Gomphidae

Family Gomphidae

Anisogomphus bivittatus

Selys 1854

Elevation 700 to 1800m

Abdomen length 36mm

There are three species of Anisogomphus in Nepal, and all three have been reported in the Godavari area but I have only seen A. orites outside of Pokhara on the Mardi Khola. Males of A. bivittatus differ from A. occipitalis in that it has expansions on the last 3 segments of the abdomen giving it a vase-like appearance. Females are similar to males. The photo below shows this feature very nicely. They are locally common sitting on small bushes next to small streams in May through September. They have a narrow distribution found only in Nepal and NE India.

Male

Female

Anisogomphus occipitalis

(Selys 1854)

Elevation 400 - 1800m

Abdomen Length 52mm

Usually found in forested areas on streams with heavy vegetation. The size and coloration are similar to A. bivittatus but the markings on and shape of the three last segments are very different. Female coloration is similar to males. Found in good numbers on vegetation next to small streams during the monsoon season from June to September. Distribution is Bangladesh, Nepal, and NW and NE India.

Male

Female

Anisogomphus orites

Laidlaw 1922

Elevation 900 - 1500m

Abdomen Length 31mm

This species is separated from its close and very similar in appearance relative A. occipitalis (see below). The shape of the anal appendages, the long spines on the femora, and fewer yellow markings along the abdomen - the last three segments are black and slightly expanded laterally. It was found sitting on a rock above the Mardi Khola (River). No females were seen. The date was early October. It has only been recorded in Nepal and NE India - Assam and Sikkim.

Burmagomphus hasimaricus

Fraser 1926

Elevation 600-900m

Abdomen Length 32mm

The Pokhara Museum has a specimen and I have confirmed my ID with that one. A female teneral specimen was taken because it was so badly damaged as seen below. I found it clinging to a stick next to the lake with very badly damaged wings. It is recorded as data deficient by IUCN. The first record was from Hasimara West Bengal. Since it was just emerging at the start of the monsoon it must mate and fly during June. I have seen more emerging along PhewaTaal during this time.

Female

A mature male and female (below) photo credit to Mahendra Limbu.

Burmagomphus sp. nov.

Elevation 80m
Abdomen Length?

Location Karnali River

Late afternoon in Bardia National Park we sat next to the Karnali River where we could see the new bridge at Chisapani. I noticed a gomphid sitting on a piece of driftwood. It flew off way out over the Karnali River then returned to some tall Elephant grass.  I then saw a female with a nice egg bundle protruding from the abdomen. I am not able to ID this one and did not collect a specimen from the park.

Male

Female

Davidius aberrans aberrans

(Selys, 1873)

Elevation 1700 to 3000m

Abdomen length 27mm

I first saw this species at the Royal Botanic Gardens outside of Thimphu 2700m, then again at Gangety Monastery sitting above Phobjikha Valley at 2800m. The third record was from Haa Valley also at nearly 2800m. The date was 22nd May and the other was in early August. Fraser reports this species from Northeast India in Assam. This one is reported to be found in Nepal, but so far unrecorded.

Ictinogomphus rapax

(Rambur 1842)
Elevation 200- 1700m
Abdomen Length 52mm

It is a common sight on small ponds, lakes, and rivers. I have photos from Phewa Taal in Pokhara and this one was next to a very swampy pond in Bishajar Taal near Chitwan National Park. While I was taking this photo heard a grunt and I looked up to see a very large one-horned Rhino about 20 meters away. I was so focused on all the dragonflies that I failed to notice it...oops.

Male

Males on the hunt they patrol the edges of Phewa Taal.

Female

Lamelligomphus biforceps

(Selys 1878)

Elevation 900-1600m

Abdomen length 41mm

Lamelligomphus sp. have inward curling anal appendages that overlap. The body is black and green with sharply angled frons. They tend to sit on large stones or wood on flowing rivers. The male and female are very similar in color. L. biforceps has a yellow tinge to the upper appendages with black halfway into the curve. They are found during monsoon and after June - September.

Lamelligomphus risi

(Fraser 1922)

Elevation 700-1800m

Abdomen Length 45mm

This species is very similar to L. biforceps. The main difference between the two is that L. risi has more black and no mid-dorsal yellow marks on segments 3-6 and segments 8-10 are black. It prefers the same type of habitat, sitting on flowing streams with large boulders. It is also found in Darjeeling and Bhutan.

Macrogomphus montanus

Selys 1869

Elevation 80- 1000m

Abdomen Length 50mm

Newly emerged found clinging to the grass next to the Rapti River in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park (CNP). This is another listed as data deficient by IUCN, but it should be found in similar locations in India and Bangladesh. It is probably under-reported. This was photographed in early July and other records show specimens from June. Distribution is in NW India; NE India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Microgomphus phewataali

Conniff and Limbu 2018

Elevation 800m

Abdomen Length 30mm

This is a new endemic species for Nepal. Although recently discovered it may soon vanish because of water extraction from the small wetland where it was found. Photos show type male (2018) the anal appendages and the paratype female below.
In 2017, I first noticed the female ovipositing in small puddles along a small jungle stream, it was not flowing any longer, due to water extraction. Then a male came in but landed so close - next to my shoe, I could hardly focus. When I stepped back he was gone up into the trees. The anal appendages were in fairly good focus and the female was found with eggs hanging to the end of the abdomen. I knew then that was a Microgomphus and new for Nepal. It appears early May and is there one month then gone again for one year. The description was published in Odonatologica in December 2018.

Male

Female

Nepogomphus modestus

(Selys 1878)

Elevation 80-1000m

Abdomen Length 27-29mm

This one is found in the Himalayan region, Northeast India, Myanmar, and possibly Bhutan. I have seen it on rivers in Nepal and Northeast India usually July through September. This newly emerged specimen was seen in July in the buffer zone of CNP. It is also found a small stream near the Rani Mahal near Tansen and Pokhara.

The immature specimen above and mature below.

Nychogomphus duaricus

(Fraser 1924)

Elevation 60 - 800m

Abdomen length 39-41mm

The first name was Onychogomphus duaricus Fraser, 1924. This one was found in the Chitwan buffer zone near the National Park. A female was nearby but the photo is not very good. The habitat is near running water, usually small streams. They are usually found later in the season after the monsoon. Distribution is in NW & NE India, plus Bengal and Thailand.

Paragomphus lineatus 

(Selys 1850)

Elevation 200 to 1500m

Abdomen 32-37mm

This species will be seen on stones in rivers and streams. It is one of the first gomphid types to arrive in the spring - usually in April. In India, it is the Common Hook-tail and Lined Hooktail, which is obvious from the anatomy of the male. Regionally it is also found in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan but the extent of its distribution is from largely west of Nepal including Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Pakistan.

Male

Female

Platygomphus dolabratus

(Selys 1854)

Elevation 200m

Abdomen Length 41mm

Found in CNP buffer zone early morning resting on the grasses near the Rapti River, probably waiting for the weather to warm up. The female was found inside the jungle and some distance from the male closer to a small side river called the Budhi Rapti. Both on the same day in early July. Distribution is northern India, Nepal, and West Bengal.

Male

Female

Scalmogomphus bistrigatus

Hagen, 1854

Elevation 400-1800m

Abdomen Length 38mm

Previously, Onychogomphus bistrigatus (Hagen in Selys, 1854). I found this newly emerged male next to a stream in a shaded forest at Hemja off the Baglung Road outside of Pokhara. There was a small patch of good forest on one side of the Hemja Khola (stream) with a small seepage. This was the same place where I found Drepanosticta carmichaeli. I am not sure of the habits or seasonality of this one.

A recent find in Godavari sitting on the stream below the knowledge park in the picnic grounds. It is the first time for this one and only one male was seen. This gomphid is usually seen in Pokhara at 800m and a bit higher. I have seen it in June in Pokhara and in September in Godavari. It is a Himalayan species found in NW India, NE India, and Nepal. 

Scalmogomphus schmidti

Fraser 1937

Elevation 800 - 1400m

Abdomen length 40mm

Formerly called Onychogompus. I have only seen this one time on a stream above the Rani Mahal outside of Tansen. The identification of this one was based on Asahina 1988, his specimen taken from Tatopani, from the facial markings and thorax markings. I don't have any information on its habits. I have only seen it once and have two photos. It seems to be suited to the Himalayan region.