A few more libellulids from Cat Tien*

*Adjusted on December 28. Tetrathemis platyptera replaced by T. irregularis hyalina.

I saw a few more interesting Libellulids at Cat Tien in early August; interesting as I had not seen them before, or rarely, or in the case of Tetrathemis, was a new record for me.

The first is a small Neurothemis species, N. fluctuans. It differs from the quite a bit larger N. fulvia by the hyaline margin along the posterior edge of the hindwing.

An immature male Neurothemis fluctuans.

The female of Lathrecista asiatica, a common species of the south, although absent in the north. It occurs on pools and puddles in the forest

Immature male Lathrecista asiatica

Male Lathrecista asiatica with red abdomen and pruinose thorax.

Yet another stunning little male dragonfly that was common at the fishponds, Aethriamantha brevipennis. Although Sebastien has recorded it in the north, I have never seen them there and these were my first observations.

Again I apologize for the poor quality of the picture, this one taken with a very much steamed up lens.  It is the female of Tetrathemis irregularis hyalina, which I saw on several occasions on forested ponds.

Speaking of pretty bad photos, a record shot of Tramea transmarina euryale, yet again. Although not common, certainly not rare either.

Male Pseudothemis jorina, another southern species. In Northern Vietnam common P. zonata occurs. I do not know where the border between the distributions of these closely allied species is, or whether there is overlap.

Pseudothemis zonata

Another striking Libellulid is Pseudothemis zonata, the Pied Skimmer. It is a very common species of ponds and lakes, but disappears at the end of the summer (presumably to reappear in spring). My last sighting was August 27, whereas before that it was common even in Hanoi. It has a great tolerance for crap (literally), possibly only surpassed by the tolerance of Brachythemis contaminata for pollution. But it is a nice species, so let's be grateful. In the south it is replaced by P. jorina, but op north zonata is the common representative of the genus. The female is striking as well, but different, with a pronounced yellow and black pattern.

Marvelous Pseudothemis zonata, male

And the equally marvelous Pseudothemis zonata, female