Coeliccia scutellum Laidlaw, 1932

A pair in tandem (Mount Ba Vi, 800m a.s.l.)

Coeliccia tomokunii Asahina, 1997, described from Ba Vi and Cuc Phuong (northern Vietnam), is considered now to be a junior synonym of Coeliccia scutellum.

This is a large-sized brilliant species. The male is deep black and show in profile view 3 chrome yellow stripes : 2 on each sides of the synthorax, and a pair of patches closely adjoining on both sides of dorsal carina. A really stunning fellow!

The female for comparison (note the zigzaged line through ocelli)

S10 and distal part of S9 yellow, caudal appendages also. Superior appendages with inflated head, and almost equal in lenght (or slightly shorter) to the inferior ones.

The female is also a very cute little fellow. Her head is more contrasting than the male and marked with a pale zigzaged line through ocelli. The prothorax is yellow on sides, and bears a developped median standing process (see photo bellow).

Synthorax more yellow on sides than the male, with 2 narrow yellow humeral stripes.

Abdomen brownish with pale yellowish (but sometimes as bright yellow as the synthorax) spots on S8-9.

A pair in tandem at an oviposition site (Tam Dao, 900m a.s.l.)

Female ovipositing in a branch fell in a shallow stream (foothills of Tam Dao)

Coeliccia scutellum is known from Laos, northern Vietnam and Hainan in China.

In the "protected" areas around Hanoi (Tam Dao, Cuc Phuong, Ba Vi), this species is a rather common sight along small, shaded streams in hill and mountain forests.

Site of Coeliccia scutellum, Mount Ba Vi (800m a.s.l.). Small swift-flowing, rocky stream (2-3m wide) with heavy covert, in unexploited secondary forest.
Other Zygoptera spotted (in August) : Coeliccia acco, C. onoi/cyanomelas, Megalestes distans, Atrocalopteryx coomani, Agriomorpha fusca, Protosticta satoi, Devadatta ducatrix, Anisopleura qingyuanensis, Cryptophaea vietnamensis, Noguchiphaea yoshikoae.