Indaeschna grubaueri

Anisoptera

Species Name: Indaeschna grubaueri

Family: Aeshnidae

Male resting beside pond

Members of the family Aeshnidae are the gaints of the Odonata and this is one of the largest of the gaints. This is the second time that I've seen and photographed this species at the very same pond at the edge of a forest reserve near Lahad Datu town. The first time was in 2006 when I saw a male resting on vegetation at the side of the pond, and today I was fortunate enough to see this huge female ovipositing at this pond. Interestingly she was laying her eggs in the moist soil just above the water. This species is also known to lay its eggs in water-filled tree holes and on buttress cavities of large trees.

Female on the wing

Females of I. grubaueri have hindwings that measure up to 68mm while males are thinner and smaller with 59-62mm long hindwings. Both sexes are similarly coloured with bright lime-green markings on the thorax and wide bands on the abdomen.

Female ovipositing on wet soil above water line

This species is said to be widespread in lowland forest in Sundaland and the Philippines.

Devadatta podolestoides

Zygoptera
Species Name: Devadatta podolestoides
Family: Amphipterygidae


Devadatta podolestoides is the only representative of this so-called primitive family of damselfly in Borneo. Their bodies are darb brown to bluish in colour with yellowish bands on the abdomen. They are found mainly in rocky forest stream in the thick undergrowth. I have found them in Poring, Ranau and at the Kiansom Waterfalls near Kota Kinabalu.

The distribution range of species is China, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, other parts of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Tetrathemis irregularis

Anisoptera
Species Name: Tetrathemis irregularis
Family: Libellulidae


This attractive small dragonfly with the large blue eyes is usually found near rivers, swamps or ponds in or close to the jungle. It perches on vegetation or twigs close to the water edge from which it flies out to catch its prey. The sexes are said to be similarly coloured and marked. My photos show a male taken at a forest edge pond in Silam, Lahad Datu.