Dragonflies & damselflies of Thailand: Indolestes

Showing posts with label Indolestes. Show all posts

Monday, July 13, 2015

175: Indolestes gracilis expressior Kosterin, 2015

Number: 175 / Family: Lestidae / Genus: Indolestes

Species: Indolestes gracilis expressior / Dark-veined False Spreadwing*

Habitat: Forested Marshy Lakes

Province(s) sighted: Chaiyaphum

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

Species easily confused with: All Indolestes Species

*As there is no common name, I have based the first part on 'Dark-veined' which comes from the Thai name and 'False Spreadwing' which I have raised for Indolestes as they keep their wings closed, unlike other Spreadwings, creating the Dark-veined False Spreadwing.

Just as I was clicking my heels at finding one new species for my records, I noticed another ... Lestes inflatus again. My old friend from Nam Nao which I discovered for Thailand (see above). But, wait. No! Surely this wasn't L. inflatus after all. I could see that the wings were clear (a key feature of L. inflatus is that the wings are a brownish colour), the legs were black and the appendages seemed different. I managed to get the best photos I could in the blustery wind and when I returned home I knew it was a new species for me and it actually turns out to be a new record for Thailand! It is Indolestes gracilis ssp. and was IDd by Noppadon Makbun (with thanks). He told me that Oleg Kosterin had recently described a new Indolestes gracilis subspecies from Cambodia and it is quite possibly that species or another very similar species. However, the only way to truly know is if I collect a specimen ... though that's easier said than done. I am going to return this weekend in search of the female and hopefully another male or two. It could even turn out to be a completely new species yet to be described to science ... watch this space.

NOTE: Since recording this species, I FINALLY managed to track down a second specimen following around eight further trips and got solid shots of the appendages. It confirms that it is, indeed, Indolestes gracilis expressior Kosterin, 2015. It also highlights just how rare this species is! Furthermore, upon trying to locate the female (unsuccessfully), I did manage to run into a third male for really good shots. Better still, I was with my brother, Paul, who saw it too... so is probably only the third ever person to see it in the world after Oleg and myself.

The Male

It looks like the other species in the genus. However, on close inspection on the appendages, you can see a rather prominent shape, like the heel of a shoe (see below).

2016 specimen playing dead:

The appendages (added 2016). You can see

Saturday, January 31, 2015

169: Indolestes anomalus Fraser, 1946

Number: 169 / Family: Lestidae / Genus: Indolestes

Species: Indolestes anomalus / Spotted False Spreadwing*

Habitat: Forested Ponds

Province(s) sighted: Chaiyaphum, Petchabun)
Sightings (by me): Locally Common

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

Species easily confused with: All Indolestes Species

*As this species has no common name, I have based it on being location-based 'Spotted Thorax' and Lestidae are known as 'Spreadwings'. However, this genus distinctly keeps its wings closed. Therefore, I arrived at 'False Spreadwing' which still tips its hat towards Spreadwings, so the Spotted False Spreadwing.

Yesterday, I went on a short trip along with my brother, Paul, who was birding. We took in the usual Helicopter Pad Lake which was decidedly quiet. Then moved onto a few trails within Nam Nao National Park. Again, it was seriously quiet, though I did spot a few nice butterflies (which I will soon be posting on my new website (which can be seen here). The trail was around 4-5 kms, though it seemed longer. There were a few ponds and drying puddles along the way, one which housed several Lestes elatus and a surprisingly large number of Ceriagrion olivaceum. Surprising as it is the first time I have seen this species within Nam Nao. At the end of the trail was a larger pond in an opening and was surrounded by reeds. Quietly making my way through the reeds, I saw a very small and dark teneral specimen. Though it was hard to see in blazing sunshine, I could see that it was a female and that it was something different and the end segments were enlarged. I closed in and took a few photos. I knew straight away that it was Indolestes. And the only species from that genus I hadn't seen was Indolestes anomalus. I then saw a solitary male which looked very much like Indolestes birmanus ... and doubt started to creep in. It wasn't until I returned home that I could say confidently that it was indeed I. anomalus, and has been confirmed by Noppadon Makbun, who said he saw this species at Nam Nao in June - possibly at the same place. So, though quiet, I was jumping for joy at spotting a rare species and completing the known Indolestes species of Thailand ... unless I can find another! I will return in March or April in search of fully-mature specimens, which I believe are a blueish colour, similar to Indolestes inflatus, which I discovered at the large lake before.

NOTE: Since first recording this species, I have returned to the same location where I saw literally hundred of specimens and copula at every pond along the trail. Additionally, I managed to spot a healthy number of specimens at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary on my last trip (21.v.16). It is also rather common at Nam Nao National Park in Petchabun.

The Male

The blue males really is like all others in the genus in Thailand (currently four), but it is easy to separate due to having spots on the thorax.

Teneral male

The Female
Similar to the male, but dull and boasts bulbous end segments which gave away the ID

Mature female ovipositing (laying eggs)

Teneral female

The Tandem

I just love this image from very early in the morning, with the light and the spider's web... oh, yeah and the subject! One of my favourite shots.

Some more tandems (yes, a randy species)...

The Copula (Wheel)

Though I see tandems and ovipositing quite regularly at the right time of year, the wheel is rare to see.

How many holes can you make in a stem?

... a lot more if you team up.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

128: Indolestes inflatus (Fraser, 1933)

Number: 128 / Family: Lestidae / Genus: Indolestes

Species: Indolestes inflatus / Red-veined False Spreadwing*

Habitat: Upland Ponds / Lakes

In flight: March-July

Province(s) sighted: Petchabun / Sightings (by me): Rare

Specieas easily confused with: All Indolestes Species

*As there is no common name, I have based the first part on 'Red-veined' which comes from the Thai name and 'False Spreadwing' which I have raised for Indolestes as they keep their wings closed, unlike other Spreadwings, creating the Red-veined False Spreadwing.

AT LAST!!! I have discovered a new record for Thailand! I saw this rare specimen at the Helicopter Pad lake, Nam Nao, late in the afternoon. It was extremely skittish and I managed only to get a few shots, before it chased a tiny damselfly deep into the bushes and I didn't see it again. When I returned home, I knew it was of the genus Indolestes and I thought it was I. anomalus. Primarily because I had already seen I. birmanus at Phu Kradueng NP on two previous occasions. And there are only two species of that genus recorded in Thailand... or so I thought. I sent the photos to Dr. Matti Hämäläinen and he forwarded the photos to Dr. Rory Dow, who confirmed it as Indolestes inflatus, a very rare species, where only one male specimen has ever been recorded in Burma, 1925. In Fraser's field notes, he stated: "Distribution - a single adult male from Maymyo, North Shan States, Burma, collected by Col. F. Wall, 5. vi. 25, now in the author's collection." Also in his field notes, the species was referred to as Ceylonolestes inflata. A copy of the field notes were kindly emailed to me by Dr. Matti.

Since then, I have returned to the same place and I recorded 3 more males and a female, which has never been seen or recorded before! They seemed more active very early in the morning. I saw the males and the female at about 7.00 am. By the time I had walked around the lake, they had all but vanished, probably hiding from the hot sun.

The Male

Slightly smaller than I. birmanus, the male is distinct in that it has a azure blue thorax and eyes. The wings are a distinct brownish colour, as is the stigma. The abdomen is blue with unique blackish markings dorsally. S8-10 are black and the caudal appendages are white and rather distinct.

The Female...

Never before seen! I was amazed not only to see the male again, but I even managed to see, for the first time, the female and a copula. I saw the copula first, and then I think this is the same female, after copulation.

The female is very similar to the male, except it is much paler. It has brownish wings and legs. The thorax is a greenish/brown to a blueish/creamy colour and has a prominent dark thoracic stripe dorsally, as with the male. The markings on the abdomen are the same as the male and has a slight blueish tinge. The caudal appendages are white and unique.

I have since spotted a second female. Again, like the first female, she was active very early in the morning before the sun came up properly.

Once she got used to me, she began slowly prodding her ovipositor into various reeds in a small area, which overhang an area that floods. Here you can see the difference as the sun comes out (above) and how dull it really is when tucked behind clouds.

Here is the female as part of a copula

Female, in the hand (maybe I'm the only person to ever hold a female!)

Female appendages

Dorsal ...

Lateral ...

Here, ovipositing...

And the copula... very early in the morning.

In tandem...

... and now the wheel.

Special thanks to Dr. Matti Hämäläinen and Dr. Rory Dow for their help in identification.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

5. Indolestes birmanus (Selys, 1891)

No: 5 / Family: Lestidae / Genus: Indoestes

Name: Indolestes birmanus / Burmese False Spreadwing*

Habitat: Uplands Ponds, Ditches
Province(s) sighted: Nakhon Nayok, Loei, Phitsanulok
In flight: April-December / Sightings (by me): Rare

Easily confused with: Indolestes anomalus, Indolestes gracilis expressior, Indolestes inflatus

*As this species has no common name, I have based it on being location-based 'Burmese' and Lestidae are known as 'Spreadwings'. However, this genus distinctly keeps its wings closed. Therefore, I arrived at 'False Spreadwing' which still tips its hat towards Spreadwings.

A rare and difficult-to-spot damselfly I saw at Phu Kradueng, Loei, this December was Indolestes birmanus. I saw just one female the first time I visited last October and just thought it was an immature L. elatus or similar until it was ID'd by Noppadon Makbun. Oddly, I have visited Phu Kradueng several times and seen this species but it is always brown. Maybe time of year (December)? Fortunately, I have since seen a small number of males at Phu Hin Rong Kla NP and Khao Yai National Park over the years around July and they are blue forms. Do they change colour depending on the time of year?

The Male

The 'blue' male seems is similar to all species in the genus (currently 4 in Thailand) and the easy way to separate them in the field, is through the thoracic markings. The appendages are also unique but difficult to photograph live.

Another 'blue' male spotted at Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei (April)

And another at Khao Yai (Nakhon Nayok), May

The 'Dull' Male

The colour is quite dull, making them even harder to spot than the blue males. The markings on the thorax seem to have a slight metallic green sheen to them and the end segments are white. I have only ever seen this species like this at Phu Kradueng in Loei. Maybe as it is winter?

Close up early in the morning

Male in the hand

The Female

Very similar to the male, but slightly more robust and not as easily frightened. The females stayed a distance from the water's edge.