Saturday, March 5, 2011

94. Paracercion calamorum dyeri (Ris, 1916)

Number: 94
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Paracercion 
Species: Paracercion calamorum dyeri
Common name(s): N/A
Thai name(s): N/A
Habitat: Exposed tree-lined ponds (uplands)
Province(s) sighted: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (Chaiyaphum); Khao Soi Dao NP (Chantaburi)
Sightings (by me): Locally common
In flight (that I have seen): December (longer, for sure)

When I visited Khao Soi Dao National Park back in December, I arrived an hour before the place opened. I look around and managed to find a small man-made pond just outside the entrance. Within seconds I found a new species. It was confirmed by Noppadon Makbun as being Paracercion calamorum dyeri. Here I only saw the one male (on the leaf below).

The male
The male is heavily pruinosed on the synthorax and the eyes are an amber colour. The abdomen is black and S8-9 are bright blue. The caudal appendages are also blue. If you look through the pruinosum, you can see the thoracic marks. 





Big brother is watching...
Here is the male again, which I found at another pond in the same area. Here the water was crystal clear and there were many males. This one is sitting on top of an exuviae, which is obviously from a dragonfly. It gives you an idea of its size. 1 extra point if you can identify the exuviae...



I thought I saw the female, but I was wrong. I will post a photo when I find one. 

2 comments:

  1. The female of this species (and genus) should have a black humeral stripe divided along with light streak. This one lacks the humeral stripe, only the dorsal left. This must be a female of Ischnura senegalensis, which is common everywhere.

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  2. Thanks for clearing that up, Oleg. I was never sure about this female. I will amend it. Dennis.

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