Macromia pyramidalis Martin, 1907 was described from male and female specimens collected in Tonkin. Wilson and Reels (2001) raised a number of issues concerning the Macromia pyramidalis type specimens. The male specimen Martin described as M. pyramidalis, has the characteristics of Macromia moorei malayana Laidlaw 1928 and is almost certainly synonymous with it, but the female specimen is identical to Macromia berlandi Lieftinck, 1941. Martin's (1907) describes the type male with tenth abdominal segment as having a bump, which forms a not very pointed pyramid (M. berlandi has a very sharply pointed or spine-like pyramidal process). An examination of the M. pyramidalis types, if they could be found (Martin commented that the male and female types were not in the Selys collection, but the actual location was not given), would likely reveal the female to be synonymous with M. berlandi and the male synonymous with M. moorei fumata  Krüger, 1899. Note Lieftinck (1929) considered  Macromia moorei malayana was synonymous with Macromia moorei fumata.

Lieftinck (1941) described M. berlandi from a Tonkinese male specimen identified by Martin (1907) as Macromia borneensis Krüger, 1899; the latter taxon is now recognised as a synonym of Macromia cincta Rambur, 1842. Wilson & Reels (2001) described the first female specimen of M. berlandi from a Hong Kong specimen. In summary Martin (1907) examined two males and one female Macromia speciemens collected from Tonkin in the Selys collection. These three specimens represent: (i) a male he misidentified as Macromia borneensis (= holotype M. berlandi male), (ii) a second male (type M. pyramidalis male = M. moorei malayana = M. moorei fumata) and (iii) a female (type M. pyramidalis = M. berlandi female).

There are two courses of corrective action possible: (1) Designate the male specimen, described by Martin (1907) as M. pyramidalis, as the holotype pyramidalis specimen. M. pyramidalis would then become a junior synonym of Macromia moorei Selys, 1874 and  the new combination Macromia moorei pyramidalis Martin, 1907 would become a junior synonym of Macromia moorei fumata (= M. moorei malayana). (2) Designate the female specimen as the holotype. M. pyramidalis Martin, 1907 would remain a valid taxon and Macromia berlandi Lieftinck, 1941 would be a junior synonym. The assessor strongly favours the first course of action which would have the least impact on current nomenclature and render Macromia berlandi a valid species.

Until the taxonomic issues concerning the type specimens of this species have been resolved it is not possible to make an assessment, and it is considered Data Deficient.

Known from two type specimens collected from 'Tonkin', northern Vietnam Martin (1907) comprising a male, which is a subjective synonym of Macromia moorei  Selys, 1874 and a female, which is a subjective synonym of Macromia berlandi.

Only known from two type specimens, which do not belong to the same species.

Macromia moorei prefers forested, swift-flowing montane streams, whereas M. berlandi prefers slow-flowing sections or small impoundments  in small, moderately fast-flowing, forested, lowland streams.

It is pointless to speculate on threats faced by this species before the taxonomic issues are resolved.

Protection and development of forested areas in Indo-China and southern China will help protect this species.