Updates

Having recently stumbled on a link back to this blog from http://sayhitoant.blogspot.com/, I realized that I haven't updated in 11 months..

Shocking.

So I'm back to breathe life into this blog. After a year of little action on my front with regards to Odonata I've recently initiated a Odonata project under the Research program in my school. What I'm working on is a sampling of species across various forest fragments in Singapore.

As you can see, there are many small fragments of forests outside of the protected Central Catchment Area. In these areas there are many things worth protecting and a survey on the Odonata found is this areas should be quite fun!

So yes, I foresee more frequent updates. I've been to a few places already and made some interesting finds so I'll be posting about that soon.

Oh yes, there's been a lot of activity re Odonata these few years in Singapore! Discoveries of rare species.. more people getting involved.. all in all really exciting. I'm delighted at the amount of exposure and spotlight given to nature by an increasing percentage of the public! Here's to hoping it grows. 

Location: MacRitchie Reservoir

Species seen: 30

Anisoptera--Dragonflies

Corduliidae

Macromia cydippe

Gomphidae

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Libellulidae

Acisoma panorpoides

Aethriamanta gracilis

Chalybeothemis fulviatilis

Diplacodes nebulosa

Indothemis limbata

Nannophya pygmaea

Neurothemis fluctuans

Orchithemis pulcherrima

Orthetrum chrysis

Orthetrum sabina

Orthetrum testaceum

Pantala flavescens

Pseudothemis jorina

Rhyothemis obsolescens

Rhyothemis phyllis phyllis

Tramea transmarina

Trithemis aurora

Trithemis festiva

Trithemis pallidinervis

Tyriobapta torrida

Urothemis signata

Zygoptera--Damselflies

Calopterygidae

Vestalis amethystina

Coenagrionidae

Archibasis melanocyana

Ceriagrion cerinorubellum

Pseudagrion microcephalum

Euphaeidae

Euphaea impar

Lestidae

Lestes praemorsus

Megapodagrionidae

Podolestes orientalis

Macritchie Boardwalk (NSS walk)

Location: Macritchie Boardwalk

Species seen:

Area: Golf Link beside reservoir
Urothemis signata
Pseudagrion microcephalum
Pseudagrion australasiae
Diplacodes nebulosa
Acisoma panorpoides
Lestes praemorsus
Agriocnemis nana
Ceriagrion cerinorubellum
Indothemis limbata
Rhyothemis phyllis
Rhyothemis triangularis
Aethriamanta gracilis
Neurothemis fluctuans
Orthetrum sabina
Trithemis aurora
Chalybeothemis fluviatilis
Macrodiplax cora
Agriocnemis femina
Trithemis pallidinervis
Tramea transmarina
Pantala flavescens
Rhodothemis rufa
Epophthalmia vittigera
Ictinogomphus decoratus
Pseudothemis jorina
Crocothemis servilia

Golf Link Boardwalk
Orchithemis pulcherrima
Tyriobapta torrida
Podolestes orientalis
Vestalis species
Orthetrum chrysis

Euphaea impar
Rhyothemis obsolescens
Nesoxenia lineata

This was a walk led by Mr. Tang from the Nature Society Singapore. There were quite a group of people that came for the walk and learnt together some common species and how different dragonflies have different habits and habitats.

Along the walk we saw many Tramea transmarina and also Pantala flavescens, the two major migratory species to be found in Singapore. These species arrive in South East Asia after following the sea winds down from the Northern hemisphere. They have thus traveled long distances and often can be found in the later part of the year in Singapore, zooming around open land. The Pantala flavescens is in particular rather widespread, being able to be seen even in areas with high rise buildings.

Some interesting things we saw was the Pseudothemis jorina that was flying in a territory across open reservoir, a fast flyer who surveys the area frequently and is hard to capture on camera. Later we were shocked when we saw that it had fallen into the reservoir and was quite still, in fact, being nibbled at by some small fishes (and later swallowed by a big one). We speculated that a swallow flying in the territory had collided with it and perhaps swept it into the water, as this species of dragonfly is a rather strong flyer generally.

We then headed into the forest to try to find some forest species, and being rather lucky manage to see a female Euphaea impar, as they are generally harder to find than the male individuals. We also caught sight of a Rhyothemis obsolescens, with its pretty golden shimmering wings. We were lucky to have seen all three Rhyothemis species today.

Ending our walk shortly before Jelutong Tower, we managed to catch a glimpse of the big turtle in the stream nearby (a really really huge one!).

There will hopefully be other such Odonata walks in Singapore in the future! A casual walk with a group of people eager to learn more is always a good place to start becoming an odonut, even if you know nothing about Odonata at all (:

School!

Our school pond has been changed recently into a clearer one with hydrillas in it and other water plants that are generally good for odonata. It was originally muddy and inhabited only by turtles but now it has guppies and even three Prodasineura microcephallum!
Applause please. I'm going to haunt that place often.

Panti Forest

Location:
Panti Forest, Kota Tinggi, Malaysia
Species seen:
Anisoptera--Dragonflies
Gomphidae

Heliogomphus kelantanensis (?)

Macrogomphus parallelogramma (?)

Libellulidae

Lyriothemis biappendiculata

Rhyothemis obsolescens

Zygoptera--Damselflies
Calopterygidae

Vestalis gracilis/amoena/amethystina

Chlorocyphidae

Heliocypha biforata

Libellago stigmatizans

Sundacypha petiolata

Megapodagrionidae

Rhinagrion mima

Euphaeidae

Dysphaea dimidiata

Euphaea impar

Protoneuridae

Prodasineura laidlawii

This few weeks, Professor M. H. visited Singapore. We took the chance to go up to Kota Tinggi in Johor with him and Mr. Tang on Labour Day.
We went into a stream in Panti Forest. The sand banks on this stream made it a good breeding spot for Gomphids, in fact, we spotted a few zooming up and down the river, however, we were unable to identify it as Prof. M.H. was not with us at that time. However, my brother found a teneral Leptogomphus species.

The few odonata species I saw today were all new to me. I also learned to identify a few species.
Prodasineura laidlawii can be differed from the other Prodasineura species as the end of the abdomen is almost totally blue, and the blue marks on the thorax are thin as compared to the other P. species.

There were many Heliocypha biforata flying around the place. There is a obvious pink patch above the light blue thorax, completed by a black abdomen with slight blue markings.

We also observed quite a few Libellago stigmatizans male species flying about. They generally prefer to perch near the water surface, not unlike the Libellago aurantiaca. There were two males engaged in territorial fights, and we also found a dead one in a spider web. A female was ovipositing, with the male flying over it as protection. The white legs of the male were clearly seen to be extended when it was circling.

When we branched off into another side stream, this one with water not as clear and more underwater growth, we found several species of Sundacypha petiolata, including two males engaged in territorial fights and a mating pair.

Drepanosticta quadrata was collected at this stream when Prof M. H., Mr. Tang and my father visited it last week. It is therefore not endemic to only Singapore, as previously thought, but also to Southern Johor.

We visited 陈伯伯果园 to clean up and also visit the dogs and cats :)
There were 3 baby kittens! (opened eyes already haha.)
There were also two young dogs. The puppies from the previous visit have all grown up and none seem to recognize us except for the king, which we've known since it was very young (and far from the king position).

A fruitful trip!

Dairy Farm 2 (stream + Paragomphus spot)

Location:
Dairy Farm stream
Species seen:
Anisoptera--Dragonflies
Aeshnidae

Gynacantha basiguttata / Gynacantha demeter / Gynacantha dohrni

Gomphidae

Paragomphus capricornis

Libellulidae

Agrionoptera sexlineata

Neurothemis flactuans

Orthetrum Chrysis

Tholymis tillarga

Zygoptera--Damselflies
Amphipterygidae

Devadatta argyoides

Coenagrionidae

Pericnemis stictica

Platycnemidae

Copera marginipes

Protoneuridae

Prodasineura notostigma

We went to a sandy-based stream near the possible breeding spot of Paragomphus capricornis we found two posts back. The above list comprises of all that we saw (with the exception of the capricornis which we then saw when we visited the possible breeding spot afterwards).

We first walked downstream. The time was about 9:15am, and there wasn't a lot of Odonata about. However, we saw two red crabs mating. We also spotted a resting Tholymis tillarga, which is a crepuscular species (comes out at dawn and dusk).
Quite a few all black Devadatta argyoides were spotted. Their wings are edged at the tip with a black band.
Later on, on our trek back upstream, we spotted the Pericnemis stictica, which is a very large species of damselfly, in fact, the largest damselfly in Singapore.
We then saw a male Agrionoptera sexlineata. The female can be differentiated from the male by the bands on the tail. The female has yellow bands while the male has red ones.
Dad and my brother later spotted the Gynacantha species flying about, but unfortunately I wasn't fast enough to track it.

We spotted the capricornis again this time, however, it did not stay as long as it did last week.
We also spotted an Gynacantha species, either basiguttata, demeter or dohrni, ovipositing at a muddy bank there. It flew back and forth between 3 spots, laying its eggs systematically. When disturbed by my brother, it flew around the area before returning to its first spot. I was amazed because there was a limited amount of water there. The tiny stream, if it could be called that, was only about 1cm deep and not very clear.

An interesting trip indeed!

Neo Teo

Location:
Neo Teo
Species seen:
Anisoptera--Dragonflies
Libellulidae

Diplacodes trivialis

Brachythemis contaminata

Trithemis pallipinervis

Macrodiplax cora

Tramea transmarina

This morning we went along Neo Teo, around Sungei Buloh, originally for cycling, but in the end the bike rental shop wasn't open, so we walked instead.
Well, here's a picture of what the pond looked like:


Trithemis pallipinervis is different from the other, more commonly seen, Trithemis species in a rather obvious way when you see it perched. T. aurora is also known as Dawn Dropwing, T. festiva as Indigo Dropwing, the name coming from the fact that their wings droop when they are at rest. However, T. pallipinervis rests with wings raised above, as if as a mirror image of the other two T. sp. more commonly seen in Singapore.
Tramea transmarina is also a migratory dragonfly, like Pantala flavescens.
Macrodiplax cora has very sparse wing venations, with a long black stripe down its abdomen.

Apart from the various dragonflies, we also saw some birds, including the Slaty Breasted Rail. I also heard the Purple Swamp Hen, while my dad and brother saw it fly (how lucky xD)

In the afternoon we also went to Sentosa, so on an entirely unrelated note, here's a photo of a Nudibranch (possibly) that we saw:

Dairy Farm

Location:
Dairy Farm
Species seen:
Anisoptera--Dragonflies
Gomphidae

Paragomphus capricornis

Whoa, long time since I last posted... But this one is a beauty(:
Paragomphus capricornis is a rather rare species in Singapore since we don't really have many sandy banks which the larvae need to emerge.
But we seem to have found a breeding spot, because we spotted both the female and the male today:

The first picture is of the female and the second of the male. The difference is the tip of the abdomen, because the male has a hook downwards while the female doesn't. You can also see the sexual organs of the male if you look at it sideways, it is approximately where the thorax ends and the abdomen begins. (:

Also spotted some other species today, and we will probably go for a trip up to Kota Tinggi for more odonata next week ^^

陈伯伯果园

Location:
陈伯伯果园
Species seen:
Anisoptera--Dragonflies
Libellulidae

Aethriamantis gracillis

Brachythemis contaminata

Orthetrum sabina

Potomarcha congener

Trithemis aurora

Trithemis festiva

Gomphidae

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Zygoptera--Damselflies
Coenagrionidae

Pseudagrion microcephallum

Chlorocyphidae

Rhinocypha biforata

Its the holidays again, and this June, my parents decided to bring us on a small trip to Malaysia for two days. There is a fruit farm in Kota Tinggi belonging to several Singaporean uncles whom we know, and we used to visit regularly. Since we haven't been there in a long while, we decided to go look up the uncles. There are dogs, cats and chickens in the farm (which live peacefully together).
There is a pond where the uncle, 陈伯伯, tried to plant water lilies once but failed. It is a rather muddy pond with shrimps and fishes. There are also several odonata around.
We also went to Panti Forest opposite the farm, and there are some freshwater streams there, where we saw the Rhinocypha biforata, both the female and the male. Rhinocypha biforata is also from the family that is from the same family as the Libellago species are from. We also met some people from Singapore, observing moths.

Back at the farm, there was also a dead bat... and baby cats! For pictures: odonut-yj.blogspot.com, one of the previous posts. (:
It was a really relaxing trip in all!

Green Carpet

Location:
Green Carpet
Species seen:
Anisoptera--Dragonflies
Libellulidae

Neurothemis fluctuans

Orthetrum chrysis

Brachydiplex chalibea

Crocothemis sevilla

Rhyothemis phyllis phyllis

Tyriobapta torrida

Rhodothemis rufa

Orchithemis pulcherima

Nanophya pygmea
Corduliidae

Epophtalmia vittigera

Gomphidae

Macrogomphus quadratus

Zygoptera--Damselflies
Coenagrionidae

Ceriagrion cerinorubellum

Pseudagrion microcephellum

Protoneuridae

Prodasineura collaris

Chlorocyphidae

Libellago hyalina

Calopterygidae

Vestalis amoena/amethystine

Euphaeidae

Euphaea impar

Platystictidae

Drepanosticta quadrata

Yesterday morning, Dad brough my brother and I to "Green Carpet". Green Carpet is a primary forest, with several freshwater streams and ponds, and some muddy patches.
It was around 9 o'clock in the morning and it was a sunny day, so we had almost perfect condition for watching odonata.

We saw a red Orchithemis pulcherima near the last pond. Orchithemis pulcherima has several different forms, other than the red form. There is one form which makes it hard to be differentiated from the Orchithemis pruinans, a black-white-black plumage.

The dark purple mature Libellago hyalina might be a rare species, but it sure is abundant around the muddy patches after the third stream. We spotted about 5 perching on twigs, and my brother and I had a fun time trying to catch them with our hands, in fact, my brother succeeded in getting one to perch on his nose. (: The immature hyalina is a bright yellow with a purple tinge at the end of its abdomen. Yesterday, however, we only saw the purple ones with some yellow markings. We also observed one with a silvery-blue tinge.

Drepanosticta quadrata is a species of damselfly thought to be endemic to Singapore till recent years when it was discovered in southern Johor, the tip of Malaysia nearest to Singapore. It had black and white stripes along its abodomen and thorax, and although it is endemic to this small area, it is quite commonly found in Singapore forests.

Nanophya pygmea is one of the smallest dragonflies on Earth. It is a delicate and fast little red (for male, yellow for female) demon whose habits include occasional territory flights. It is indeed a sight to see the small creatures with their perfectly made body parts. We were rewarded yesterday by seeing two males fight for a piece of the pond near the third stream.

The best part of the day was when we saw the 2 Macrogomphus quadratus-es. The first was perching on a twig, and after we walked on for a bit, we saw a second one (or maybe it was the same one) flying about.

We also found a species we could not identify but we believe to be Idionyx yolanea. It was a brown dragonfly with yellow hind legs and some yellow stripes on the sides of its thorax. We estimated the hind wing to be from 25 to 30 mm.

We also saw a Common Tree Nymph flying around below the canopies. It is a rather large black and white butterfly, moving about in a graceful, kinda floppy flight. We also observed some huge scarab beetles around some flowering plants.

It was a good day, with a good catch!