Nam Nao: A Year in the Making (August & September)

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

Date: Saturday,  8th September, 2012.
Weather: Heavily overcast, torrential rain, swampy conditions

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

Leech bites: 8 

I think a band called Wet Wet Wet once released a song titled, Sweet Little Mystery (how sad of me to remember that) ... well, yesterday (and the previous month for that matter) was certainly wet. Unfortunately, there was no sweet little mystery to be found. I made two visits in August. The first one was abandoned whilst riding there on my motorbike, as the torrential rain started seeping into my camera bag and I can't afford to replace my equipment. It was also getting a little dangerous riding my scooter in such conditions. The second trip, I was lucky enough to borrow my brother's car. However, sitting at the watchtower of the Helicopter Pad lake simply watching the rain pour down from 6.00 a.m. - 2 p.m. wasn't exactly the highlight of my project. Only the resident spiders seemed unaware of the weather. Alas, no blog page for August (attempts were made on 18/08 and 25/08). Still, onwards and upwards. I did manage to borrow my brother's bike again yesterday - and I was lucky too as it was rain, rain, rain yet again. This time, however, there were breaks in the rain and I think I even saw the sun once or twice. 

Yet, to say it was quiet walking around the lake is an understatement. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was actively taking to the air. OK It was early and it had been pouring it down, but I thought that there may have been something. Then I think I saw why ... everything was hiding - probably shivering - in the now extremely tall grasses and reeds. All specimens were soaked. They clearly had no power to move. This, however, gave me an opportunity to photograph a few of the more common species. I trudged around the lake, spotting common species as I disturbed them from their slumber. Every 5 minutes or so, I had to cover my camera as the rains returned. Each time it stopped, I continued. I did manage to spot a large monitor lizard in the lake, which is something I have never seen there before. I continued, but to no avail. Only common species appeared, even trudging - almost dragging myself - though the extremely tall and dense reeds. 

From the last visit, Pseudothemis jorina, Indolestes inflatus, Prodasineura auricolor and Agrionoptera insignis were not present. However, Ceriagrion indochinense, Ictinogomphus decoratus, Orthetrum sabina sabina had returned (though probably never been away - just hiding away last time). Also, solitary males of Aciagrion borneense appeared for the first time this year. Pseudagrion australasiae and I returned to the car somewhat unhappy with the day, and even questioned visiting the stream. However, once I had dried off a little, had a coffee and looked at some of the photos I had taken, my second wind hit me ... and I'm glad that it did!

Some of my best photos at the lake ...

Ictinogomphus decoratus, teneral male - welcome to the world ... of misery. Newly emerged and soaked through. Not the best possible start.

Even a little hopper used him as cover from the rain. 

Indothemis limbata, male

Trithemis aurora, male

Pantala flavescens, female

Trithemis aurora, teneral male

Indothemis limbata, teneral male

Aciagrion borneense, male

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola, female

Rhodothemis rufa, teneral male (kindly ID'd by Oleg Kosterin)

Many thanks to Oleg for clearing up my confusion between Orthertrum chrysis and Rhodothemis rufa males at the teneral stage.

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/monsoon conditions.

Fam. Coenagrionidae

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

Aciagrion borneense (Ris, 1911) ♂ [1]

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

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

Agriocnemis pygmaea (Rambur, 1842) ♂ [1]

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola (Selys, 1877) ♂♀ [2 each]

Ceriagrion indochinense (Asahina, 1967) ♂ [fairly common]

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

Onychargia atrocyana (Selys, 1865) ♂ ♀ [common]

Pseudagrion australasiae (Selys, 1876) ♂ [1]

Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps (Selys, 1876) ♂ [2]

Fam. Lestidae
Indolestes inflatus

Fam. Platycnemididae

Coeliccia chromothorax (Selys, 1891) ♂ [2]

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

Copera marginipes (Rambur, 1842) ♂♀ [common]

Fam. Protoneuridae

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

Prodasineura auricolor

Fam. Gomphidae

Ictinogomphus decoratus (Selys, 1854) ♂ [1 teneral]

Fam. Libellulidae

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

Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842) ♂ [1 teneral]

Orthetrum sabina sabina (Drury, 1770) ♂♀ [fairly common]

Pseudothemis jorina Förster, 1904

Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798) ♂ [1]

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

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

Date: Saturday, 8th September, 2012.
Weather: Heavily overcast with monsoon conditions

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

Leech bites: 0 

Once I had arrived at the stream, I was hoping to spot a new species or two, but didn't expect anything. The stream was up about 6 inches and chocolate brown compared to that of my last trip. However, my spirits - though dampened by the weather - were still fairly high. In fact, there were one or two common damselflies buzzing around in a bright opening (which didn't last long). I also saw a male Zygonyx iris malayana, darting around at an amazing speed - even for that species! Within a few metres of the entrance I was amazed to see another Rhinagrion hainanense (kindly confirmed by Oleg!). This was about 5-600 metres from where I saw the last one. He was perched on a branch about 0.5 metres above the stream. He wasn't easily scared and I was able to get fairly close to him. If I did disturb him, he would simply fly to a stump close by which had a large hole in it. He would search around the area then return. Eventually, I continued as did the rain. Most of the common species that were around had now disappeared. However, I was amazed to find a second R. hainanense and then another and another ... 4 to be precise. All about 10-20 metres apart. Sometimes they would come into contact with each other and have a little dance. I made my way along the stream, but it was getting darker and darker - those big clouds were looming. As the clouds approached, I too neared the area where I had spotted a good number of species on my last trip - including my first encounter with Rhinagrion hainanense at Nam Nao. I approached the same tree that spanned the stream, where I had spotted a male. As I neared I disturbed a male Merogomphus paviei and noticed a male Gomphidictinus perakensi perching above my head near the log. The water was still shallow enough to wade through and as I prepared myself to do so, I noticed yet another male  Rhinagrion hainanense. I photographed him and then reached the log. I noticed another male sitting on the log (now broken and had moved slightly probably due to an earlier storm). I hoped to see a female ... and as if by magic a female appeared from nowhere ... but then flew up slightly into the air. By doing this, she disturbed all the males and about 5-6 males from all areas appeared, one in particular followed her and hovered near her, arching his abdomen under his thorax to reveal his bright orange/red underside. A fleeting glimpse, but a female all the same. The weather was about to turn nasty. I was about to head back for the car, when I impulsively looking under the log - and there, I thought, was another female. The specimen was right under the log (which was about 12 inches above the water. Worse, it was at the fork of the log, so getting my camera anywhere near it was really tough. I was stood in the middle of the stream pondering my next move. I managed to feed the camera inside the fork of the log and, using the monopod just about got a few decent photos, though the flash didn't go off the first time. Indeed it was a female ... and she was ovipositing. I tried for around 20 minutes to get good photos, moving around from different angles. Unfortunately, she was in the most difficult place possible. I decided just to watch her. She continued for another few minutes, moving slowly around the underside of the log. Then another female turned up, and also started moving downwards into a similar position. Unfortunately, she didn't like my presence and flew into the branches above my head ... too high to take a photo. Eventually the first female finished and flew out of the log and onto a branch. She, too, was out of reach of my camera, but not my fingers! I managed to grab her wings. I managed to get a few good photos of her before the heavens opened. I dived for cover under a tree but the rain got harder and harder. I decided it was time to leave. I passed the 2nd female I had seen and she was still hanging on to a branch even though she was getting battered by the rain. 

I tried to return to the car park, yet the pathway had too become a stream. Soaking wet, I made it back to the car. It was only 2.00 p.m. so waited in hope that the rain would abate. Eventually, it obliged so I set off again. This time, however, the stream was more like a raging torrent of a river - it had risen about 12 or so inches in about 1 hour. I still made it back to the areas where the females were and I couldn't get near it - the stream was now licking at the base of the log ... maybe that was why the females were so active. 

So, not much in terms of new species. Yet, it turned out to be a great day watching the female at work.  

My best photos of the day:

Rhinagrion hainanense, male ... the 2nd I have seen at this stream.

... and another

Now in the hand, he played dead.

 Phwoah! That's what the females must think anyway. The male arches his abdomen under his thorax to reveal his colours when a female is present ... a bit like a scally with a pimped-up car, I suppose. 

Here's the same log that I saw the male for the first time in July. The water is higher now and coloured. 

Right at the base of the log and in the most awkward position ever, I could see a shadow ...

... and when the flash decided to work, the female was revealed - now with the blade of the ovipositor fully buried.

I managed to get my camera in front of the branch blocking my view and this was the best I could get.

Now in the hand ... what a beautiful thing she really is.

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) ♂ ♀ [very common]

Family: Euphaeidae

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

Family: Megapodagriondae
Rhinagrion hainanense (Wilson & Reels, 2002) ♂♀ [♂ 10-12, ♀ 2] 

Family: Gomphidae

Gomphidictinus perakensi (Laidlaw, 1902) ♂ [1]  

Merogomphus paviei (Martin, 1904) ♂ [1] 

Family: Platycnemididae

Coeliccia didyma (Selys, 1863) ♂  [common]

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

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

Family: Protoneuridae

Prodasineura auricolor

Family: Libellulidae

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

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!