A Trip to Khon Kaen Environs

Location: Canal-like pond, 12-13 kms outside Khon Kaen City 

Date: Saturday,  25th May, 2013.
Weather: Exceptionally hot (as always in Khon Kaen)

 

Returning to where I very first started to get an interest in odonata, I visited a heavily tree-lined pond, which is exposed at one end and then turns into a kind of canal, which is extremely dark in parts, due to the tree cover. Upon my arrival, I saw a species I have only seen once before in Khon Kaen and that was about 20 kms in the other direction - Ceriagrion cerinorubellum. Amazingly it was also about 50 metres from Mitraphap Road ... the busiest and nosiest road in the world (well, not really, but it's really busy). I also managed to spot (visually) a solitary male Rhyothemis plutonia - the closest to KK I have seen before is at Phu Wiang NP, around 80 kms away from the city. There were also hundreds of Ceriagrion praetermissum - including about 50 copula. I hadn't seen this species is Khon Kaen for a few years, so they are definitely making a comeback. There were also several common species that made an appearance. However, moment of the day, was when I saw a male Heliaeschna uninervulata resting from the hot day sun under heavy tree cover. It is the first time that I have seen this species and is probably a provincial record though I will need confirmation on this. So, all in all, a good day. I hope to compile a comprehensive species list for the province of Khon Kaen by the end of this year. There are a few interesting species already on the list from previous years and I hope to add a few more by visiting the few waterfalls I haven't been to - if the water ever arrives for them!

 

Heliaeschna uninervulata, male

 

 

Ceriagrion cerinorubellum, male - only my second sighting in Khon Kaen

 

 

 

The location of the above species (looking back towards the road where you can see my bike)

Ceriagrion praetermissum - seemingly none for a long time and then plenty ...

... including lots and lots of copula

Rhodothemis rufa, male - common but really hard to get near to photograph

 

 

Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops, male - extremely common, but a classic-looking dragonfly!

 

 

A simple checklist of species spotted at the location:

 

Ceriagrion praetermissum (male and female very common) 

Ceriagrion cerinorubellum (solitary male)

Ceriagrion auranticum (2 males)

 Brachythemis Contaminata (common)

Aethriamanta aethra (3-4 mature blue males)

Brachydiplax chalybea chalybea (males common)

Crocothemis servilia servilia (common)

Agriocnemis pygmaea (common)

Diplacodes trivialis (fairly common)

Heliaeschna uninervulata (5-6 specimens - can't confirm male/female)

 Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (males common)

Pantala flavescens (common)

Pseudagrion microcephalum (solitary male)

Rhodothemis rufa (males common)

Rhyothemis plutonia (solitary male)

Tholymis tillagra (2 resting males)

 

163. Heliaeschna uninervulata (Martin, 1909)

Number: 163

Family: Aeschnidae

Genus: Heliaeschna

Species: Heliaeschna uninervulata

Common name(s): N/A

Synonyms: N/A

Habitat: Heavily tree-lined lowland ponds

Province(s) sighted: Khon Kaen environs

Sightings (by me): Rare

In flight (that I have seen): May 25 (2013)

Species easily confused with: N/A

A quick trip to a few old haunts around Khon Kaen today yielded another new species ... and a cracking one at that. Along a fairly long canal-like pond, that was heavily tree-covered I noticed a dragonfly tucked deep into a dark alcove created by trees. I crept forward and thought at first that it was gynacantha subinterrupta, a commonly sighted species in Khon Kaen. However, as I approached gingerly, I noticed its caudal appendages were significantly different. I managed to get a few shots in before I stood on a twig and the noise was enough for it to fly deeper into the dark tree alcove ... amazingly, though, another male flew towards it and a brief battle ensued. The same male rested once more (the other fled) and I was able to get a few more photos in, though any slight movement ensured that the dragonfly moved too. I saw a few more specimens in the same area, but they were already in flight when I saw them (I scared them into flying). When I returned home, a little research on the Internet revealed that it was a male Heliaeschna uninervulata. According to Noppadon Makbun, it's an uncommon species - and I'm pretty sure that it is a provincial record.

The male.
Similar to gynacantha subinterrupta, yet has siginficantly different caudal appendages. I think it really is a stunning species and one I hope to bump into again.

Here's how I first saw him (it was very dark, obviously flash was used)

Here, he had settled again

And here's another one I saw a little later on in the day

The unique caudal appendages (though from the wrong side) - look at how beautiful the shape is ... almost like leaves.

A trip to Kosamphi Forest Park, Mahasarakam province

Location: Kosamphi Forest Park, Mahasarakam province.

Date: Saturday,  18th May, 2013.
Weather: Exceptionally hot

 

Another trip and another province, about 45 minutes on my motorbike from Khon Kaen. It was an easy and pleasurable journey compared to those I made on my mammoth Nam Nao survey/field trip. Kosamphi Sai is a small and typically Issarn town on the edge of Mahasarakam province, made popular by the forest park. When I arrived at the gates, I instantly felt watched ... from every angle. Monkeys. Hundreds. No, thousands of them were in the trees, on the pathways, on rocks ... even at the nearby market, stealing fruit. No surprise as you have to pass an enormous monkey statue at the entrance. Being extra cautious with my camera/bag I parked my scooter and headed down towards the River Chi (or Chee as it was spelled in the forest park). There was a large, open section accessible on foot and the level of the river seemed particularily low. With caution I could gingerly make my way across the river - something there is no chance of doing where the same river runs through Khon Kaen. I observed and photographed several healthy populations of common species and one or two species that seem rather uncommon in Khon Kaen, but were abundant here along a different stretch of the river. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of a lowland dwelling Gomphidae or something similar. Yet, as I waded through the water, looking along the banks, the reeds and up along the tree-lined edges, the sun decided to pulsate with heat and, so too, did my head. It rose in temperature and I started to wilt in the blazing sunshine. With that, I retreated into the forested area and made my way towards a small pond. The pond was covered in algae and almost seemed devoid of any life. There were some fish present and an enormous white heron, but the park's dragonfly species list wasn't added to here. Only a few individual common species decided to make this area home. So, all in all, not the most successful trip ever, but at least I am now back in the swing of things for the new dragonfly season.

 

 

 

 

I will post more photos / species list here when I can work out how to use this bloody PC! I can't read / format any SD cards and it is really annoying. I can't wait to get another Mac!

 

Nam Nao: A Year in the Making (January)

Location 1: Helicopter Pad Lake, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun. 

Date: Saturday,  19th January, 2013.
Weather: Freezing cold, then eventually mild

Expectations of recording additional species (for my list): Less than zero

Leech bites: 0 

To say the journey on my final trip to Nam Nao NP was freezing cold is an understatement. When stationary, it was simply cold. When travelling at 70-80 kms/h on the bike at 4.00 a.m. it was unbearable. I had to stop every 10 kms and I was wearing a large coat, jumper and even gloves but it wasn't enough. Eventually, a large double truck trundled along at about 65-70 kms/h. I tucked in behind it and it was almost windless in the slipstream. It was like heaven. I followed it all the way to Chumpae. Hot coffee and a puff pastry at 7/eleven and I was off again - truckless. It was freeeeeeeeeeeeeezing once more. Worse still, when I eventually reached the entrance to Nam Nao NP and started going uphill then temperature plummeted once more. It took over 3 hours to get there and I couldn't stop shivering. When I arrived at the Helicopter Pad lake, it was well and truly light, but freezing cold and the lake looked like it was on fire there was that much mist. It was that cold even the leeches couldn't be bothered biting me. Still, at least I have now completed my year-long project. Who would have thought it?

For hours I searched for odonates, but there were none. Eventually - a bit like Noah's Ark - they started to appear. Though, even by midday, it was still very quiet and cold. There were a few damsels but the dragons were really thin on the ground. Here were the specimens brave enough to make an appearance.

Welcome to a freezing, new world. A newly emerged male Prodasineura autumnalis has just crawled up this stick. I just missed his emergence. 

... and close up

Nam Nao Helicopter Pad (added species from the last visit, bold; new species for the lake, blue; species not seen from last visit, red)

Fam. Coenagrionidae

Aciagrion tillyardi ♀♂  [common]

Aciagrion borneense ♂ [uncommon]

Aciagrion pallidum ♀♂  [uncommon]

Agriocnemis femina femina ♂ ♀ [common]

Agriocnemis nana ♀♂ [uncommon]

Agriocnemis pygmea ♂ ♀ [common]

Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola ♂♀ [fairly common]

Ceriagrion indochinense ♀  [1]

Ischnura aurora

Ischnura senegalensis ♂ ♀ [uncommon]

Onychargia atrocyana

Pseudagrion rubriceps rubriceps ♂  [1]

Fam. Platycnemididae

Copera ciliata ♂ ♀ [extremely common]

Copera marginipes ♂♀ [common]

Fam. Protoneuridae

Prodasineura autumnalis ♂ ♀ [very common]

Fam. Libellulidae

Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides ♂ ♀ [uncommon]
Brachydiplax farinosa 

Brachythemis contaminata ♂ ♀ [common]

Crocothemis servilia ♂ ♀ [fairly common]

Diplacodes nebulosa 

Diplacodes trivialis ♂ ♀ [common]

Indothemis limbata (Selys, 1891) ♂ [uncommon]

Neurothemis intermedia atalanta ♂ [very common]

Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum ♂ [uncommon]

Neurothemis tullia tullia ♂ ♀ [uncommon]

Orthetrum sabina sabina ♂♀ [very common]

Trithemis aurora ♂ ♀ [common]

Location 2: Stream at Headquarters, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun. 

Date: Saturday,  19th January, 2013.
Weather: Freezing cold, then eventually mild

Expectations of recording additional species (for my list): Less than zero

Leech bites: 0 

I didn't expect to see much here and it truly delivered. For my last visit here, I knew it was going to be tough. Though I did expect to see some odonates. All I did see was very little water and very few things flying around. It was simply too cold and dull. I spent only an hour there before I gave up and moved on. I didn't even get my camera out of the bag!

Nam Nao Headquarter's stream (added species from the last visit, bold; new species for the stream, blue; species not seen from last visit, red)

Family: Chlorocyphidae

Rhinocypha biforata ♂ [1]

Family: Euphaeidae

Euphaea ochracea ♂ [2]

Family: Platycnemididae

Coeliccia chromothorax ♂ [1]

Copera vittata ♂ ♀ [common]

Location 3: Exposed stream 15 kms from Headquarters, Nam Nao National Park, Petchabun. 

Date: Saturday,  19th January, 2013.
Weather: Sunny and warm (by now)

Expectations of recording additional species (for my list): Less than zero

Leech bites: 0 

Unperturbed by the silence at the HQ stream, I asked the Rangers if there were any other streams. They pointed me in the direction of a stream I hadn't visited - or even knew existed - before. It was an arduous dirty and bumpy 15 kms trip along a dirt path to get there, but well worth it. Upon arrival I instantly got my second wind. A nice looking river that had lots of exposed areas. Great. I could even see what looked like a new species hovering above the stream. There were about 10 yellowish males carrying out battles in the sky. Unfortunately, I couldn't catch one of them in my net. They looked a little bit like Pantala flavescens, but they seemed too small, and too acrobatic. They were also extremely fast movers and never seemed to stop moving. Hopefully I can find out what they were next time I visit. 

That said, it was busy with activity all the way along the stream and it was January! I'm hoping to return in the rainy season and I may even be lucky enough to spot a few new species - it just feels right there. 

Here are the best photos of the new location:

This female is only the second I've managed to photograph and is an improvement over the last, even though it's still not the best. She was hanging around a tiny ditch along the forest path to the stream.

These were commonplace.

Even the females made a showing ... this one is ovipositing with a male guarding her and his territory (a floating branch)

One of 3 species of Chlorocyphidae I saw in the short time I was there.



Here's what I saw at the new stream (P. congener, C. lineata calverti and D. trivialis I saw in forested area en route to the stream):

Calopterygidae

Neurobasis chinensis (common)

Chlorocyphidae

Rhinocypha fenestrella (fairly common)

Rhinocypha biforata (fairly common)

Rhinocypha perforata limbata (common)

Platycnemididae
Copera marginipes (common)

Protoneuridae
Prodasineura autumnalis (common)

Libellulidae

Cratilla lineata calverti (uncommon)

Diplacodes trivialis (very common)

Neurothemis fulvia (uncommon)

Neurothemis intermedia atalanta (very common)

Orthetrum chrysis (common)

Orthetrum glaucum (common)

Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum (common)

Orthetrum sabina sabina (uncommon)

Potamarcha congener (common)

Trithemis aurora (common)

Trithemis festiva (common)

Zygonyx iris malayana (uncommon)

Unidentified sp. (there were about 10 individuals soaring high above the stream)