36. Ceriagrion praetermissum (Lieftinck, 1929)

No: 36 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Ceriagrion

Name: Ceriagrion praetermissum / Pale Orange Marsh Dart* 

Habitat: Lowlands marshland and ponds
Province(s): Widespread
In flight: April-October / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: Ceriagrion auranticum; Ceriagrion chaoi; Ceriagrion malaisei 

*As there’s no common name, I’ve used ‘Pale Orange’ from the Thai name, and used genus name ‘Marsh Dart’ in an attempt to standardise the genus.

A species of damselfly I used to see regularly in Khon Kaen, but now seems to be in rapid decline, is Ceriagrion praetermissum. I have no idea why, maybe through environment change, but this species seems to have almost disappeared in my local area. 

The Male

The male is really distinct with red/yellow eyes and a yellow frons (the face), greenish thorax and pale red/orange abdomen. I haven't seen many males at this stage and are also really shy.

The 'Young' Male

The young male starts off very similar to the female, but eventually the abdomen turns red (as below). C. praetermissum males at this stage seem far more common than the full adults. 

The Female

The female is very similar to the young male but duller in comparison. The thorax and abdomen are brown and only the last segments of the abdomen and the eyes have a slight red tinge to them. This female's eyes are bigger than her belly (or should that be abdomen?), as she is about to devour a rather large wasp. 

The 'Young' Female

The young female is very similar to the mature female, but doesn't have any red colour at all.

The Copula

I was lucky to spot a number of copula along a long canal-like pond in Khon Kaen recently.

  

I have seen Ceriagrion praetermissum at a number of different kinds of water, from tiny ditches to the large River Chi, which runs through Khon Kaen. I have also spotted this species in Chiang Mai. The females and young males tend to hide away but the males are more on show by the waterside. I have seen this species from October-June, but may be around all year.

35. Coeliccia kazukoae Asahina, 1984

No: 35 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia kazukoae / Blue-striped Sylvan* / แมลงปอเข็มท้องยาวขีดฟ้า

Habitat: Forested streams
Province(s): Nakhorn Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Chantaburi, Sa Kaew
In flight: April-December / Sightings (by me): Uncommon

Easily confused with: N/A

*Name made up by me (based on Thai names/existing common names of other species).

Another species I found on my recent trip to Khao Soi Dao National Park (December 2010), is the rare and endemic Coeliccia kazukoae. I was fortunate to spot this species both at Khao Soi Dao NP and also, I saw one male at Pang Sida National Park in Sa Kaew.  

The male

It's one of the smaller Coeliccia species (similar to C. loogali), not only is it slim and small, it likes virtual darkness. Well, very dark areas at least! It took me a long time to spot any (I saw a tiny blue dot from its end segments moving) and even then they are in small numbers. I saw 3 males in total, 2 that were along a tiny off-shoot from the river - an area that had just a tiny pool of water and was really dark through tree cover. Unfortunately, they are really skittish and fly away at the slightest movement. I did mange to spot a third specimen. This one was right along the river, but in a tiny cut out, with a tiny pool of water at the bottom. I managed to get some good photos of this one and, amazingly, the sun poked through the trees and I managed to get a photo without flash.

This male I saw recently at an uplands pond at Khao Yai NP.

This one at Pang Sida NP

Playing dead...

Amazingly, though the other two were easily frightened, I managed to catch one with my fingers. It gives a good idea of its size (and ... no ... I never did get round to cutting those nails!) When I released him, he just played dead on a rock. He stayed there for about 30-40 seconds and I could touch him again if I wanted, before he flew high up into the canopy and out of reach. Something I have never seen before.

The female

I recently visited Khao Yai National Park (22/04/2011) and was very surprised to see this species again. AND I saw a female for the first time as part of a tandem. Unfortunately, they are not the best photos in the world, for many reasons: I had to use my 300 mm lens as my macro lens was wet (it only stops down to 5.6). Add that to the fact it was pouring with rain and almost dark under heavy tree cover at 1p.m., and my girlfriend was screaming out loud because of dozens of leeches were all over the footpath (I was bitten about 5 times), and you can imagine the problem of trying to take photos of two small toothpick-sized things. So all in all, not a bad effort really. The female is similar to the male. This is the same female as the tandem below.

The teneral female...

Upon a recent visit to Khao Yai NP, I visited a swampy pond that was tree-lined at one end. Here, I saw a number of teneral females and 1 mature male.

A copula...

34. Coeliccia yamasakii (Asahina, 1984)

No: 34 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia yamasakii / Yellow-spotted Sylvan* / แมลงปอเข็มท้องยาวจุดเหลือง

Habitat: Forested uplands and lowlands streams
Province(s): Chantaburi, Trat
In flight: December-April / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: N/A

*Name made up by me.

I recently visited Khao Soi Dao National Park, near Chantaburi. It was a stop-off en route to Khao Kitchakut National Park. And I'm really glad I stopped! Though it was December and probably the worst time to hunt for dragonflies, I still managed to see seven new species for me! One of them was Coeliccia yamasakii, the 3rd Coeliccia species I have posted. It is a great looking damselfly, but one that doesn't like to be in the limelight. I did, however, notice that they return to the same spot if they fly away, often to a leaf that is basking in a small area of sunshine bursting through the heavy tree canopy. 

The male

I saw a number of males, but were difficult to photograph and had to be really stealthy using my 105 mm Sigma Macro lens. One crunch of a twig, one move too many and away it went. I eventually saw a male that liked an exceptionally bright spot, but as I approached it flew away. Knowing that he may return I lay flat on my stomach and waited. eventually, he returned and I managed to capture him (photographically speaking of course). He looks great with his jet black thorax and yellow markings that glisten in the sun.

The female

At Khao Soi Dao, I only saw 2-3 females. However, when I visited Koh Chang, I saw numerous females under the protection of tree cover, near a dried up waterfall. There was just one small pool there, and I even saw a copula! I think the females were waiting for the rains to come again. Seeing so many females gave me the chance to take lots of photographs. 

This side view shows how the thoracic markings differ slightly to that of other species from the genus. 

These two photos show how S9-10 markings vary and so is unreliable for identification. However, 4 small marks seems to be consistent. The first female is probably younger than the second, as I think the markings fade with age.

A copula

I was really fortunate to see a copula on the day I visited Khao Soi Dao. They were intent on staying under lots of cover. This copula was deep inside a rock formation and under tree cover. I had to take a photo using flash, just to see what species it was.

Coeliccia yamasakii is a beautiful species and if you get the chance to visit the eastern part of Thailand, you must try to see this species. I think you can see it all year round, though I am not 100% sure. Many thanks to Noppadon Makbun for leading me to this species.

33. Coeliccia poungyi poungyi (Selys, 1863)

No: 33 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Coeliccia

Name: Coeliccia p. poungyi / Blue-chested Sylvan* 

Habitat: Forested Streams
Province(s): Petchabun, Khon Kaen, Loei, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Chantaburi
In flight: September-April / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, I decided upon the Thai name 'Blue-chested' and the genus being named as 'Sylvans', so the Blue-chested Sylvan.

The first ever Coeliccia species that I saw was when I first visited Nam Nao National Park in October 2008. And what a beautiful sight it was too. Coeliccia poungyi poungyi is a stunning species and is easily recognisable, but really difficult to get near and photograph, especially as it prefers darkened areas of forested streams. It is a medium-sized damselfly and a sight I will never forget seeing for the first time. Since then, I have seen this species quite regularly and it is hard to miss, especially the male.

The male

The male is striking in appearance with sky blue and black markings on the thorax and a black abdomen with bright orange end segments.

The 'Young' Male

The young male has the exact same markings as the adult, but the blue markings on the abdomen as still yellow. They will turn blue in time. 

In the hand... Here's another young male that I caught at Phu Rua NP.

The Female

The female is easily confused with other Coeliccia species, but is actually quite easy to differentiate. The end segments of the abdomen are a solid orange/yellow unlike most others. 

The copula...

I was lucky enough to spot and photograph a copula at Phu Rua NP recently.

... and another ovipositing at Nam Nao NP

I have seen this species at a number of places throughout northern, northeastern and eastern Thailand, but it seems most abundant at Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun province and Phu Rua NP, Loei province. There are 4 species of Coeliccia living together at Nam Nao. C. chromothorax, C. didyma and a species very close to that of C. loogali  and they live in good numbers. You can find the four species from mid-late year at the river which runs through the headquarters. Like many damselflies, look sightly away from the river's edge to find the females.

32. Rhyothemis variegata phyllis (Sulzer, 1776)

No: 32 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Rhyothemis

Name: Rhyothemis variegata phyllis / Yellow-striped Flutterer 

Habitat: Exposed Areas, Near or at Ponds/Lakes and Slow Streams (Often Fly in Swarms High Up)
Province(s): Widespread
In flight: April-November / Sightings (by me): Very Common

Easily confused with: N/A

There are 5 Rhyothemis species of dragonfly and I have so far only seen 2 in Khon Kaen.  The female of Rhyothemis variegata phyllis is very common. 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

After two years of searching I finally managed to capture a decent photo of the male - now I can spot them more easily. 

Some males have fewer spots.

The 'Andromorph' Form Female

This 'andromorph' female is hardly ever seen and only have one or two photos of it.

The 'Gynomorph' Female

This female is very common and if you are lucky will land right in front of you.

You can see this species throughout the country most of the year and is a beautiful species. 

31. Aristocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842)

No: 31 / Family: Chlorocyphidae / Genus: Aristocypha

Name: Aristocypha fenestrella / Peacock Jewel 

Habitat: Forested Streams and Rivers
Province(s): Widespread
In flight: Year-round / Sightings (by me): Very Common

Easily confused with: N/A

Another widespread river-dwelling damselfly that is very common but simply divine, is Aristocypha fenestrella. I have seen this species at several rivers and streams throughout Thailand and it loves sunny areas, where there are lots of boulders in the river. Commonly known as the Peacock Jewel, it will probably be one of the more common species you will encounter at a river or stream. If you see it, carefully get yourself down to eye level - your camera will thank you for it.

The male

The male is simply beautiful. Once it is fully mature, it has lots of metallic colouration to its wings. Sometimes, a green tinge when younger which goes more of a blue/purple as it matures. They really are beautiful to look at. Not surprising, really, that its nickname is Peacock Jewel.

The 'Young' Male

Some younger males have more pink and greenish iridescence against the black wings.

The Female

The female is far less interesting to look at and is dull in comparison. The females are often confused with other similar species, but I think the markings on the female are quite distinct. Also, the wings are brown in colour.

You can find this species throughout the country all year at upland and some lowland rivers. Look for big boulders and rocky areas where the sun is bursting through the tree canopy. You're sure to find them there.

30. Libellago lineata lineata (Burmeister, 1839)

No: 30 / Family: Chlorocyphidae / Genus: Libellago

Name: Libellago lineata lineata / Golden Gem 

Habitat: Forested and Tree-lined Streams and Rivers
Province(s): Widespread
In flight: Year-round / Sightings (by me): Common

Easily confused with: N/A

A common species of damselfly that I simply love is Libellago lineata lineata. I have seen this species often at the River Chi, Khon Kaen, as well as at a tiny stream in Chantaburi. It is a friendly species that is happy to pose for you. 

The Male

The fully adult male has black and yellow markings along the thorax and abdomen. It has more black when fully matured. It also has white markings on the legs. The biggest difference though, is that it develops black marks on the tops of the wings, that make it look really distinctive.

The sub-adult male

A young male is similar to the adult, but doesn't yet have the black markings on the wings and there is less black on the abdomen.

The Female

The female is similar to the sub-adult male, except the abdomen is much more robust. and the markings on the abdomen are slightly different.

The 'Young' Female

This is still a very young female, with its sparkling wings and dull eyes.

And here is a newly emerged specimen...

This species of damselfly is common all year throughout Thailand and can be spotted along canals, ponds and lakes, though its preferred home is along the banks of rivers. They seem particularly docile in the early morning and late afternoon - the best time to photograph them.