind to searching more 'dead' dry stream beds as it seems that I may have been wrong about them after all...

Best shots of the day...
Indolestes anomalus, copula -- a first for Kalasin? Anyway, nice to see all the same. 

 Anax indicus, male -- a beautiful beast of a dragon. I would love to catch them all to compare!

... and upon release. One shot and he flew straight up into the trees!

Coeliccia nigrescens, male. Pretty sure this is correct now... but could be a sub-species, possibly? The appendages scream C. nigrescens, but those thoracic markings don't add up.

Another angle...

And I even got a fleeting glimpse of the female!

 Camacinia gigantea, male... these were very common at the one pond! Brilliant to see so many.

 Acisoma panorpoides, female. I cannot remember the last time I took a photo of this species!

Lathrecista asiatica asiatica, male -- first sighting of the year. There were several males in the sidelines.

I already have cracking photos of the wheel, but how could I resist? Ceriagrion indochinense, copula.

Next trip: Khao Kitchacup National Park, Chantaburi (13-15 July), all being well.

A Short, Sweet Trip to Phu Khieo

Location: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum

Date: Saturday, 26 May 2017

Habitat: Forested streams

Well, after such an amazing experience at Hala-Bala WS last month surely nothing could top it, could it? Well, it wasn't quite as good in terms of having to busy myself making millions of mental notes regarding all the species I saw, but it was still a cracking day all the same. This was, in part, due to being introduced to Adrian Plant who was weirder than me in terms of his main interest: Diptera (flies to you and me). Yup, that puts my rather peculiar love of dragonflies to shame and can only be matched by a researcher who I once met at Nam Nao who was into moss, mushrooms and lichen. 

Adrian's deep knowledge and sheer enthusiasm could only rub off on you and leave you champing at the bit to get going! It was great walking and talking with him and my brother about anything and everything and we meandered slowly up the road towards the top, stopping off at all the small streams (my real target for the season).

On the dragonfly front, it was still a little early and snip on the quiet side. However, it seems as though things were bubbling away under the surface and would soon emerge... roll on next month. 

That said, it wasn't all bad. Standing on one of the bridges that go over the small streams, I managed to spot a large damsel high above the trees and a good distance away. I knew what it was straight away even without my bins but had no chance armed only with my 180mm macro lens... why do I keep forgetting to take my long lens? However, armed with a brother who was set up for birds, I got him to fire off a few shots and it was another species in the bag, be it a record shot for now as it was so far away. I am talking about Philoganga loringae, a species I have always wanted to see. I knew it had been recorded from the sanctuary but had never seen it before and I can only assume it was recorded quite some time ago. It was a male and must have been old as it is usually only in flight during March and April. Still, that is 15 new species clocked for my personal records this year and it only May! I also spotted female Microgomphus svihleri (formerly M. thailandicus) for the first time. I spotted a male there last year, but hadn't seen a female until now. I managed to spot a mature female full of eggs and a couple of teneral specimens. Other than the usual Gomphidia kruegeri krugeri and Gomphidictinus perakensis, the other gomphid of interest was Merogomphus pavici, a super cool species I have bumped into several times but the first time in May. Talking of May, this is the first time that I have seen Archibasis viola in this month so that extends its flight season there -- though I only got a terrible record shot (it was in the middle of a deep muddy pond as it was starting to rain and I already have very good shots of the male so gave up... the female is another story, however). I also saw 3-4 species that could have been new whizzing past me and they were impossible to net, let alone ID so there is hope for a few more additions yet... and the reason why I keep going.

That said, I did record a few more species for the sanctuary, including Zyxomma petiolatum (there were 3-4 males bombing it around a small pond after it had rained and I managed to net one for ID purposes) and Coeliccia poungyi. There were several males, females and even copula of the latter species at a dead end of a stream (it was blocked by serious amounts of debris and impassable). Though it is common at Nam Nao, I hadn't seen it there until now so another three species to add to the ever-growing list (including P. loringae). All the other species I recorded that day were fairly common for the place and not worth noting as such.

So, not the world's best trip in terms of species, but a great one all the same with my brother and Adrian to boot... or should that be 'boots' to tie in with his big wellies? Haha...

My best photos of the day:

Microgomphus svihleri, female (ID by Noppadon Makbun)... my first sighting of a female... and check out those eggs. Maybe she has been stealing salmon eggs!

... and of a teneral female (I saw 2-3 females)

Merogomphus pavici, male. I see this species quite often and it is one of my favourites... now in flight in May! 

Zyxomma petiolatum, male (in hand)... I had to net it for a positive ID before releasing it (it was so dark I could only see dark shapes moving around rapidly). Another new species for the place as was Coeliccia poungyi - though I didn't photograph it.

Ouch... a sad ending for this little fellow but at least it gave me a chance to see the wings properly rather than folded away. Euphaea masoni, male. First time I have ever seen a 'blue tint' on the wings... interesting.

 Always around but I can rarely resist when they land right in front of you... Heliocypha biforata, male.

What species am I? Answers on the back of a postcard, please...

The highlight of the day... Philoganga loringae, male. Not the best shot in the world as it was from so far away, but a cracking species and one that I WILL find again now I know where it resides.

And my interesting non-dragonfly things... any takers on species?

Coolest robber fly ever? Check out those silver go-faster stripes on the abdomen!

The ubiquitous frog... this time a tiny almost invisible frog with a lovely orange stripe along its entire body.

Next trip: Not sure but hopefully somewhere new!

An Awesome Trip to Hala-Bala Wildllife Sanctuary

Location: Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding areas (Narathiwat)

Date: 23-28 April 2018

Habitat: Forested streams and tiny ditches

Well, I had promised myself that I would make a trip down south and it recently came to fruition. My brother and I had been planning a trip south for a while and, as soon as word got out, a flock of birders jumped onboard. Eventually, five of us made the trip (3 from Khon Kaen and 2 from Bangkok). The group included Mark Hogarth, Brian Hewitt, Peter Ericsson, my brother, Paul and me. At first, I wasn't used to the alien language (it was all babblers, broadbills, hornbills and feathered things). However, even though my camera decided to pack up on the first day (but sprung back into life 24 hours later) and I missed out on a few species that I really wanted to see, it turned out to be the best photography trip I have ever been on and the guys were a brilliant bunch. I even learnt a thing or two about birds and their habits.

Though it was a little early for me in the dragonfly season, there had a be a few special species knocking around down south and it proved to be so.

The crew after a long day.

(left to right: Peter, me (totally knackered), Brian, Mark, Paul and Sum. Photo by someone)

The target location was Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Narathiwat. Many people, especially westerners, simply will not head into the bottom three provinces due to the known problems and the newspaper reports regarding the insurgents. However, we went in head first and were made to feel welcome from the very first moment we arrived until getting back on the plane home. At no point did we ever feel threatened, though the million and one checkpoints became a little tiresome after a while. Everyone wanted to meet and greet us and I loved every minute. My only bone of contention was getting beer... being a Muslim area it was difficult but it is most certainly possible if planned.

The busiest international airport in the world ever!

We were picked up at the airport and it was then around two hours to the sanctuary in a cool van, though we stopped off en route for food.

Mixing it with the locals...  great people and some awesome food to boot!

(Photo by Paul Farrell)

Our guide was called Sum Nara Nara (Facebook name) and he was more than helpful. That said, I couldn't just hang around with the guys all day as I would have only got to see birds when I was on a serious dragon hunt. Whenever we split, I had brilliant help from a ranger called Attanai who was more than happy to hunt with me and we used his bike to get around. He even rustled up lunch for me on one occasion which was delicious. 

The place itself is rather unique as it is one of the only surviving decent-sized areas of lowland forest that hasn't been ruined by man. Though the actual Research Station (which is the place to visit, apparently) was incredibly disappointing, especially as the trail was now totally overgrown and you just got the feeling that they didn't really want people taking photos there, the rest of the place was great. Sirindhorn Waterfall, the main river running through the park, and a number of streams at the lower reaches all threw up some very interesting species. To Mo Community Forest (which was superb forest at only 185 m.a.s.l.) also offered a few crackers. At To Mo, you followed a trail that ran along a shallow stream. Though there weren't hundreds of species, it turned out to be a very interesting place. In fact, after a kilometre or so, there was a junction at the river where you could continue to follow it round or go over a concrete bridge. About 50 metres away, there was a couple of posts on the trail that signified the border with Malaysia and it was unmanned. Asking the rangers/locals they said that they often cross into Malaysia for food or whatever and Malaysians do the same. My only disappointment (though nothing major) was the distinct lack of natural ponds. There were a couple of almost ponds but nothing much. If there were some, I am sure that I would have found a lot more.

That said, during my time there, I managed to clock up 14 new species for my records and reeled off plenty of improvement shots of species I hardly see. After the photos, there is a quick checklist of the place.

The dragon team at the end of the hunt... 

(Photo by Peter Ericsson)

Not a bad view from the bungalow at HQ where we stayed for a couple of nights.

Shots of the trip (in no particular order)...

Orthetrum testacea testacea, male. Fairly common at ponds (when I could find one). I had only seen one male once before in Kanchanaburi.

Gomphidia abbotti abbotti, male. Usually very difficult to approach

Indocnemis orang, male. I often see this species but rarely does it move away from foliage so you can get such a creamy background!

Onychothemis culminicola, female. Though I have stumbled upon the male once or twice, the female is seldom seem -- well, the first time for me, anyway.

Aristocypha fenestrella, male. Easily the most common species at the main river.

Orthetrum luzonicum, female. The males were common in certain areas, unlike the females.

Paragomphus capricornis, male. Common at one shallow sandy stream where I also saw Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae and Megalogomphus sumatranus

A very old Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola, male.

Rhinagrion viridatum, male. I still love this species... this one was basking in glorious sunshine.

Neurothemis fluctuans, female. The males were very common. The females not so.

Lyriothemis cleis, male. When I spotted this little rarity, my camera packed up and I had to borrow my brother's.

I then saw a second Lyriothemis species... a solitary male was spotted right at the time when I didn't have a camera. Lyriothemis biappendiculata, male. 

Mr. and Mrs. Vestalis amoena... locally common...

... and the almost identical Vestalis amethystina, male which was scarce

A bit of a lifer for me as I have always wanted to see it...Cratilla metallica, male. I saw just two males.

Coeliccia albicauda, male. I saw 7-8 males during the trip.

Prodasineura sp. poss Prodasineura humeralis????, male. Fairly common at sandy-bottomed streams

Zygonyx ida... I only saw this one male but it's a cracker of a species!

Mr. and Mrs. Devadatta argyoides. A very difficult-to-spot species. This pair preferred a trickle to a stream.

 The super majestic Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata, male. In small numbers but I was so happy to see him!

 The first 'new' species I saw on the trip, Tyriobapta torrida -- a great little male. I saw two males.

The stunning Megalogomphus sumatranus, male. One record shot, gone. Super skittish and flew miles away.

 Mr. and Mrs. Prodasineura collaris. I have now seen all the known Thai species from the genus.

 The very long-named Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae, male. I managed to spot 3-4 males and most were fairly easy to approach.

Some other things... 

No idea what species, but they were seriously loud!

The Bushy-crested Hornbill eating a bug. This was tame at the research centre. ID by Paul Farrell.

The Rhinoceros Hornbill... an amazing spectacle. ID by Paul Farrell.

 This massive moth is either the Thai Tasar Silkworm Moth Antheraea frithi pedunculata or Antheraea roylei. Many thanks to Pisuth Ek-Amnuay for the ID.

Papilio nephelus sunatus, the southern form. ID by Antonio Guidici.

 Biggest millipede in the world ever? This one was at least 12 inches (I have big chunky hands that span 7 inches (longest fingertip to the base of the palm).

Am awesome leaf insect next to my bed. Any ideas?

Quick Checklist of the Hala-Bala WS (inc. several streams and To Mo Community Forest):

The new species for my records included are highlighted in blue. 

Amphipterygidae

Devadatta argyoides

Calopterygidae

Neurobasis chinensis

Vestalis amethystina

Vestalis amoena

Coenagrionidae

Aciagrion pallidum

Agriocnemis pygmaea

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola

Ischnura senegalensis

Pseudagrion australasiae

Chlorocyphidae

Aristocypha fenestrella

Heliocypha biforata

Heliocypha perforata limbata

Libellago lineata

Euphaeidae

Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata

Euphaea ochracea

Megapodagrionidae

Rhinagrion viridatum

Platycnemididae

Coeliccia albicauda

Copera marginipes

Copera vittata

Indocnemis orang

Protoneuridae

Prodasineura collaris

Prodasineura sp. [Prodasineura humeralis??]

Gomphidae

Gomphidia abbotti abbotti

Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops

Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae

Megalogomphus sumatranus

Paragomphus capricornis

Libellulidae

Acisoma panorpoides

Aethriamanta gracilis

Brachydiplax chalybea chalybea 

Brachydiplax farinosa

Brachythemis contaminata

Cratilla lineata calverti

Cratilla metallica

Crocothemis servilia servilia

Diplacodes trivialis 

Lathrecista asiatica asiatica

Lyriothemis biappendiculata

Lyriothemis cleis 

Neurothemis fluctuans

Onychothemis culminicola

Onychothemis testacea testacea

Orthetrum chrysis

Orthetrum glaucum

Orthetrum luzonicum

Orthetrum sabina sabina

Orthetrum testacea testacea

Pantala flavescens

Rhyothemis triangularis

Rhyothemis variegata variegata

Tetrathemis platyptera

Tholymis tillarga

Trithemis aurora

Trithemis festiva

Tyriobapta torrida

Zygonyx ida

Zygonyx iris malayana

57 species were recorded, which isn't bad considering I was doing this alone and it is April... I expect there to be many, many more goodies to be found. Watch this space!