Amphithemis curvistyla

Scientific name: Amphithemis curvistyla Selys, 1891
Family: Libellulidae

Thai name: แมลงปอบ้านเล็กหน้าขาว

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male

There are many red libellulid species found in continental Asia. Most of them are familiar to us especially Crocothemis servilia or Rhodothemis rufa found in pond or canal. Two years ago, I found the most beautiful red one in Phu Kradueng national park, Loei province and, later, knew that it's a rare species. This is Amphithemis curvistyla. It lives in an open forest pond and is very frightened when I come close to it. This finding is a new provincial record!

It's a small and slender species (it's smaller than C. servilia and R. rufa) with shining bluish top of frons. Abdomen of mature male is slender and deep reddish tinted with black rings in S5-7. Female is largely yellow as photo below.

female

This dragonfly is recorded only 4 provinces, viz. Tak, Chaiyaphume, Nakhon Nayok and, currently, Loei. You can see it in June-October.