205: Macrogomphus parallelogramma (Burmeister, 1839)

Number: 205 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Macrogomphus

Species: Macrogomphus parallelogramma / Parallel-lined Giant Tiger

Habitat: Lowland Forested Stream (Shallow and Sandy-bottomed)

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat

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

Species easily confused with: Macrogomphus matsukii

*As there is no common name, I decided upon 'Parallel-lined' based on the Latin 'parallelogramma' and Macrogpmphus in Thai are known as  'Giant Tiger Dragonflies' so I kept that for consistency.

My last 'new species' for my records from Narathiwat is a beauty. At a shallow and sandy-bottomed stream just down from Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, I instantly noticed a fairly large Gomphid. As I closed in, I knew it was a Macrgomphus species but it flew away before I got decent shots of it. I continued wading through the stream and noticed at least 3-4 other males. Both of these were far easier to approach and I managed to snap away, though one was clinging on to grass which made photography difficult. I also managed to get fairly decent shots of the appendages and, therefore, was able to get a solid ID when I returned back to base. It turns out to be Macrogomphus parallelogramma a species that is known from the south of Thailand. Now nicely named the Parallel-lined Giant Tiger Dragonfly, I was really happy to see it and it is the second I have managed to find in the genus. Sadly, the female escaped my lens... until next time!

The Male

Similar to other species in the genus, the appendages are a little different and the markings along the abdomen are very faded.

The Appendages
The easiest way to separate most Gomphids! Always get close-ups if you can.

204: Prodasineura collaris (Selys, 1860)

Number: 204 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Prodasineura

Species: Prodasineura collaris / Collared Threadtail

Habitat: Seepage/overflow, swampy areas, connected to streams

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat, Yala

In flight: April-August / Sightings (by me): Uncommon    

Species easily confused with: Prodasineura doisuthepensis

Though beautiful little damsels, Prodasineura species are difficult to get good photos of as they tend to hang around the edges of streams and very low down. It was no different when I saw a male Prodasineura collaris, commonly known as the Collared Threadtail. As light was fading fast, I managed to spot a male on my first day deep down perched over a tiny trickle. However, with the light almost gone so too did my chances of getting anything worthy of a good photo.

Two days later, I returned to the same spot and there was a female Prodasineura species on a stick just above a collection of leaves over seepage almost in the exact same place as the male. It was clearly a female P. collaris and she was fairly happy to let me snap away. Content with my shot of the female, I decided to go after the male once more. I pushed my way through bushes and dropped down about 5-6 feet to where there was a little bit more seepage/trickle and there he was. This time I managed to get a few fairly decent photos, especially as he was in such an awkward place. Since then I have returned to Narathiwat and Yala and found this species in a few locations, but it is definitely an uncommon species.

The male.
It is easy to ID this species and I am pretty sure it gets its name from the distinct blue band across its collar!

It typically sits low down just above the water...

The female.
The female is like most other females in the genus but it has a blueish tinge to it and fortunately for ID purposes, it was the only species in the area.

203: Megalogomphus sumatranus (Krüger, 1899)

Number: 203

Family: Gomphidae

Genus: Megalogomphus

Species: Megalogomphus sumatranus

Common name(s): N/A

Synonym(s): Heterogomphus sumatranus Krüger, 1899; Heterogomphus unicolor, Martin, 1902

Habitat: Lowland exposed and sandy-bottomed forest stream

Province(s) sighted: Small sandy stream , Hala below-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): 1 male (fleeting glimpse)

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

Species easily confused with: Megalogomphus icterops

 This species was a complete surprise... Wading through a shallow and sandy stream at the lower reaches of Hala-Bala, I came across a large green dragon basking in the late afternoon sunshine. I edged forward but armed with only a 180mm macro lens, I wasn't that confident I would get in a shot. However, before it literally flew very, very far away, I managed to get away one record shot good enough for an ID. It turns out to be Megalogomphus sumatranus (confirmed by Noppadon Makbun) which is known from the south of Thailand. Maybe not the best shot in the world, but sooooo happy to see such a beauty. I tried for a few hours to find again but to no avail. Since then, we returned to the very south and Narathiwat and my brother, Paul, was fortunate enough to see a solitary male below a bridge. On three separate occasions, Noppadon and I returned to the same area and even walked along a long stretch of the river but to no avail! Still, Paul's photos are a massive improvement... until me meet again! 

The Male
Quite simply, this is one of the largest and most beautiful species I have ever seen! These are the photos my brother, Paul managed to get... from a narrow stream on the way to the To-Mo area in August, 2025...

And here is my terrible attempt with an incredibly skittish male from April, 2018...

202: Vestalis amethystina Lieftinck, 1965

Number: 202 / Family: Calopterygidae / Genus: Vestalis

Species: Vestalis amethystina / Common Flashwing

Habitat: Shaded Forest Streams

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat, Yala

Sightings (by me): Fairly Common

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

Species easily confused with: Vestalis anne; Vestalis gracilis gracilis; Vestalis amoena

Another Vestalis species I managed to spot was Vestalis amethystina, commonly known as the Common Flashwing. However, unlike V. amoena where, if you found one, you found several, this species was in seriously low numbers. Maybe it was the wrong time of the year or they were just out of sight that day. I did manage to spot two males along a short and manicured trail that runs near the river at the research centre. Looking through bins I could clearly make out the 'V' nick in the appendages but my shots of the appendages are not so clear. I also found this species to be far more skittish and it took an age to get the shots I got... so I am happy for now. I can find this species in Kanchanburi down, so I should see him again someday -- and I really hope to spot the female too as she eluded me this time round.

The Male
The male looks exactly the same as V. amoena and can only be separated by its appendages. 

 The Appendages... you can just about make out the 'V' nick in the superior appendages (if you look carefully enough).

The Female

I believe these to be females of this species with black appendages.

201: Vestalis amoena Selys, 1853

Number: 201

Family: Calopterygidae

Genus Vestalis

Species: Vestalis amoena

Common name(s):  Metallic Green Demoiselle

Synonym(s): N/A

Habitat: Mostly lowland forested small, sandy-bottomed streams

Province(s) sighted: To Mo Community Forest and streams below Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (Narathiwat) 

Sightings (by me): Locally common

In flight (that I have seen): April    

Species easily confused with: Vestalis anne; Vestalis gracilis gracilis; Vestalis amethystina

I love Vestalis species and was overjoyed to spot two species known from the west/south of Thailand. The first one Vestalis amoena is most certainly the most common in Narathiwat. It seemed to prefer the trees at the edges of small, shallow and somewhat sandy-bottomed streams and is restricted to the very south of Thailand, whereas V. amethystina is found as high up as Kanchanaburi and I only saw it once at the large river that runs through Hala-Bala WS. Superficially, they look identical and the only way to separate the two species is by viewing their appendages. This is, of course, easier said than done. I did manage to get decent shots of the appendages. The appendages of V. amoena has a smooth bulbous end, whereas V. amethystina has a distinctive nick, otherwise they are impossible to separate. The males of both species were incredibly difficult to approach whereas the female of V. amoena was a little more cooperative.

The male
The male looks like other males in the genus... and totally awesome. How can anyone not love these big clumsy dragons that seem to plop from leaf to leaf in order to totally avoid being photographed but still manage to watch you!?!

Another male...

And the appendages...

The Female
These females I believe that they are correct with brownish appendages.

200: Tyriobapta torrida Kirby, 1889

Number: 200  / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Tyriobapta

Species: Tyriobapta torrida / Tree Hugger

Habitat: Forested Small Streams, Trickles and Swampy Ponds

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat

In flight: April-August / Sightings (by me): Rare (but several males at one pond)

Species easily confused with: N/A 

The first 'new' southern species I saw when I arrived at Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary was a bit of a surprise. Not because of the species, but because of the fact that it was happily 'hugging' a concrete post. In fact, once I managed to get decent photos I moved too much as it simply flew to the next post... we are, of course, talking about the awesome Tyriobapta torrida, commonly known as the Tree Hugger. However, here I get the impression that they are as much at home on posts as they are on trees! He did eventually fly slightly further away and onto a tree when I attracted the attention of a few locals. Maybe it should be renamed as the Concrete Post Hugger, though I am not sure that this name is as nice haha. 

I also saw a second male a stream lower down but this one was most certainly on a tree and was far more skittish. Since then, I have returned to Narathiwat and found more locations where it resides, with one swampy pond and stream housing quite a lot of males, though females still eluded me.

The Male
He is easy to identify (if you can find it) due to its distinctive blue/clear wings.

The first male I ever saw on 'his' concrete post...

Now in hand...

The 'Young' Male

At a natural swampy pond, there were several youngish males that were not yet in full bloom...

199: Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata Selys, 1853

No: 199 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Dysphaea

Name: Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata / Black Velvetwing 

Habitat: Lowland forested and sandy streams
Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat; Yala; Songkhla
In flight: April & August / Sightings (by me): Uncommon 

Easily confused with: Dysphaea vanida

Another species that I hoped to see as it seems common in the south was Dysphaea dimidiata dimidiata. I did manage to spot a small number of males, but each one was as difficult to approach as the next. I first saw two males battling it out with a Gomphidia abbotti abbotti on a fallen tree overhanging the River Narwi. They were so skittish that I ended up literally having to swim to the other side of the river and creep up on them... you can imagine how hard that was. Eventually, one settled down and I managed to fire off a few decent shots of it in blazing sunshine -- though  did have to swim around quite a lot to get all the shots I wanted. So, another one in the bag, though this attempt did mess up my camera for a day. 

I also managed to spot a couple more males along the same stretch of river and I saw a solitary male at a shallow and sandy stream on the lower reaches. Fortunately, I was able to see a few more specimens when I returned in August, 2025 when I visited Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. Though I didn't get to see the female, I did get improvement shots.

Sadly, I didn't get to spot the female, but I am happy enough to get the male!

The Male
The male is instantly recognisable with its black and clear wings and is a fairly large damselfly. However, if you get it at the right angle with the sun on it, it can shimmer purplish-blue. Looks stunning I think.

Not shimmering in the light and looks matte black.