150: Coeliccia sirindhornae Makbun, Phan, Ignatius & Keetapithchayakul, 2025

Number: 150 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus:  Coeliccia

Species: Coellicia sirindhornae / Sirindhorn's Sylvan 

Habitat: Forested Streams

Province(s) sighted: Kanchanaburi

In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Coeliccia didyma

*As there is no common name, I have used 'Sirindhorn' from the Thai name and given the genus the name 'Sylvan', giving Sirindhorn's Sylvan.

**Since I wrote this post (2012), the species has been described (late 2025) and is now officially a species of Thailand! Many thanks to all involved for all your hard work. 

**A 2-hour drive from Kanchanaburi to Lamklong Ngu National Park, followed by a torrid drive through mud to only be told that the place was closed, was heart-wrenching. The pathway was blocked with fallen bamboo and there was no way through for the car. Unperturbed, I left the car at the entrance (with my girlfriend inside) and set off, climbing over bamboo and trees that had fallen over in the torrential rain. 

I reached the river ... awesome. Yet, unlike the last time when odonata were buzzing around everywhere, there were simply none. Nothing at all. I walked about 500 metres along an extremely slippery pathway, only to be greeted by a blocked section of the river, which caused mass flooding of the area and there was totally and utterly no way through. A waste of a journey. I turned back and made it to the entrance of the river. I looked along the sheltered trees to see if any specimens were taking refuge ... and there was a solitary Coeliccia didyma. I couldn't get a shot of him where he was (too far up and the leaf he was on was constantly bouncing from the rain drops), so I picked him up with my fingers and noticed something different about him ... the thoracic markings were totally different. Surely this wasn't C. didyma at all, was it? I scrambled to get my camera out of the bag again with one hand (the other held the specimen) and as I attempted to get the ring flash, the heavens opened once more. This time heavier than ever. There was no way I could use the ring flash - the water would have wrecked it for sure. Instead, I was limited to my camera without flash and in extremely low light. Crouched over my camera to keep it as dry as possible, I took a few photos, but just as I was about to take photos of the caudal appendages, I noticed that my camera bag was open and I reacted to close it and save may camera equipment and passport from certain death. By doing this I momentarily let go of the specimen and he flew about 5 metres high up into the branches - I could see him, but he was too far away. The rain continued to pour down heavily and I had to give up my search. 

The male is similar to that of C. didyma, but also resembles both C. nemoricola (endemic to Borneo) and C. octogesima (consigned to the very south of Thailand). However, looking at all 3 species [see asia-dragonfly.net], it is clearly none of them.

I have since had this confirmed by Noppadon Makbun that it is indeed a different species. However, it is yet to be described (and has been undescribed for a long time). The first record of this species was also recorded at the same place. So good news that it is a new species. Bad news, however, that it's not yet been described!

The male ...

Here is the standard shot in the hand ... he looks the same as C. didyma. However, there is a small black downward-turning protrusion at the base of the inferior caudal appendages.

Here is where the species differs much more. It looks like music notes ... 

Here I was trying to focus on the neck joint - the whiteish-grey joint between the head and the neck (sorry for not knowing the correct technical words) If you look closely, you can clearly see 2 small blue arrow shaped marks.

Unfortunately, as I was about to photograph the caudal appendages, all hell broke loose and he was able to fly up into the trees. 

Hopefully, one day, it will be described and I can give him a name!

Many thanks to Noppadon for the info!

149: Protosticta medusa (Fraser, 1934)

Number: 149

Family: Platystictidae

Genus:  Protosticta

Species:  Protosticta medusa

Common name(s): N/A

Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มรำไรเมดูซา

Habitat: Extremely darkened areas in forested streams

Province(s) sighted: Sai Yok Yai Waterfall (Kanchanaburi)

Sightings (by me): Rare

In flight (that I have seen): August

Following a difficult day at Erawan (seriously dark with heavy rain, mud and tourists), I decided to venture to a place I had been to once before. Again, it was extremely quiet on the odonata front and the heavens opened within about 5 minutes of my arrival. Fortunately, there was a break in the weather and I was able to search gingerly. The place was totally void of odonata ... well, not quite. Under a tree and heavily shaded, almost black, was a solitary damselfly. And I knew it was a new species straight away, due to its rather distinct caudal appendages. 

Searching the Internet when I returned home, I think it is Protosticta medusa. I only saw this solitary male, but did get a fleeting glimpse of the female. She came into view (near the same tree) and the male [I was photographing] swooped down onto her and then carried her high up into the trees. And that was it. I didn't see another male or female for that matter, even though I continued for long periods. Still, I got pretty good shots of the male. 

The male

It looks similar to many other species in the genus. However, its caudal appendages and highly distinctive and large. It also seems to have some kind of feather thing (???) above the caudal appendages, though I'm not sure what this is, or what it is used for.

Caudal appendages ...

Here you can see just how complex the caudal appendages are. Also, you can see the little feather-like protrusion coming out of the top. Any ideas what this is for???

148: Protosticta trilobata Fraser, 1933

Number: 148 / Family: Platystictidae / Genus: Protosticta

Species:  Protosticta trilobata / Three-lobed Reedtail*

Habitat: Darkened areas in forested streams and trickles

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Narathiwat, Tak

Sightings (by me): Uncommon

In flight (that I have seen): August-October

*As there is no common name for this species, I decided upon 'three-lobed' as that is the translation of trilobata from Latin and 'reedtail' as it is the general name given to genus Protosticta.

An amazingly difficult and arduous trip to Kanachanburi only yielded a few new species. In fact, there were very few species of any description full stop. Primarily, as it was raining heavily throughout the trip and many areas were completely inaccessible (some areas were totally blocked). After 4 hours of searching at Erawan waterfall, amongst the millions of Speedo-wearing tourists, I was about to give up. Then, my girlfriend, Beau, noticed a small damselfly deep in the bushes directly below level 5. It turned out to be a female Protosticta grandis - a species I had spotted briefly before, but only a teneral male. Searching deeper in the bushes, I noticed another male and then several more. Amongst them, I saw a single male of another species. It had an extremely long and slim abdomen. I could hardly see it and it took me an age to get any decent photos in almost pitch dark. Not only was it dark, they were resting on twigs just above rotting leaves. They were almost impossible to see. I saw 2 males and 3-4 females within a very small area. 

I returned home and did a little research on the Internet. I'm confident its Protosticta trilabata (P. curiosa at the time of writing), named by me as the Three-lobed Reedtail as a common name. Since then, I have seen this species in small numbers along the west of Thailand from Chiang Mai down to Narathiwat, though only spotted in very low numbers each time.

The male

It is instantly recognisable for its extremely long and slim abdomen - how can they fly with wings so short? It eyes are more of a jade colour too, whereas other similar species they are more of a blue colour. Since then, I have also spotted a male in Tak province and managed to get improved photos.

The Female

Females look similar to the males but have a much shorter abdomen.

In the hand

Here's a female I managed to catch with my fingers. Unfortunately, it was that dark, I couldn't hardly see when focussing, even with the pilot light on my ring flash. Though not a great photo (blurred to buggery), it shows more accurate colours (especially in the eyes).

Here is a male I picked up with my fingers and then it played dead... this was perfectly alive and flew away shortly after. A defence mechanism?

If you want to see this species, you will have to search really carefully - even then it may elude you.

Nam Nao: A Year in the Making (July)

Location 1: Helicopter Pad Lake, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun. 

Date: Saturday,  28th July, 2012.
Weather: Heavily overcast and very windy, but no rain

Expectations of recording additional species (for my list): medium

Leech bites: 2 (there were only a few leeches for some reason)

Another month and another load of dragonflies to get my teeth into. With the month of July, usually comes a number of additional species that prefer the rainy season. So, armed with my new monopod, I set of an hour earlier than normal when in my brother's car (3.15 a.m.). I arrived at the lake at 5.00 a.m. and it was still dark. I had a look around for 'resting' odonata, but I could hear elephants in the background, so I was a little nervous about heading to the lake itself. Instead, I waited a short while until it was light enough to see beyond a few feet and headed down the slope towards the lake. 

Early on, the lake was inundated with the micro species Agriocnemis femina, Agriocnemis nana etc. and a few of the usual suspects Brachythemis contaminata and Trithemis aurora. Ohter than that, it was very quiet. 

As the morning grew in light, so did the number of odonata and species. However, there was nothing new to report. I continued round the lake (realising that I hadn't noticed a single Ceriagrion or Rhyothemis species) and eventually reached the rear end of the lake where it is mostly undisturbed and partially shrouded in tree cover. There is a section at the end which becomes like a little canal-like feature when the lake becomes deeper. It was here that I managed to get my first good photos of a female Rhodothemis rufa. I have spotted the male on many occasions around the country, but the females are seldom seen. If you do spot one, they are generally high up in the trees. Continuing round, I was happy to eventually spot a new species for the lake - Agrionoptera insignis, female. I have only spotted this species once before in a similar type lake in Khao Yai (uplands pond, heavily tree-lined/completely covered in parts). I only saw a solitary female, but proves that they are present. Continuing round, more regulars were appearing and I got a second sighting of a male Indolestes inflatus. That's only 2 males and 1 female for the year so far. Number seem lower than last year - and they were scarce then. One worry, is the introduction of a number of fishing platforms (to keep the leeches from biting) and the obvious increase in human activity (rubbish and crude fishing items). Maybe this has affected them. By around 9.30 a.m. the sun was just poking through the heavy cloud cover and many other common species for the lake were present. Strangely, though, I didn't spot a single Ceriagrion species, Rhyothemis species or even Ictinogomphus decoratus for that matter. It was a strange day weather-wise, but these are common species that should be present here at this time of year. With that in mind, I decided to return here once I had visited the stream at the headquarters ... a notion that was blasted out of the sky by torrential rain at about 3.30 p.m. just as I was heading back there. 

Still, it was a pretty good day ... and was about to get even better at the stream. 

Here are my best photos of the day:

Rhodothemis rufa, female - a common species, but really tough to get good photos of the female.

Agrionoptera insignis, female (perching above my head) - a new addition to the lake and possibly a new provincial record.

Here is the best lateral photo I got - she was above my head, so I had to hold a heavy camera, lens and ring flash above my head too. 

Indolestes inflatus, male my 2nd sighting of a male this year to add to the female I saw last time out.

Prodasineura auricolor, female. She was sitting almost right on the lake. Shows they are adaptable and don't just live along streams. 

Agriocnemis nana, male - easily my best photo of the mature male - and it was windy in low light. I am really happy with this photo. Also, I have realised that the black dorsal markings on S8-9 are highly variable.

A new species - Copera ciliatapinkylegs ... Seriously, though, this specimen (taken very early in the morning), shows just how variable the colours are on this species (Copera ciliata, that is!!!)

Mortonagrion aborense, teneral male - I have spotted the female here before, but they are extremely scarce here. 

Nam Nao Helicopter Pad (added species from the last visit, bold; new species for the lake, blue; species not seen from last visit, red)

Note: Numbers were low/absent common species probably due to the heavily overcast conditions.

Fam. Coenagrionidae

Aciagrion tillyardi (Laidlaw, 1919) ♂ ♀ [very common]

Agriocnemis femina (Brauer, 1868) ♂ ♀ [very common]

Agriocnemis nana (Laidlaw, 1914) ♀♂ [very common]

Agriocnemis pygmaea (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [common]

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola Selys, 1877) ♂♀ [♂ common]

Ceriagrion indochinense Asahina, 1967

Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [uncommon]

Onychargia atrocyana Selys, 1865 ♂ ♀ [tenerals extremely common]

Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps (Selys, 1876) ♂ [1]

Fam. Lestidae
Indolestes inflatus ♂ [1]

Fam. Platycnemididae

Coeliccia chromothorax (Selys, 1891) ♂ [1]

Copera ciliata (Selys, 1863) ♂ ♀ [extremely common]

Copera marginipes (Rambur, 1842) ♂ [common]

Fam. Protoneuridae

Prodasineura autumnalis (Fraser, 1922) ♂ ♀ [extremely common]

Prodasineura auricolor ♀ [1]

Fam. Gomphidae

Ictinogomphus decoratus (Selys, 1854)

Fam. Libellulidae

Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [common]

Agrionoptera insignis (Rambur, 1842) ♀ [1]

Brachydiplax farinosa (Krüger 1902) ♂ ♀ [♂ common]

Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius, 1793) ♂ ♀ [common]

Crocothemis servilia (Drury, 1773) ♂ ♀ [fairly common]

Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [fairly common]

Indothemis limbata (Selys, 1891) ♂ ♀ [♂ extremely common]

Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773)

Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891)

Orthetrum sabina sabina (Drury, 1770)

Pseudothemis jorina Förster, 1904 ♂♀ [very common]

Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842) ♀ [1]

Rhyothemis triangularis (Kirby, 1889)

Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798) ♂ [1]

Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839) ♂ ♀ [extremely common]

Location 2: Stream at the Heaquarters, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun. 

Date: Saturday,  28th July, 2012.
Weather: Heavily overcast and heavy rain

Expectations of recording additional species (for my list): medium

Leech bites: 0 

So, following a strange, but productive morning at the Helicopter Lake, it was time for a stroll down the stream at the Headquarters. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a large number of birds (lots of species, colours and sizes). Woodpeckers were also present - and very much heard. Some white and brown birds were accompanied by squirrels as they searched through the debris looking for mid-morning goodies. It was amazing to watch, as was the sheer number of species. I moved along the stream and I was in total silence (other than squirrels dropping discarded nut shells around me) and a few noisy people who were netting part of the stream (probably some kind of science thing - but annoyingly loud all the same and totally disrespectful towards nature). Unfortunately, the odonata were quiet too, though this is nothing new here.

As I walked along, I eventullay noticed, among one or two commonly seen species, a male Merogomphus paviei. Then I saw a second, along a very shallow and slow, almost still, section of the river. I managed to creep up along the stream and get some half-decent photos, before the noisy group were shouting and splashing around again and it was off. I walked away from the party people and neared a log (pictured below). Here I noticed in the gloom a smallish damselfly perching directly below the log on a shaded branch. I knew it was something different, but had to get closer to investigate. It turned out to be a Rhinagrion species. I have actually spotted a female here before. It turns out to be Rhinagrion hainanense  - a species I saw once before at Khai Yai.

As I continued on my journey, I saw a number of Coeliccia c.f. loogali. July was obviously the month that they begin their flight. That said, C. didyma had disappeared. Maybe due to the dull conditions they were too lazy to make an appearance. Eventually, the heavens opened and the odonata door closed. I waited under tree cover for it to abate and eventually it stopped and the sun poked through the canopy. This encouraged another Merogomphus paviei, which constantly did battle with another specimen perching higher up, to show itself - in a bright spot of sunshine. Actually, I can spot this species easily now, as it arches its abdomen under its body as it flies, which is a unique characteristic over other similar species I have seen. On the way back I managed to spot a solitary male Gomphidictinus perakensi, which seem territorial and return to the same spot if you hide away slightly. Also, what I have noticed about this species, is that it 'quivers' its wings as you approach. The more it quivers, the more likely it is ready to bolt for the upper branches. If it does, move away and he will probably return. 

I got back to the car in order to return to the Helicopter Pad lake. Unfortunately, the heavens opened, putting an end to my rather fruitful day. Roll on August ... 

My best photos of the day:

Here's the tree where I saw the male Rhinagrion hainanense

Rhinagrion hainanense, male

Merogomphus paviei, male - a beautiful and easy-to-recognise species, due to his distinctive arched abdomen as it patrols 'his' area

Gomphidictinus perakensi, male a fairly large and highly territorial species - watch him 'flap' his wings as you near him

Nam Nao Headquarter's stream (added species from the last visit, bold; new species for the stream, blue; species not seen from last visit, red)

Family: Chlorocyphidae

Rhinocypha biforata (Selys, 1859) ♂ ♀ [common]

Family: Euphaeidae

Euphaea ochracea (Selys, 1859) ♂ ♀ [♂ common]

Family: Megapodagriondae

Rhinagrion hainanense, male ♂ [1] 

Family: Gomphidae

Gomphidictinus perakensi (Laidlaw, 1902) ♂ [1]  

Gomphidia k.kruegeri (Martin, 1904)

Merogomphus parvus (Krüger, 1899)

Merogomphus paviei (Martin, 1904) ♂ [4] 

Family: Platycnemididae

Coeliccia didyma (Selys, 1863) 
Coeliccia c.f. loogali (Fraser in Laidlaw, 1932) ♂  [fairly common]
Copera marginipes (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [very common]

Copera vittata (Selys, 1863) ♂ ♀ [common]

Family: Protoneuridae

Prodasineura auricolor ♂ ♀ [very common]

Family: Libellulidae

Zygonyx iris malayana (Selys, 1869) ♂ [1]

Next trip: August (and a trip to Kanchanburi next week!)