Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (Selys, 1858)

We have in our digital image bank a collection of 3 individual records of all male.
Female unknown. No record of Female

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Male ♂65mm
2016-02-28 BUKIT GEMOK

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Male ♂65mm
2008-05-04 ECO PARK

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Male
2007-06-17 BUKIT GEMOK

Ictinogomphus decoratus

Male ♂
2006-12-10 POND

General morphology of dragonfly Ictinogomphus decoratus Male ♂65mm

In the above illustration included the following body parts of a male dragonfly :

dragonfly eye structure 蜻蜓眼結構
Head, Thorax, Abdomen, 2 pairs of wings, 3 pairs of legs
Abdominal segments
Short antenna
Large compound eye
Mouth-parts
Frons
Secondary Genitalia

Ictinogomphus are few in number. They are seen on the banks of small streams and big ponds.

Ictinogomphus decoratus has a hind wing 36 to 40 mm and heavy build with strong marking of pale green or yellow bands and spots.
This male Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops size measurement are :
Body Length : 65mm
Hind wing Length : 36mm
Hind wing Span : 80mm Fronting Span : 84mm

Two compound eyes are widely separated on top of the head (a feature most common in dragonfly fossils) with three small eyes (ocelli) in lower between.

Gomphidae family are commonly referred to as clubtail dragonflies because of the male's clublike widening of the end of the abdomen segments 7 to 9.

The male superior appendages in Ictinogomphus decoratus terminate in a sharp point, (in Gomphidia they are blunt) and the 8th abdominal segment has a broad rounded flap on either side in both sexes.

However in other female species, this club is less pronounced or entirely absent.

Ictinogomphus decoratus is a large dragonfly with a wingspan that can reach up to 13–15cm (about 5–6 inches). It has a swift flight. Ictinogomphus decoratus breeds mainly in standing water.

Ictinogomphus decoratus is widespread and common on standing water like open lily ponds, lakes and dams. It perches conspicuously in direct sunlight on emergent vegetation.

The larvae are curiously flattened, rounded and limpet-like. They may sometimes cling to the undersides of lily pads and frequently the mature larva clambers onto a pad to emerge, leaving a heavy, dark, rounded exuvia.

This large dragonfly is most commonly seen in Sabah. M embers of the family Gomphidae range spreads from China, Indochina and West Malaysia to Borneo and the Philippines.

They breed in open standing water such as ponds and slowing moving stream. T he males often perched on emergent water plants on water edge.

Gomphids are commonly called Clubtail Dragonflies for the unique flaps at the end abdomen.

When I was trying to photograph it I could hear the wings rustling in flight. I found this one at the forest edge of Bukit Gemuk in Sabah

雄蟲上肛附器 superior anal appendages 黑色，長而直，末端鈍尖，下肛附器 inferior anal appendage 甚短，長度約為上肛附器的1/3~1/4，有時甚至退化幾近消失，其末端深凹入成兩個分枝。

Ictinogomphus decoratus melaenops (Selys, 1858)
Found in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam
Genus : Ictinogomphus	Super-Family: AESHNOIDEA	Family: GOMPHIDAE