Sunday, 27 December 2009
A Not So Dainty Damselfly
Came across this insect on one of my jaunts some months ago. The above photo gives you an idea how it looked to me when I saw it for the first time. It was a hot, bright day and there was a lot of reflection off every surface possible.
The next thing I noticed after that was its rather stocky torso and abdomen, so I had initially thought it might be a tiny dragonfly. And then I realized that the wings were folded at rest, which indicated it is a damselfly instead.
This is the Aristocypha fenestrella of the family Chlorocyphidae. The female damselfly is shown here and you can see the bulbous tip of its abdomen in the picture above. For this species, the hindwing length is 25mm for the male and 26.5mm for the female. According to the Pocket Guide, the males of this species have wings that are broad and strongly irisdescent but I did not find them that day.
Even more reason for me to keep going on my walks.....
Note: The AsiaDragonfly website has identified this under the name of Rhinocypha fenestrella.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Sunday, 6 December 2009
And So It Is The Neurobasis chinensis!
Yippee!
Many thanks to Ian Choong, who has confirmed that the beautiful, green and graceful damselfly that I had thought might be the Vestalis species, is actually the Neurobasis chinensis, female, also of the family Calopterygidae. This species is widespread in mainland tropical Asia and Sumatra.
I had needed that expert eye to confirm this and when it comes to Odonata of Peninsular Malaysia, he really is the expert here, having spent many years observing and studying them.
Since he has confirmed the identification of this species, I now notice the white pseudo-pterostigma on the hindwings too. This applies to the females of this species. I do hope to come across the male of this species one of these days. From the Guide Book, the male looks like he'll really make heads turn. It's definitely a wow! So I am keeping my fingers crossed and now have renewed motivation to keep scouring Langkawi for it.
Previously, I had been looking at the thorax and appendages; literally everything but the markings on the wings! And sometimes when you are looking for outstanding details in too many pictures of similar things for too long, they all become a blur and look the same! Yet now, the markings on the wings seem so obvious. I had been so blind to it.
Lesson learned.
And, as I would always say, learning never stop.
Odonata Checklist
UPDATED ON: 6 DECEMBER 2009
ODONATA OF LANGKAWI ISLAND
ANISOPTERA
Family Gomphidae
Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (Selys, 1858)
Family Libellulidae
Acisoma parnorpoides (Rambur, 1842)
Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius, 1793)
Cratilla lineata (Brauer, 1878)
Crocothemis servilia (Drury, 1770)
Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur, 1842)
Hydrobasileus croceus (Brauer, 1867)
Neurothemis fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793)
Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773)
Orthethrum chrysis (Selys, 1891)
Orthethrum sabina (Drury, 1770)
Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842)
Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842)
Rhyothemis phyllis (Sulzer, 1776)
Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839)
ZYGOPTERA
Family Calopterygidae
Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Vestalis spp (???)
Family Chlorocyphidae
Heliocypha biforata (Selys, 1859)
Family Coenagrionidae
Agriocnemis femina (Brauer, 1868)
Ceriagrion chaoi (Schmidt, 1964)
Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842)
Pseudagrion microcephalum (Rambur, 1842)
Family Lestidae
Platylestes heterostylus (Lieftinck, 1932)
Family Protoneuridae
Prodasineura laidlawii (Forster, 1907)
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