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New record of Dragonfly Species to Hong Kong: Chlorogomphus papilio (Ris, 1927)

A dragonfly species new to Hong Kong, Chlorogomphus papilio (Chlorogomphidae), has been recorded by AFCD staff in Central New Territories recently. On 8 August 2021, AFCD field staff observed a female C. papilio near a waterfall in Ng Tung Chai. Chlorogomphus papilio is a large dragonfly inhabiting wide streams in forest. The species is characterized by the very large wingspan (may exceed 145 mm), yellowish-white and dark brown bands at hind wing bases and dark brown spots at wing tips. The male has a black body with yellow antehumeral stripes and a lateral stripe at thorax, as well as yellow markings at abdominal segments 2-7; females resemble males but with more extensive markings at wing bases and yellow markings at abdominal segments 2-6.

Chlorogomphus papilio has a widespread distribution over much of the central, southern and southwestern part of China (e.g. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang etc.) and is also recorded in Vietnam. Members of Chlorogomphidae are forest dependent and they generally inhabit narrow streams in dense forest. However, C. papilio has a special preference for wide streams. Female C. papilio is occasionally seen flying downstream in forest to the foothill, where they prefer to mate and lay eggs in long, wide, exposed streams with gravel and pebble substrates. It is therefore interesting for the species to be recorded at Ng Tung Chai in Hong Kong, where large wide mountain streams with shallow gradients are lacking. The species has been recorded in low densities in mountain areas at Huizhou (Guangdong). Given that this is a single record in a habitat not typical for C. papilio, the individual might have come from Guangdong populations. The species is considered as vagrant at this stage and its status in Hong Kong awaits further observation.

Acknowledgement: We would like to thank Mr. LEUNG Ka-king and Mr. YAM Wing-yiu for providing the record and photographs of Chlorogomphus papilio;Dr. ZHANG Hao-miao, Mr. SONG Li-ming and Mr. SONG Rui-bin for their provision of information on the ecology and distribution of the species in China.

Female Chlorogomphus papilio in Ng Tung Chai, Hong Kong