222: Libellago hyalina (Selys, 1859)

  Number: 222 / Family: Chlorocyphidae / Genus: Libellago
Species: Libellago hyalina / Clearwing Gem
Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat, Yala
In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Locally common

Habitat: Lowland Forested Streams and Rivers

Species easily confused with: N/A

Well, after years of searching for Libellago hyalina, the Clearwing Gem at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Chaiyaphum where it has been recorded but to no avail, I finally went to Sirindhorn Peat Swamp in Narathiwat where it was abundant. Though the day started very slowly, by the afternoon it was everywhere and there were three forms there! I managed to spot the red, the blue and the purple forms of male and the yellow and dark forms of the female (though I missed a photo). So, here they are... you could say i was a little happy!

The 'Purple' Male

This was the rarest form at the swamp but no less beautiful.

The 'Red' Male

This is the form that is supposed to be the most common and looks like this in Surat Thani where it is also known.

The 'Blue' Male

No idea why but this one was easily the most skittish form. This is the best photo I managed to get of him.

The Female

I thought the female was rather fetching too, especially this form (yellow), sadly I missed getting a decent photo of the dark female.

221: Libellago aurantiaca (Selys, 1859)

 Number: 221 / Family: Chlorocyphidae / Genus: Libellago

Species: Libellago aurantiaca / Fiery Gem
Habitat: Lowland Forested Streams and Rivers
Province(s) sighted: Songkhla
In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: N/A

One genus I absolutely adore is Libellago, though I had actually only seen one of the four known Thai species from the genus... until I went to the deep south and I saw all four on one trip! I was amazed to see them. The last one I saw was the very bright and cool-looking Libellago aurantiaca, commonly known as the Fiery Gem. It is a very small but wonderful and bright species with a glowing orange abdomen. Thankfully spotted by Noppadon Makbun, I had the chance to photograph the male. We saw two to three males along a stretch of forested shallow river at San Kala Khiri National Park in Songkhla province. I was so happy to see it, though I didn't see a female.

The Male

It boasts very bright orange abdomen and is simply stunning, though tough to photograph as he was so low down at water level... backbreaking but worth it!

220: Indaeschna grubaueri (Förster, 1904)

 Number: 220 / Family: Aeschindae / Genus: Indaeschna
Species: Indaeschna grubaueri / Jungle Hawker
Habitat: Lowland forested streams
Province(s) sighted: Yala
In flight: August / Sightings (by me): 2 males
Species easily confused with: All Indaeschna species

One species I had desperately hoped to see as I had already seen two of the three species in the genus was Indaeschna grubaueri, commonly known as the Jungle Hawker. We had already been in the deep south for well over a week, starting in Narathiwat and then moving to Yala and I didn't get sight of it (though we could have spotted one earlier but was too hard to tell what it was). Fortunately, as we were driving along a small road from a stream, we saw a large dragonfly whiz from one tree to the next over a small pond. Here, I finally saw him and a second one! I was over the moon but it was quite high up and it took a long time to get decent shots. I am very happy with them in the end and could spend quite some time on it as Noppadon had already seen it before. It is known from the west of Thailand and down the peninsula, though I am not sure how common it is. Sadly, I only saw the male, but females are always much harder to find. 

The Male

Very similar to others in the genus, this guy is truly a beast with his amazing bright green stripes. I was so, so happy to see him and the species likes to perch on branches over ponds and possibly slow-moving streams.

Same male, slightly different angle

219: Elattoneura aurantiaca (Selys, 1886)

 Number 219 / Family: Platycnemididae / Genus: Elattoneura
Species: Elattoneura aurantiaca / Red-breasted Threadtail*
Habitat: Lowland Forested Peat Swamp
Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat
In flight: August / Sighting (by me): Locally common at one location
Species easily confused with: N/A

*Common name made up to match Threadtails

One species I expected to see at Sirindhorn Peat Swamp in Narathiwat was Elattoneura aurantiaca, which I have named the Red-breasted Threadtail as it has no common name but the genus is known as threadtails. It seems that everyone who visits there sees it... but for the first hour we didn't see any! It was very frustrating. However, as the day progressed, they started to appear though not in large numbers like all species found there. Ultimately, Noppadon and I were very happy to see both male, young and mature, a copula and a female, though difficult to photograph as they are small in size. 

The Male
The male is quite simply stunning with his red thorax and even brighter red eyes but a bugger to get good shots!

The 'Young' Male

Prior to the full red colour, the male is a nice greenish colour which I also think is very cool looking!

The 'Copula'

I was very happy indeed to manage to capture a 'wheel' or copula. Check out the female's bright blue eyes! 

The Female

Not the best shot in the world (it was late in the day and it was at a very awkward angle. But good enough for now. 

218: Drepanosticta Sp. (possibly quadrata)

 Number: 218 / Family: Platystictidae / Genus: Drepanosticta
Species: Drepanosticta sp. (probably quadrata) / Singapore Shadowdamsel
Habitat: Lowland forested streams
Provinces: Narathiwat, Yala
Inflight: August / Sightings (by me): Very rare
Species easily confused with: All Drepanosticta species

One species I didn't expect to see and almost walked straight into it was another Platystictidae species. This one is likely to be Drepanosticta quadrata, commonly known as the Singapore Shadowdamsel. I could be wrong and Noppadon will be checking, but it is relatively well known throughout mainland Malaysia down to Signapore, it would make sense. Furthermore, we were lucky enough to spot a couple of females, both fully mature and teneral forms and the spot near the end of the abdomen seems right for this species. So, a great find indeed! If you know it as a different species, please let me know!

The Male
As with all species of Drepanosticta, the male has a striking blue patch, which is the only way to see them as the move in the gloom. I also saw a second male and a teneral male, though I didn't get

The Female

The female is much harder to find than the male as it doesn't boast the blue patch, but with careful searching in the gloom, they can be found. The large spot (I believe) is a good way to ID this species.

The 'Teneral' Female

This is a newly emerged female and hasn't yet formed its colours.

217: Chalybeothemis fluviatilis Lieftinck, 1933

Number: 217 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Chalybeothemis

Species: Chalybeothemis fluviatillis / Green-eyed Percher 

Habitat: Peat Swamp Forest

Province(s) seen (by me): Narathiwat 

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

Species easily confused with: N/A

Another incredibly rare species for Thailand and only known from one area is Chalybeotemis fluviatillis, commonly known as the Green-eyed Percher. Difficult to approach, it was even harder to spot, though we did eventually spot 7-8 individuals flitting around the edge of one smallish peat swamp pond outside Sirindhorn Peat Swamp. Both Noppadon and I were really, really happy to see this species with its glorious eyes! Sadly, we only saw males. No females were present - likely hiding deep in the reeds.

The Male

Small in size, the male has striking green eyes and unique markings on the abdomen.

Check out those gorgeous green eyes...

216: Amphicnemis gracilis Krüger, 1898

 Number: 216 / Family: Coenagrionidae / Genus: Amphicnemmis
Species: Amphicnemis gracilis / Will-o-wisp / แมลงปอเข็มพรุท้องยาว  
Habitat: Peat Swamp Forest
Province(s) seen (by me): Narathiwat
In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Rare (Two males, 1 female)
Species easily confused with: N/A

Finally, I got to see a species I had always wanted to see. However, known primarily from peat swamps I had never had the opportunity to see it... until August 2025. Searching in the main area of Sirindhorn Peat Swamp in Narathiwat with Noppadon Makbun on the first day we arrived, we didn't see it, though knew it was there: somewhere. Then, while searching areas outside the protected area, though still very much peat swamp, Noppadon shouted me over... and there it was in all its glory: one small male Amphicnemis gracilis a.k.a. Will-o-wisp... It was hiding in the gloom and almost impossible to see. I spent an age trying to get decent photos of it and eventually got one half-decent shot that I was happy with as it was so low down in gloom and I had earlier bust my knee! As I was firing away using all my skills, Noppadon shouted me again as he saw a female (red form). As he did so, I noticed a second male but as I waded towards Noppadon, the female flew high up and wasn't seen again. Still, at least I have seen in now and will definitely search for it again in the near future.

The Male

Amphicnemis gracilis, male perching in deep gloom... very happy to get this photo and was surprised how small it was