Echo modesta

Scientific name: Echo modesta Laidlaw, 1902

Family: Calopterygidae

Thai name: แมลงปอเข็มน้ำตกใหญหน้าขาว

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white patch on male's face

I first saw Echo modesta in Kanchanaburi province two years ago. It's very easy to tell what it is by its white face, stout body and cube-like synthorax. Unlike other member of this family, Vestalis species, it's kind enough to let me closer and not fly away. Recently, among other species esp. Vestalis gracilis, I encountered this species again. I saw all ages and sexes...that made me happy!

young and adult male

Young male is metallic green body with dark abdomen. Synthorax is cube-like. The face, then, will be white pruinosed and the synthorax will also turn to coppery green as it ages. Wings are hyaline and not petiolated.  Female is similar to that male in case of shape of the synthorax and coloration. Wing tip is darken.

You can find this species in South and Northwest Thailand all the year.