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

13. Calicnemia imitans (Lieftinick, 1948)

No: 13 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Calicnemia 

Name: Calicnemia imitans / Grey-banded Mountain Damsel* / แมลงปอเข็มหญ้าแถบเทา

Habitat: Forested uplands streams
Province(s): Chiang Mai; Kanchanaburi
In flight: March to April / Sightings (by me): Uncommon

Easily confused with: N/A

*Name made up by me.

There are four species of Calicnemia and I have been lucky enough to spot three species so far. Calicnemia imitans was the first I saw and is probably the most common. C. imitans likes dark and forested areas along slow moving shallow streams. 

The male

The adult male has blue and black stripes on the thorax and the abdomen is very slim and blue also. 

Two's company...

A pair of males

The young male

The young adult male looks very similar to the mature male, but has yellow stripes instead of blue. 

The female

The female looks very much like the young adult male. 

Teneral female???

I saw this newly emerged specimen at first light in Kanchanaburi and sent the photos to Noppadon. He believes it to be Calicnemia sp. and it looks mostly like C. imitans to me. If you know otherwise, please let me know. 

If you click on the photo you can clearly see red and yellow veins running along the abdomen.

Here, she was happy to sit on my thumb. Stunning little thing.

C. imitans is a species I have only seen at a few places in Chiang Mai from March-April. The male seemed to be more common than the female, but they are fairly abundant when you spot them. Thanks to Noppadon Makbun for directing me to them.