146: Gynacantha saltatrix (Martin, 1909)

Number: 146 / Family: Aeschnidae / Genus: Gynacantha

Species:  Gynacantha saltatrix / Little Dusk Hawker

Habitat: Heavily Tree-lined Ponds

Province(s) sighted: Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani

In flight: July-November / Sightings (by me): Uncommon

Species Easily Confused with: All Gynacantha Species

I was busily teaching yesterday (03/07/12) when there was suddenly a commotion. One of my students had picked up a dead dragonfly and was scaring her friend. I looked at it from a distance and thought it was Gynacantha subinterrupta, as they are fairly common in Khon Kaen. Then I noticed the whitish section on the caudal appendages. I thought it could have been Gynacantha phaeomeria as I have seen this species once before, but in Loei province. I grabbed it from the kids before it was destroyed and then taught them about dragonflies for a while. When I looked closely I could see that it was a new species for me, even though it was headless. The claspers are much slimmer (not paddle-like) than both other Gynacantha species I have come across before. 

Since my initial ID of G. bayadera, I have been corrected by Mapor. He thinks it is Gynacantha saltatrix. And looking at www.iucnredlist.org it states about G. saltatrix: "It is a crepuscular species which frequents marshes and does not require forest." 

This would make sense as there isn't much in the way of forest in Khon Kaen city!
Since this time, I have found a new location where there seems to be a number of specimens present. 

The Male

The male looks like many others in the Gynacantha genus. However, its caudal appendages differ. Also, the markings along the abdomen are slightly different to those of Gynacantha subinterrupta.

This male I managed to capture with my fingers ... good way of showing his small size.

The Female

The female is very similar to the male.

Another younger female I saw outside my house recently.

G. saltatrix male appendages

... compared to G. subinterrupta (it's rather different) ...

The female appendages

Many, many thanks to Mapor for correcting my initial ID!

145: Gomphidictinus perakensis (Laidlaw, 1902)

Number: 145 / Family: Gomphidae / Genus: Gomphidictinus

Species:  Gomphidictinus perakensis / Perak Tigertail*

Habitat: Openings in Forested Streams

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai, Petchabun

Sightings (by me): Uncommon

In flight (that I have seen): June-July

Species easily confused with: All Gomphidia species 

*As there is no common name for either the genus or the species, I decided upon 'Perak' from where it was described and 'Tigertail' as many gomphids are referred to as looking like a tiger.

At last! I have spotted a new species for the year. On a seriously dull and rainy day at the stream running through Nam Nao headquarters, I still managed to spot a shining light - in the shape of a large Gomphidae. This one, I am pretty confident it is Gomphidictinus perakensis. On first sight, I thought it was Ictinogomphus decoratus. However, I have never spotted this species at a heavily forested river before. I crept along the stream and closed in on him. I was sure that it was a new species, even though it is very similar. Once I returned home I searched www.asia-dragonfly.net and I am about 90% confident of my ID (should you know otherwise, please advise).  Its markings are slightly different, but only noticeable close up. The other giveaway for me, was the location. I was lucky enough to spot 2 males on the same day, perching on sparse tree branches over a very low-level and slow-moving stream. Since then, I have spotted this species a few times, especially in Chiang Mai, though difficult to photograph.

The Male

The male is large in size. Its caudal appendages are rather distinct and one thing I noticed - when you approached a specimen, it would start quivering its wings. When you got even nearer it would raise its abdomen. A little closer and it would fly away. And should you move away, he will often return to the same twig. This species is very similar to that of G. k. kruegeri (see entry), but whilst the 'boomerang-shaped' antehumeral stripe is solid on G. k. kruegeri, it is broken on the top of this species. 

Here you can see how the antehumeral 'boomerang' stripes looks like it has been cut off.

Caudal appendages, close up ...

Nam Nao: A Year in the Making (June)

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

Date: Saturday,  30th June, 2012.
Weather: Heavily overcast, but no rain

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

Leech bites: 6

I managed to make it to Nam Nao again in June, to keep my project going. Though only just ... it was the last day of the month! That said, it still counts and I am so glad I made the trip. I didn't spot any new species or new records at the Helicopter Pad lake, but, although it was extremely dull and windy, I did get some of my best photos there, including spotting a second female Indolestes inflatus and got some other good shots. It was also great to see a female Rhyothemis triangularis happily pose for me, though she was hanging on for dear life as she tried to avoid strong winds.

Here are my favourite photos from the trip:

Indolestes inflatus, female

Here is the second female I have spotted at the lake. She was up early (6.30 a.m.), hence the slightly muted photos, but she still slowly oviposited for long periods (photo 3, she is just moving into position at the only point in the day when the sun burst though momentarily). 

Rhyothemis triangularis, female

This is possibly my best photo ever ... she was happy to sit there and let me get close. In fact, both photos are completely uncropped, using my 100 mm macro lens. I love how she glistens in the early morning light.

Onychargia atrocyana, male

Agriocnemis femina, copula

Ceriagrion indochinense, male

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola, male

Indothemis limbata, male (in the hand)

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) ♂ ♀ [fairly 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 chaoi (Schmidt, 1964)

Ceriagrion indochinense Asahina, 1967 ♀ [1]

Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [fairly common]

Onychargia atrocyana Selys, 1865 ♂ ♀ [extremely common]

Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps (Selys, 1876)

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]

Fam. Gomphidae

Ictinogomphus decoratus (Selys, 1854) ♂ [common]

Fam. Libellulidae

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

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]

Indothemis carnatica (Fabricius, 1798)

Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773) ♂  [uncommon]

Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891) ♂ [fairly common]

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

Pseudothemis jorina Förster, 1904 ♂♀ [common]

Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842) 

Rhyothemis plutonia (Selys, 1883)

Rhyothemis triangularis (Kirby, 1889) ♂ [♂ 1, ♀ 1]

Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798)

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

Trithemis festiva (Rambus, 1842)

Location 2: River at the headquarters, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun. 

Date: Saturday, 30th June, 2012.
Weather: Extremely cloudy, occasional rain - seriously poor vision under tree canopy

Expectations of recording additional species (for my list): Low
Leech bites: 0

Following a rather fruitful morning at the lake, my expectations were high for the river. Unfortunately, upon my arrival, I discovered that it was almost night time along the tree-lined stream. I took stock at the entrance with a Vietnamese sausage and homemade piccalilli sandwich. As I was chomping away, I saw a male Euphaea ochracea perching - rather, sleeping -  on some bamboo near the entrance. I took some photos and then saw a female. The sandwich was getting rather wet from saliva as it was held in my mouth for a long time. My confidence had grown ... or had it. I set off along the nature trail, but it seemed to get darker and darker as I went. It was time to turn back. Then, adrenaline kicked in. I got my second wind and unperturbed with the weather, I continued to search for dragonflies through the twilight (even though it was actually 1 p.m.). As I moved slowly along the stream, I began to realise that my first instincts may have been correct. GO HOME! Nope. I'm here now. Carry on. Then, with a break from the gloom, a beam of sunlight sent a number of species into a frenzy ... for about 5 minutes. Still, it was enough to spot a few Prodasineura auricolor - yes, Prodasineura doisuthepensis had left the building, following lots being there in April. Are they the same species? Hopefully I'll find out soon enough. Then, I saw a species I have seen before, but only once - Merogomphus paviei. Though I only got a terrible photo, it is enough for a positive ID (and I have seen a male there before). This breathed life into my weary legs. Onwards I marched. Cue ... the rain. The heavens opened and I'd forgotten my rain gear. Awesome. As the rain got heavier, my legs did too... I'd had enough. I turned to walk back. And then I saw a dragonfly battered towards the ground by the rain ... a Gomphidae. It was Merogomphus parvus, a species I had only seen in Khao Yai. It hovered above a leaf for about a minute dodging the rain. Finally, it came to rest and I got an OK photo. I adjusted my position slowly and was about to fire for the perfect shot, when my bag swung round and it flew away. Git! Never mind. I had good photos anyway. Now, with a new record (for me) at the river, I carried on. Within seconds I saw what looked like Ictinogomphus decoratus. "Do they live at rivers?" I thought. I edged closer and, though only a few feet away, I still wasn't sure. I got a few OK photos and then Beau, my girlfriend phoned as the 'money shot' was in focus. The sound caused it to fly away. Luckily (for my girlfriend), I managed to spot 2 more males. I am not 100% sure, but I think that it is a male Gomphidictinus perakensis. It looks the same, but the markings are slightly different to those I can find. I think that the ones I have seen could be younger males. Anyway, it's the first new species of the year!!!!

I didn't see much after that, but it made me realise that persistence pays. That, or I am mad, trying to get some photos of flies in the dark. Hmmmm ...

--

SINCE I wrote this, Mapor has kindly informed me that I had spotted 2 species, not one. In addition Gomphidictinus perakensis, I had also spotted Gomphidia k. kruegeri, which I initially thought was the same species! Mapor also agrees with my mystery Gomphidae, M. paviei.

My best photos of the day ...

Gomphidictinus perakensis, male. Yes, it really does look like Ictinogomphus decoratus.

Gomphidia k. kruegeri, male (I thought was the same as the above species!)

Merogomphus parvus, male. It's MY provincial record if no one else's!

Euphaea ochracea, male & female (below). They may be common, but they are a beacon of light to weary, desperate idiots in the middle of nowhere.

What the ...? I KNOW for once what this is... Merogomphus paviei, male. Only because I have seen it once before (see below).

Here is a good photo I took last year at the same place (almost exactly the same area). I'm confident the above is the same species. Are you?

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 fenestrella (Rambur, 1842) ♂ ♀ [very common] 

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

Family: Euphaeidae

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

Family: Gomphidae

Gomphidictinus perakensi (Laidlaw, 1902) ♂ [2]  - new provincial record???

Gomphidia k.kruegeri (Martin, 1904) ♂ [1] - new provincial record??? 

Merogomphus parvus (Krüger, 1899) ♂ [1] - new provincial record???

Merogomphus paviei (Martin, 1904) ♂ [1] 

Family: Platycnemididae

Coeliccia didyma (Selys, 1863) ♂ ♀ [♂ very common]

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

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

Family: Protoneuridae

Prodasineura doisuthepensis (Hoess, 2007)

Prodasineura auricolor ♂ [3-4] 

Family: Libellulidae

Zygonyx iris malayana (Selys, 1869) ♂ [3-4]

Next Trip: July