Tetracanthagyna waterhousei

June 8 in Xuan Son seemed a day like many others, as far as Tetracanthagyna waterhousei was concerned. As usual I noticed one or two females flying about and ovipositing, but all of a sudden I bumped into a male, the first time I ever saw one. It flew a little bit and then hung up in a tree. But when I tried to get closer to take pictures it quickly took off. I was very disappointed, but in the evening and at a different location I saw a large Aeshnid and when I managed to catch it, it turned out to be another male! It is almost as massive as the female, but the dark blue eyes are very attractive.

Tetracanthagyna waterhousei, male

Scan of the same male in dorsal view

Orange face and blue eyes!

The female is similarly patterned with an even more massive abdomen

Appendages of male in dorsal view

And in lateral view

A last few photos from Huu Lien* **

*Updated after publication of Paracercion ambiguum
** Updated again after publication of Lyriothemis kameliyae

Here are a last few photos from Huu Lien. It is Wednesday evening, so ready to start thinking of the coming weekend. But for now it is misty, rainy and cloudy, as it has been the last two months. Nevertheless, a few more shots of species seen on April 21. Tetracanthagyna waterhousei is new for the blog.

This is a male Prodasineura autumnalis, a rather common species

And this is a beautiful male Lyriothemis kameliyae. 

This is the Paracercion ambiguum male, a new species to science. 

And finally a female Tetracantagyna waterhousei. This bulky mama flew up higher into the trees, so I could not get better shots. It is a monster of a dragonfly.