Amphigomphus nakamurai

On August 10 last year I caught a male Amphigomphus nakamurai at Tam Dao. This species was described by Karube in 2001. It has since been recorded from Laos, and it was also recorded from Pia Oac in Cao Bang Province. It is therefore categorized as Least Concern by IUCN. Indeed, I ran into it several times in early July in the Pia Oac area, both inside the reserve and just outside, both in relatively pristine environment, the stream somewhat disturbed by gold mining, and in generally deforested areas in the hills with some remaining riparian corridors. Here are some photos of both the male and the female. The female could be confused with Nihonogomphus species, for instance given the green frons and green antehumeral stripes, but has much smaller abdominal markings.

Male Amphigomphus nakamurai, with its impressive appendages. The green markings on the thorax and the green frons may lead to confusion with Nihonogomphus, but the appendages are very different.

The female of Amphigomphus nakamurai, with similar pattern to the male. It has largely blackish abdomen, baring the lateral yellow markings on S1-3.

Appendages of the male in lateral view

And in ventral view, showing also the forked epiproct

Amphigomphus nakamurai

Already the gomphidae season is drawing to a close and that is saddening indeed. Gomphids are dear to me. I love dragonflies and damselflies, but the gomphids have a special place in my heart. Therefore it is wonderful to be in a place where there is great variety. Japan was such a place, and Rio de Janeiro was another, but Vietnam is truly wonderful for this group too.

On August 10 we visited Tam Dao and where looking for Odonata around the resort. The streams in places can be a saddening sight, with all the rubbish, but the species are good. At a certain moment a dragonfly appeared out of nowhere in the corner of my eye and I was lucky enough to be able to catch it. Straightaway it was clear it was something I had not seen before, but what. The antehumerals were apple green and also the first lateral stripe was greenish, stronger in fact than the photos show. It took quite a bit of searching until I could finally identify it as Amphigomphus nakamurai, a species described from Tam Dao by Karube. Although apparently this is the only location known in Vietnam, it has also been found in Laos.

Amphigomphus nakamurai, male

Showing of apple greenish antehumerals and frons. Some interference (software problem of camera) giving the appearance of alternating green and yellow bands, but this is not true, the complete antehumeral was solid greenish 

ventral-lateral view of appendages