Spreadwings In Tandem

Came across two species of the spreadwings today. 
Both are already in my checklist.

Nevertheless, as I do not often find them, it is always nice to get the opportunity for more photos, and hopefully better photos, of these species.

The Platylestes heterostylus is pictured above (female) and on the left (male) while the Lestes praemorsus (male) is shown on the right.

Both these damselflies of the family Lestidae are very similar looking but for the colour and markings...

And finding this tandem pair of Platylestes heterostylus has certainly made my day!

A rare find indeed!

Pics Of The Week!

What can I say... it's been a great week spending lots of time up close with nature.

These are some of the pics taken this week of some of the dragonflies and damselflies.


Lestes praemorsus

Copera vittata

Prodasineura laidlawii

Trithemis aurora

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Orthetrum sabina

Crocothemis servilia

Brachydiplax chalybea

Spreadwings In Wheel

It is quite a rare occasion for me to spot two different species of the Lestidae family at the same location in one morning.  I was elated.

Hence, spotting the Spreadwing damselfies in wheel had me jumping for joy.

Literally speaking.

I did not actually jump for joy in the physical sense in case these damselflies take off in flight and I miss the opportunity for a few photos.  Otherwise I would have.

And although I did not manage to get the best photos of these damselflies in wheel position or the "Photo Of The Year" as I like to call it, it was still good to have managed to get a few shots. 

The difficulty was in getting a good angle for the shoot while at the same time trying not to disturb the damselflies and scare them away.  And then there's all the grasses that got in the way of getting a good view.....

Here is the pair of Lestes praemorsus in wheel position.

 

 

I was lucky to have spotted them when I did because I had time for just a few shots before they broke off from the wheel position but remained in tandem.

 

 

Soon after that, the female damselfly started ovipositing into the grassy pond with the male damselfly in contact guarding until the last of the fertilized eggs have been laid.

 

 

I am happy to have had the chance to observe this behaviour of this damselfy species.

 

 

To read more about this damselfly and for more photos, click on 'Lestes' in the Tags below.

 

 

More Of The Spreadwings!

At one of the 'dragonfly spots' I went to, I came across damselflies of the Lestidae family or Spreadwing damselflies.  It is always a nice feeling to spot the Spreadwings as it is a rare occasion.

And there were more than one this time.

On all my previous encounters with this damselfly, I could find only one lone male.

Here's a look at the Platylestes heterostylus damselfly that I had found on this day, which is a female. 

 

 

And here is another female damselfly of the same species.  I actually had to check to make sure I was looking at two different damselflies perched at two different spots on the edge of the water.

 

 

And this second damselfy was in the midst of some grooming, flexing her abdomen in rather graceful movements.

Now you can understand why I have been so excited about my great dragonfly outing. 

Quite a great day indeed!

 

 

Click on "platylestes" in the Tags below to see earlier insertions with more information on this species and also for more photos.

 

 

Lestidae - Lestes praemorsus

A Blue Spreadwing Damselfly!

I sat on the grassy edge of the pond to watch the dragonflies buzzing around and I watched the territorial displays of several male dragonflies as they chase away other rival males that had crossed the invisible boundaries that I could not see.

It was mostly just the common species of dragonflies that I see everywhere all the time.  Still... it calms my mind and soothes my spirit to just sit there and watch all their antics.  The spirit of the dragonfly gives me a sense of harmony and strength.

So...  it was a while before I noticed a shadow and spotted a damselfly perched vertically on a plant stem under the shade of a large leaf.

 

 

A spreadwing damselfly!

Once I got close enough for a good look, I realised I had chanced upon another species to add to the checklist!  What a nice surprise!

 

 

This damselfy is the Lestes praemorsus of the family Lestidae.  The male has hindwing length of 21mm.  Both the eyes and thorax is of a powder blue colour with some dark markings on its body and the bent tip of its abdomen gives it a hockey-stick appearance.  No, it is not a deformity as I had initially thought.

It perched there undeterred as I inched closer. 

Soon after that, it started flexing its abdomen like a gymnast performing on the high bar. 

 

 

It's graceful movements were quite mesmerizing!

I've got a big grin on my face!

 

 

Really Large Mandibles!

I have been on the lookout for this damselfly and finally spotted it this afternoon.  Today must be my lucky day?

 

 

The Platylestes heterostylus of the family Lestidae is not a very common damselfy.  I spotted it for the first time on 23rd March 2009 and have been hoping to find it again.  That's right...  I have seen it on only one day out of all the days I have been out exploring in the 365 days this past year.  And like the last encounter, I could find only one individual. 

Anyway, the abdomen of this damselfly has a "hockey-stick" appearance making it look like a deformity and I also had the chance to look at its face for the first time today.  It has really large mandibles!

 

 

Click on "platylestes" in the Tags below to read more on this damselfly in an earlier entry.

 

Lestidae - Platylestes heterostylus

The Spreadwings

I came across this damselfly some months ago, back in late March, actually.  And since then, I have not seen it again even though I have been going back to the same place regularly.

 

 

It is the Platylestes heterostylus of the family Lestidae.  This damselfly has a hindwing length of 21mm.  It is of a light green colour with dark spots on its body or synthorax.  Its abdomen is long and slender and ends in robust anal appendages.  These anal appendages or claspers in the males of this species are long and strongly curved.

Also of note is the head of this damselfly, which is quite different in that it does not have a 'plasticky'-looking face as in the Ischnura senegalensis.

 

 

According to A.G. Orr's Pocket Guide, this damselfly is rare and local in open and forested swamp.  So it must have been a lucky day for me to come across it then.

The family Lestidae has large-sized, slender damselflies and while damselflies generally hold their wings folded when at rest, most damselflies of the Lestidae family hold their wings at an angle away from the body while resting, which explains why they are commonly referred to as Spreadwings or Spread-winged Damselflies.

This damselfly may not have a bright colouring and may not be as eye-catching as the Prodasineura laidlawii but it has its own beauty and is pleasing to the eyes in its own way...

I do hope I will see them again one of these days and I also wonder where else in Langkawi will I find them?

 

 

Damselflies Galore

Taken on 10-Aug-2009
Langkawi