Smoky-winged Threadtail (Elattoneura leucostigma)

An endemic very rare damselfly inhabiting small streams of montane forests and marshlands in the central hills. 

Drooping Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta lankanensis)

Commonest Shadowdamsel of Sri Lanka occurs from lowlands to mid-hills of southwestern part of the country in both forested steams as well as the disturbed habitats. It is also endemic to the island as all other Shadowdamsels. 

Dark Forestdamsel (Platysticta apicalis)

Locally common insect inhabiting streams and rivulets of southwestern and central forested areas from lowlands to mid-hills. It occurs mainly during April to September. (Bedjanic, M., K. et. al. 2014)

Dark Knob-tipped Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta montana)

An endemic damselfly occurs in small streams and seeps of the montane forests from 1000 to 2000 m elevations. 

Adam's Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta adami)

Adam's Shadowdamsel is one of the rarest endemic damselfly so far recorded only from few localities of the Knuckles range and its outskirts in the north-central part of the country . It was originally described from specimens collected from Madugoda near Urugalla in 1932 by F.C. Fraser.  After more than seven decades Karen Conniff observed and photographed it in Simpson's forest near Hunnasfalls in April 2006 and again in October 2007 and 2010. Karen Conniff and Matjaz Bedjanic observed a single juvenile female near Urugalla in end of May 2009. Matjaz Bedjanic also reported it from two streams in Simpson's forest in October 2012. Above pictures were taken at Dothalugala Camp Site area of the Knuckles mountain range.

Serendib Forestdamsel (Platysticta serendibica)

Common endemic damselfly inhabiting small streams in secondary and primary forests as well as the degraded habitats of the central and southwestern parts of the country. Much common in the wet low country but occurs also up to about 1000 m a.s.l. in the hills.  

Blue Sprite (Pseudagrion microcephalum)

Very common damselfly occurs in ponds, tanks, marshlands, lagoons, paddy fields, channels,   brackish water and sometimes even in  polluted water from lowlands to mid-hills.  

Mountain Reedling (Indolestes gracilis gracilis)

Locally common damselfly confined to the central hills of the island between 1800 and 2500 elevations. It can be found at grassy edges of lakes and ponds. Indolestes gracilis gracilis is an endemic Sri Lankan subspecies. 

Two-spotted Threadtail (Elattoneura oculata)

An endemic and rare damselfly inhabiting streams and rivers from lowland to mid hill forests in southwestern part of the country. 

Austin's Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta austeni [Drepanosticta austeni])

Rare and critically endangered damselfly so far recorded only from few localities in outskirts of Knuckles range, southern to southeastern outskirt of central hills and eastern hills around Badulla and Passara. It is a seasonal insect and occurs from March to November. (Bedjanic, M., K. et. al. 2014)

References:

Bedjanic, M., K. Conniff, N. van der Poorten & A. Salamun, 2014. Dragonfly fauna of Sri Lanka: Distribution and biology, with threat status of its endemics. Pensoft, Sofia. 321pp.

Drepanosticta mojca

An endemic forest damselfly recently described from south-western wet zone forested areas of Sri Lanka. So far it has been recorded only from widely scattered 6 locations in Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Mathara districts. Its flight season appears to be May and June as well as October (Bedjanič, M., 2010). Above specimens was photographed in Gileemale forest reserve of Rathnapura district - not in above 6 localities- on 30th March 2014 (i.e Out of the season)

References

Bedjanič, M., 2010. Three new Drepanosticta species from Sri Lanka (Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Odonatologica 39(3): 195-215.

Stripe-headed Threadtail (Prodasineura sita)

Rather common endemic damselfly found in streams and riverine habitats from lowlands to mid-hills.

Nietner's Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticts nietneri)

Rare endemic insect inhabiting streams in the primary and secondary rain forests.

Asian Slim (Aciagrion occidentale)

Widely distributed insect in sub montane and monatane areas in open grass beside weedy ponds and rank herbage (de Fonseka T., 2000). But probably it has an island wide distribution in suitable habitats, but hardly notice due to its smaller size. Above specimen was photographed in rather lower elevation, a scrub land in Ambagaspitiya (~150m a.s.l.) of Gampaha district.

Drepanosticta bine

An endemic forest damselfly inhabiting shady rain forest streams of South-western wet zone from 50 to 500 m altitude. It is currently known from only 16 localities in Kegalle, Nuwaraeliya, Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Mathra districts (Bedjanič, M., 2010). Its flying period is from end April-May until September-October.

My observations

1) Observed at Dombagaskandha forest reserve at Ingiriya (One of the above mentioned 16 localities) in June 2011 and July 2012.

2) At Lankagama - a buffer zone village of Sinharaja world heritage site - in July 2008[Two years before formal description]. ( Although it has been already recorded from Kudawa side of the Sinharaja not so far from the Neluwa entrance. A stream in Haycock range of Hiniduma area is the nearest location mentioned in above 16 localities to the Lankagama)

3) At Halpankandha forest reserve (7°12.806'N, 80°08.894'E) of Meerigama in Gampaha district in May 2012 (New locality)

References

Bedjanič, M., 2010. Three new Drepanosticta species from Sri Lanka (Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Odonatologica 39(3): 195-215. 

Brinck's Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta brincki [Drepanosticta brincki])

An endemic damselfly inhabiting stream habitats of wet zone rain forests. Rather uncommon insect though relatively common than other forest damsels.

Drepanosticta anamia

Drepanosticta anamia is a recently described endemic damselfly inhabiting small to mid-size shaded stream habitats in primary and secondary wet zone forests from 50-800m a.s.l. altitude in 22 localities in Kegalle, Nuwaraeliya, Colombo, Kaluthara, Rathnapura Galle and Mathara districts (Bedjanič, M., 2010). As per M. Bedjanič flight season stretches from end of April to September with a single end-February record. 

My Observations 

Above specimen was photographed at Meethirigala forest reserve of Gampaha district adding one more locality to already described 22 locations.  It has been observed there in May and June of 2011 and July 2012. 

References

Bedjanič, M., 2010. Three new Drepanosticta species from Sri Lanka (Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Odonatologica 39(3): 195-215.

New distribution record for Libellago corbeti (van der Poorten, N., 2009)

Introduction

Libellago corbeti (Ebony Gem) is an endemic damselfly first identified in July 2007 from two male specimens seen near Kudawe and later on another two females from same locality in April 2008. It was described as a new species by Nancy van der Poorten in 2009 (van der Poorten, N., 2009). Additional sightings of it from the type locality as well as from several other forests of the south western wet zone were recorded subsequently (van der Poorten, N., 2011). Those additional places are -

1)      Near the start of the Moulawella nature trail, river running down from the Kudawa entry point and near the stream beside research station in the Sinharaja forest reserve.

2)      A stream in the Haycock hill – Hiniduma.

3)      A stream in the Morapitiya forest reserve.

4)      A stream near entrance of Kanneliya forest reserve.

5)      A specimen collected in 1892 by Col. Yerbury from Kottawa (Probably the Kottawa forest reserve of Galle) and now deposited at Natural History Museum London.

Observation

During a field visit to the Katepola, a remote village in Rathnapura district on 25^th of  December 2013 we could photograph a male specimen of Libellago corbeti in a stream - a upper tributary of Kalu river -  beside a rubber plantation.  Eventhough the stream running through rubber estates and home gardens, stream itself and banks are well wooded and home to considerable number of fauna and flora including several endemics.  Libellago corbeti both males and females have been observed in that stream since May 2013 (Ishara Harshajith Wijewardhane, Personal communication, December 25, 2013)

Discussion

Hitherto all published records of Libellago corbeti are from dense rain forest streams and this might be the first sighting of it from a disturbed habitat and also from a site with least protection from environmental authorities, unlike all other places mentioned above with considerable protection under the law. This record of it from further north of the type locality and all other additional places indicates that it might be distributed in wider area and also not very rare as previously thought. Currently it is categorized as a critically endangered species (van Der Porten N. & Karen Conniff , 2012)

 

References

van der Poorten, N., 2009. Libellago corbeti sp. nov. from Sri Lanka (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae). International Journal of Odonatology 12 (2): 223-230, pl. V.

van der Poorten, N., 2011. Additional records of Libellago corbeti van der poorten, 2009 in Sri Lanka with additional comparative notes on behavior. Agrion Newsletter of the worldwide dragonfly association 15(1): 18-20.

van Der Porten N. & Karen Conniff,  2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of the Dragonfly Fauna (Insecta: Odonata) of Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka;Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds.,Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1-11 pp

Wandering Wisp (Agriocnemis pygmaea pygmaea)

Wandering wisp is one of the smallest damselflies in Sri Lanka. It is very common in paddy fields, marshes, tanks and streams of both wet and dry zone of the country.

Marsh Dancer (Onychargia atrocyana)

An uncommon damselfly found in surrounding vegetation of paddy fields, tank edges etc. in wet zone lowlands and lower hills.