Cephalaeschna laidlawi

Cephalaeschna laidlawi or some other workers calling it as Periaschna laidlawi is a rare montane dragonfly species in Peninsular Malaysia. Before my encounter on this species, only a few specimens have been collected by other workers (Forster 1908; Laidlaw 1931; Kawashima and Sasamoto 2006). Forster (1908) and Laidlaw (1931) collected one male and two female adults. On the other hand, Kawashima and Sasamoto (2006) collected three larvae (two males and one female - all successfully bred to emergence).

My first time to encounter this species was in 2007 - a few larvae were collected from a forest stream and successfully bred to emergence. My second time to encounter it was in 2011 - a few beautiful male adults were collected in the wild. It means that I am the second person to encounter male adult (not from emergence) in the wild after Forster (1908). How lucky I was.....

I supposed many might not have seen the real full colour of this species (newly emerged adult might not have yet to develop full colour). Here you go....