Oligoaeschna foliacea

Royal Belum, Perak

My first visit to Royal Belum was in 2007. Time really flies, and that I revisited to Royal Belum a couple of days ago for an Odonata inventory. In a short 4-day of inventory, I recorded 43 species, and the most interesting find was Coeliccia kimurai.....

Kooi Waterfall

Temengor Lake

Gold Dust Weevil

I spotted this beautiful gold dust weevil (Hypomeces squamosus) in Taman Negara.....

Pseudagrion pilidorsum in Tandem

Scopion - Heterometrus spinifer

Bohedulang Island

Bohedulang (or Bohey Dulang) island is part of Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Sabah). The view of Bohedulang (see photo below) from the top hill of the island is so gorgeous....

Sunrise in Danum Valley

I was in Danum Valley (12-16 August 2015) to conduct dragonflying (dragonfly watching) to a group of international students. The sunrise in Danum Valley (see below photo) is so spectacular.....

Gomphidia abbotti (male)

Gynacantha limbalis (Female)

Tholymis tillarga

One of the libellulid species that I am always attracted to is Tholymis tillarga. The hindwings of T. tillarga have white patch. It is definitely not easy to bring out the white patch of the hindwings in photos....

Odonata Checklist for Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve, Terengganu

Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve is located at the northern part of Terengganu. It is 40 km away from Besut town. Below is the Odonata checklist for Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve, Terengganu:

Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2014. The Odonata of Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve, Terengganu. In: Abd Rahim, A.R., Abu Hassan, M.N., Nordin, A., Nor Hasliza, M.B. & Latiff, A. (eds.) Hutan Simpan Gunung Tebu, Terengganu: Pengurusan Hutan, Persekitaran Fizikal dan Kepelbagaian Biologi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, pp. 293-298.

Family Amphipterygidae
1. Devadatta argyoides (Selys, 1859)

Family Calopterygidae
2. Echo modesta Laidlaw, 1902

3. Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

4. Vestalis amethystina Lieftinck, 1965

5. Vestalis amoena Selys, 1853

6. Vestalis gracilis (Rambur, 1842)

Family Chlorocyphidae

7. Heliocypha biforata (Selys, 1859)

8. Libellago aurantiaca (Selys, 1859)

9. Libellago hyalina (Selys, 1859)

10. Sundacypha petiolata (Selys, 1859)

Family Euphaeidae
11. Dysphaea dimidiata Selys, 1853

12. Euphaea impar Selys, 1859

Family Argiolestidae

13. Podolestes orientalis Selys, 1862

Family Megapodagrionidae

14. Rhinagrion macrocephalum (Selys, 1862)

Family Coenagrionidae

15. Agriocnemis femina (Brauer, 1868)

16. Archibasis rebeccae Kemp, 1989

17. Archibasis viola Lieftinck, 1949

18. Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola Selys, 1877

19. Ceriagrion cerinorubellum (Brauer, 1865)

20. Mortonagrion aborense (Laidlaw, 1914)

21. Pseudagrion australasiae Selys, 1876

22. Pseudagrion williamsoni Fraser, 1922

Family Platystictidae

23. Drepanosticta sp.

Family Platycnemididae

24. Coeliccia albicauda (Förster, 1907)
25. Copera ciliata (Selys, 1863)

26. Copera marginipes (Rambur, 1842)

27. Copera vittata (Selys, 1863)
28. Elattoneura analis (Selys, 1860)

29. Prodasineura collaris (Selys, 1860)

30. Prodasineura humeralis (Selys, 1860)

31. Prodasineura laidlawii (Förster, 1907)

32. Prodasineura notostigma (Selys, 1860)

Family Gomphidae
33. Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (Selys, 1858)

34. Macrogomphus thoracicus McLachlan, 1884

Family Aeshnidae

35. Heliaeschna sp.

36. Indaeschna grubaueri (Förster, 1904)

Family Corduliidae
37. Idionyx yolanda Selys, 1871

Family Libellulidae

38. Aethriamanta gracilis (Brauer, 1878)

39. Brachydiplax chalybea Brauer, 1868

40. Cratilla metallica (Brauer, 1878)

41. Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur, 1842)

42. Lyriothemis biappendiculata (Selys, 1878)

43. Nannophya pygmaea Rambur, 1842

44. Neurothemis fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793)

45. Onychothemis testacea Laidlaw, 1902

46. Orchithemis pulcherrima Brauer, 1878

47. Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891)

48. Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer, 1865) 

49. Orthetrum sabina (Drury, 1770)

50. Orthetrum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)

51. Rhyothemis phyllis (Sulzer, 1776)

52. Rhyothemis triangularis Kirby, 1889

53. Tetrathemis irregularis hyalina Kirby, 1889

54. Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839)

55. Tyriobapta torrida Kirby, 1889

56. Urothemis signata insignata (Selys, 1872)

The Odonata Checklist for Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang

Krau Wildlife Reserve is located in the state of Pahang, and it is very rich in Odonata fauna. Below is the Odonata checklist for Krau Wildlife Reserve:

Choong, C.Y. 2014. Odonata (Insecta) fauna of Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 28: 73-80.

Family Amphipterygidae

1. Devadatta argyoides (Selys, 1859)

Family Calopterygidae

2. Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

3. Neurobasis longipes Hagen, 1887

4. Vestalis amethystina Lieftinck, 1965

5. Vestalis amoena Selys, 1853

Family Chlorocyphidae

6. Heliocypha biforata (Selys, 1859)

7. Heliocypha perforata limbata (Selys, 1879)

8. Libellago aurantiaca Selys, 1859

9. Libellago lineata (Burmeister, 1839)

10. Libellago semiopaca (Selys, 1873)

11. Libellago stigmatizans (Selys, 1859)

12. Sundacypha petiolata (Selys, 1859)

Family Euphaeidae

13. Dysphaea dimidiata Selys, 1853

14. Euphaea impar Selys, 1859

15. Euphaea ochracea Selys, 1859

Family Argiolestidae

16. Podolestes orientalis Selys, 1862

Family Megapodagrionidae

17. Rhinagrion microcephalum (Selys, 1862)

18. Rhinagrion viridatum Fraser, 1938

               

Family Lestidae

19. Lestes praecellens Lieftinck, 1937

20. Lestes praemorsus decipiens Kirby, 1893

21. Orolestes wallacei (Kirby, 1889)

Family Platystictidae

22. Drepanosticta sharpi (Laidlaw, 1907)

23. Protosticta curiosa Fraser, 1934

Family Coenagrionidae

24. Acigrion hisopa (Selys, 1876)

25. Amphicnemis ecornuta Selys, 1889

26. Amphicnemis gracilis Kruger, 1898

27. Agriocnemis femina (Brauer, 1868)

28. Agriocnemis nana (Laidlaw, 1914)

29. Archibasis rebeccae Kemp, 1989

30. Archibasis viola Lieftinck, 1949

31. Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola Selys, 1877

32. Argiocnemis sp.

33. Ceriagrion cerinorubellum (Brauer, 1865)

34. Ceriagrion chaoi Schmidt, 1964

35. Mortonagrion aborense (Laidlaw, 1914)

36. Pseudagrion australasiae Selys, 1876

37. Pseudagrion pruinosum (Burmeister, 1839)

38. Teinobasis cryptica Dow, 2010

39. Teinobasis ruficollis (Selys, 1877)

Family Platycnemididae

40. Coeliccia albicauda (Forster, 1907)

41. Coeliccia octogesima (Selys, 1863)

42. Copera ciliata (Selys, 1863)

43. Copera marginipes (Rambur, 1842)

44. Copera vittata (Selys, 1863)

45. Onychargia atrocyana (Selys, 1865)

Family Protoneuridae

46. Elattoneura analis (Selys, 1860)

47. Prodasineura collaris (Selys, 1860)

48. Prodasineura humeralis (Selys, 1860)

49. Prodasineura interrupta (Selys, 1860)

50. Prodasineura laidlawii (Forster, 1907)

51. Prodasineura notostigma (Selys, 1860)

52. Prodasineura sp.

Family Aeshnidae

53. Gynacantha basiguttata Selys, 1882

54. Gynacantha limbalis Karsch, 1892

Family Gomphidae

55. Burmagopmhus arthuri Lieftinck, 1953

56. Burmagomphus williamsoni Forster, 1914

57. Burmagomphus insularis Laidlaw, 1914

58. Burmagomphus plagiatus Lieftinck, 1964

59. Gomphidia abbotti Williamson, 1907

60. Gomphidictinus perakensis (Laidlaw, 1902)

61. Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (Selys, 1858)

62. Macrogomphus parallelogramma albardae Selys, 1878

63. Megalogomphus sumatranus (Kruger, 1899)

64. Microgomphus chelifer Selys, 1858

Family Libellulidae

65. Acisoma panorpoides Rambur, 1842

66. Aethriamanta brevippenis (Rambur, 1842)

67. Aethriamanta gracilis (Brauer, 1878)

68. Agrionoptera insignis (Rambur, 1842)

69. Brachydiplax chalybea Brauer, 1868

70. Brachydiplax farinosa Kruger, 1902

71. Brachygonia oculata (Brauer, 1878)

72. Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius, 1793)

73. Cratilla metallica (Brauer, 1878)

74. Hydrobasileus croceus (Brauer, 1867)

75. Indothemis limbata (Selys, 1891)

76. Lathrecista asiatica (Fabricius, 1798)

77. Lyriothemis biappendiculata (Selys, 1878)

78. Neurothemis fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793)

79. Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773)

80. Neurothemis ramburri (Brauer, 1866)

81. Onychothemis coccinea Lieftinck, 1953

82. Onychothemis culminicola Forster, 1904

83. Orchithemis pruinans (Selys, 1878)

84. Orchithemis pulcherrima Brauer, 1878

85. Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891)

86. Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer, 1865)

87. Orthetrum luzonicum (Brauer, 1868)

88. Orthetrum sabina (Drury, 1770)

89. Orthetrum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)

90. Pantala flavascens (Fabricius, 1798)

91. Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842)

92. Rhyothemis plutonia Selys, 1883

93. Rhyothemis triangularis Kirby, 1889

94. Risiophlebia dohrni (Kruger, 1902)

95. Tetrathemis irregularis hyalina Kirby, 1889

96. Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839)

97. Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842)

98. Tyriobapta torrida Kirby, 1889

99. Urothemis signata insignata (Selys, 1872)

100. Zygonyx iris malayanus (Laidlaw, 1902)

101. Zyxomma obtusum Albarda, 1881

102. Zyxomma petiolatum Rambur, 1842

Odonata Checklist for Chamah Highlands, Kelantan

Chamah Highlands is located in the state of Kelantan. I did a short Odonata survey at Chamah Highlands in 2011 during a scientific expedition. You may click here to read about the expedition.

Choong, C.Y. 2013. Odonata diversity of Chamah Highlands, Kelantan. In: Karim, S.A., Abu Bakar, F.A., Rani, R., Rahman, R.A., Ramli, R., Hamzah, Z. & Latiff, A. (eds.) Gunung Chamah, Kelantan: Pengurusan Hutan, Persekitran Fizikal, Kepelbagaian Biologi dan Pelancongan Ekologi. Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Kelantan, pp. 206-211.


Below is the Odonata checklist for Chamah Highlands (Kelantan):

ZYGOPTERA

Amphipterygidae
1. Devadatta argyoides (Selys, 1859)

Calopterygidae
2. Echo modesta Laidlaw, 1902

3. Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

4. Vestalis amethystina Lieftinck, 1965

5. Vestalis amoena Selys, 1853

Chlorocyphidae

6. Aristocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842)

7. Heliocypha biforata (Selys, 1859)

8. Heliocypha perforata limbata (Selys, 1879)

Euphaeidae
9. Dysphaea dimidiata Selys, 1853

10. Euphaea ochracea Selys, 1859

Lestidae
11. Lestes dorothea Fraser, 1924

Coenagrionidae
12. Argiocnemis sp.

13. Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi Laidlaw, 1931

Platycnemididae
14. Calicnemia chaseni (Laidlaw, 1928)

15. Coeliccia albicauda (Förster, 1907)
16. Coeliccia didyma (Selys, 1863)

17. Coeliccia erici Laidlaw, 1917

18. Copera vittata (Selys, 1863)

19. Prodasineura humeralis (Selys, 1860)

Platystictidae

20. Drepanosticta pan Laidlaw, 1931

21. Drepanosticta sharpi (Laidlaw, 1907)

ANISOPTERA

Gomphidae
22. Nepogomphus walli (Fraser, 1924)

Aeshnidae
23. Amphiaeschna ampla basitincta Lieftinck, 1940

24. Indaeschna grubaueri (Förster, 1904)

25. Periaeschna laidlawi (Förster, 1908)

Corduliidae
26. Idionyx sp. (this species was later confirmed by Haruki Karube as Idionyx montana)

Libellulidae

27. Cratilla lineata (Brauer, 1878)

28. Cratilla metallica (Brauer, 1878)

29. Neurothemis fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793)

30. Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773)

31. Orchithemis pulcherrima Brauer, 1878

32. Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891)

33. Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer, 1865) 

34. Orthetrum luzonicum (Brauer, 1868)

35. Orthetrum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839)

36. Orthetrum triangulare malaccense Förster, 1903

37. Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842)

38. Tetrathemis platyptera Selys, 1878

39. Tyriobapta torrida Kirby, 1889

40. Zygonyx ida Selys, 1869

41. Zygonyx iris malayana (Laidlaw, 1902)

Mortonagrion arthuri

Mortonagrion arthuri is definitely an uncommon Odonata species in Peninsular Malaysia. In Peninsular Malaysia M. arthuri are found in two locations - Tioman Island (Pahang) and Teluk Rubiah Forest Reserve (Perak). From my own field surveys, there are two sites in Tioman Island and one site in Teluk Rubiah Forest Reserve where this species could be found. All these sites (aquatic habitat) show the penetration of sea water during high tide, meaning that M. arthuri somehow tolerates some degree of salinity.

An Odonata Holiday in Taman Negara Pahang

The last time I had my Odonata holiday in Taman Negara (Kuala Koh, Kelantan) was in April 2005. Time flies, and it has been more than 10 years for me to have my second Odonata holiday in Taman Negara (Pahang). I must thank Jabatan PERHILITAN for the cordial invitation. This time we entered Taman Negara from Kuala Tahan, Pahang. From Kuala Tahan to Kuala Kelapor (the camp site), we could still observe everywhere the scars and wounds from the destructive big flood which happened in the late December 2014.

We started our journey at Kuala Tahan in the early morning on 14 April 2015. We were on 4-wheel drives for 3 hours before arriving at a drop off point at Kuala Sat. Then, we took long boats on Sg Sat heading to Kuala Kelapor. The whole boat journey was only roughly 1 hour, but we had to get off boats at a few spots of low water level to push the boats.

The team is getting ready to set off to the camp site in Taman Negara

Finally we arrived safely at the camp site at Kuala Kelapor in the early afternoon without much trouble. The camp site was located by Sg Sat. Therefore, our water supply (drinking, bathing, and even our toilet) was from Sg Sat. One thing I enjoyed much was to soak myself in the water of Sg Sat in the hot afternoon.

the camp site at Kuala Kelapor

Sg Sat - our main source of water supply

Sg Kelapor is a sluggish and slow flowing stream, and it is good for many Odonata species

It was flowering season for a few plant species during our visit there, particularly Saraca thaipingensis. The presence of the flowers definitely made the forest looking good.

Gardenia carinata

Saraca thaipingensis

One of the unexpected things that I encountered during the stay at Kuala Kelapor was the witness of the delivery of a new born baby bat (Kerivoula papilosa). It was so sweet to see the whole process of delivery.

A female bat (Kerivoula papilaso) just delivered a baby bat

My Odonata holiday went well, and I managed to record at least 50 species of Odonata during my stay at Kuala Kelapor. We departed from Kuala Kelapor on 22 April 2015........

Libellago semiopaca (male)

Archibasis rebeccae (male)

Onychothemis testacea (male)

Lathrecista asiatica (male)

Rhinagrion viridatum (female)

Rhinagrion microcephalum (egg-laying female)

Gynacantha subinterrupta